Things to do in Austin with Kids
Any mommas out there looking for a fun-filled spot for their kiddos to burn some energy?
Since moving to Austin, we love exploring every corner of this city, especially spots that are kid-friendly and yields a fun experience. Austin has just that, lots of things to do that will keep the whole family busy and entertained, so I decided to share some of the things we came across which my 3-year old has loved.
Watching the Bats
This was our first activity when we visited Austin about two years ago, since my son was just one at the time, we decided to re-live the experience. Our favorite spot to see the Mexican free-tailed bats with our son is sitting in the grass area underneath the S. Congress bridge. Because the bats exit the bridge at their own time, it takes a little bit of patience, and you already know with a 3-year old it’s non-existent. Below the bridge there’s a walkway along lady bird where you can stroll, this is an area where people usually jog, ride their bikes or walk their dogs. So we usually will walk along and allow Nico to see all the dogs, kayaks and people exercising while we wait for showtime. There is always spots along the grass area so finding a spot to sit is not a problem. Take a blanket or towel if you don’t want to sit on the grass. The 1.5 million bats are visible from March to November.
Pricing: Free
We came across this park totally on accident only a few weeks after moving to Austin. We wanted to explore Lake Travis and as we were driving along the area we passed by Volente Water Park, we parked and decided to stay.
Volente Beach Park has a “beach” style area with sand which you can walk right into Lake Travis for a swim, but also a water park and pools. It has 4 slides as well as a pirate splash pad for the littles. They also have a beach volleyball area, cornhole and live music. There’s a full service restaurant for lunch (Beachside Billy’s), Blu’s Beach Bar for drinks and a Beach Burger & BBQ Trailer by the beach area. We had lunch at Beachside Billy’s but you can also bring a cooler and snacks but there’s a $15 cooler fee (no alcohol allowed).
Pricing:
Pricing: Full Access: $19.99 Wed-Thurs; $24.99 Sat & Sun
Pool & Beach: $12.99
Cooling off the Texas heat is pretty vital to survival. A pretty unique spot to do so is in the Barton Springs Pool, but beware, it takes COOLING off to a whole different level. The water is cold! Visiting later in the day during the 100 degree weather is pretty refreshing. My 3-year old, got right in like a trooper, he loved splashing the water around and playing with the other kids in the shallow. Make sure to take water shoes, certain areas can be a little slippery when walking in. The water comes right from the spring, so it’s pretty clear and the city views at the end of the pool is pretty neat!
Pricing: Adult $5 (Resident); $9 (Non-Resident)
Children: $2-3 depending on age
This is a great spot for weekend fun. Russel Park is located in Georgetown and has a “beach” area with walk up to the lake. It’s a great way to spend a hot summer day. They have picnic tables with shaded covers but are first come first serve and are further away from the water. Bringing a cabana is the best idea. Water shoes are also a must, due to the pebbles in and out of the water, as well as the heat on the floor. You can bring your own coolers and food.
They also have a dock for boats and jet skis, paddleboards and kayaks are also allowed.
Pricing: $5 Park Entrance Fee/ Car
Kayaking Lady Bird
If you drive over Lady Bird Lake you will see a ton of kayaks and paddleboards. This is something that was in our minds for a while and our son kept asking us to Kayak, so we did. We really didn’t know what to expect because he had never been on one but he did really good! We used Congress Avenue Kayaks , parked on the street and walked over to the rental area. We rented for just an hour and it was a great experience, they provided life vests and even a child sized paddle for Nico. He felt so important!
Their last rental ends at 6:30 which was the exact time we went, it was perfect because it wasn’t too hot and we got to enjoy some of the golden hour. We kayaked for an hour which I thought was enough for our first experience with a toddler.
Pricing: Single Kayak $12/hr; Double Kayak $15/hr; Triple Kayak $25/hour (if you decide to add an additional hour it’s discounted)
It’s always good to immerse kids in reading and learning at an early age, and libraries always have great activities for kids. I had been told about APL and it had been on my list to go visit. Not only is the library beautiful in architecture, it’s also huge!
On the second floor you’ll find a kid and youth area. It is obviously filled with books for all ages, and an activity room for coloring, as well as toys and computers with educational programs for children. The keyboards are color-coded, mouses are small for the little hands and screens also activated by touch. Nico enjoyed being able to color, read" books with mommy and build puzzles.
You can also find a café/restaurant for snacks and lunch.
Price: Free
Visiting Thinkery is a hit with kids of any age. This children’s museum is filled with experiments, experiences and laughter for the whole family. The museum has multiple interactive exhibitions that allows for creativity and problem solving. Nico’s favorite exhibits were Let’s Grow, Currents and Spark Shop where he got a chance to build, make sounds and launch planes. We also enjoyed reading and singing time. Visit their site to find out about specific activities and programs happening for each age group.
Price: $12/person two years and up
Yearly Membership $75 for family of 2; $115 for family of 4
Wednesday evenings from 4-8 pm admission by donation
