Visiting ATX with kids? Check out my list of my favorite things to do with kids in Austin.
My family and I have been living on the road for ten months now, which is wild for me to really think about! We’ve been traveling across America living in places for a month at a time, and have made so many amazing memories – from sharing a neighborhood with bears in North Carolina and enjoying beignets in New Orleans, to sledding down sand dunes in New Mexico and hiking in Utah’s breathtaking Zion National Park.
Today I’m rewinding back to December, when we lived in Austin for the month. ATX is a wonderful city that’s full of awesome eateries, lively culture and outdoorsy things to do. We had a blast exploring the area, and today I’m sharing my favorite things to do with kids in Austin. From spaces geared towards children, including museums and playgrounds, to a wildflower center and family friendly eateries, Austin has a lot to do with young ones!
12 Things To Do With Kids in Austin
Visit the Alliance Children’s Garden
One of our top things to do with kids in Austin is visit the Alliance Children’s Garden, which will not only keep your kids busy for hours, but also offers great city views. The newly designed park features four thematic areas of play: the art and culture garden, the skyline view garden, the rock and slide valley and the hill country.
My daughter loved going down the awesome slides and climbing on the sculptures. We also took my parents to Alliance Children’s Garden when they were in town since we enjoy it so much there.
And don’t miss out on walking to the top of nearby Doug Sahm Hill to take in the panoramic views and check out the map of Texas beneath your feet!
Barton Springs Pool
Within Zilker Park’s 358 acres lies Barton Springs Pool, a three acre pool that’s fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees. My daughter and I took a knee-down dip since we were there in the winter, and my husband was brave enough to do the rope swing into the pool a few times.
I imagine Barton Springs is a great place to cool off when Austin hits sweltering temperatures in the summer! The pool is also next to Zilker Park playgrounds, so you could easily pack lunches and spend an entire afternoon here with kids.
Thinkery
I love to pop into children’s museums whenever we’re in a city that has them. It’s such a great way for kids to learn through play, and it’s fun to see how the museums put a local spin on their exhibits. Thinkery is a popular children’s museum in ATX. A few of our favorite exhibits are the water science room (shown above), farmers market and obstacle course room. Some of their exhibits cater more to older children, such as their Innovators’ Workshop and Notion of Motion exhibits.
And if you’re in the mood for a treat afterwards, Lick Honest Ice Creams is right around the corner. The shop offers seasonal flavors like Garden Lemon and Lady Bird Lavender Crisp, and they also offer vegan/dairy free flavors such as Tangerine Dream and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
Visit Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake was one of our go-to spots to take family who visited (we had a few groups of visitors during our ATX stay!) because it’s a beautiful area to go for a walk, check out the wildlife and gaze at the city skyline. It’s a must-visit when in ATX!
There’s always a lot going on a Lady Bird Lake, and during the weeks we lived in ATX, we saw some impressive artists at work. There are also cafes and eateries right off the walking path, and visitors can also rent a variety of watercraft for fun on the lake. During our first trip to ATX awhile back, we rented kayaks and journeyed over to the Congress Bridge. It’d be a great activity with kids who are over a couple years old.
Play & Learn at the Austin Nature & Science Center
Located on the western edge of Zilker Park, the Austin Nature & Science Center has long been a fixture in the city providing hands-on nature exhibits, education programs and recreation activities. It’s a nice spot to spend a couple of hours exploring outside. My daughter enjoyed visiting with the animals and playing in the Dino Pit Fossil Dig area.
Climb the Stairs at Mount Bonnell
At 775 ft above sea level, Mount Bonnell is the highest point in ATX. It serves as a pretty area to check out the city skyline and Lake Austin. The mini hike to the top is a 102-stair climb, serving as a fun way to get little ones’ energy out. I suggest bringing a carrier or hiking backpack for tiny humans, as it’s definitely not stroller friendly.
Once you get to the top, walk around and take in the beautiful 360-degree views!
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
ATX’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a botanic garden that offers 284 acres of scenic gardens and trails. One cool feature is the family garden, which offers over a dozen interactive and educational features made of natural materials. Children 4 and under are free, youth admission is $8, and adult tickets are $15.
We visited to see Bruce Munro’s temporary Field of Light exhibition, which was a stunning sight.
Hike & Play at McKinney Falls State Park
Escape a bit from the city and enjoy the tranquility of nature at McKinney Falls State Park. Here you can camp, hike, bike, go bouldering, fish and swim. The park offers nine miles of trails, including trails that are suitable for strollers.
We went hiking for a couple hours and packed a picnic lunch. The hiking trails here are easy and my three year old had no problem trekking around.
See the Bats at the Congress Bridge
Did you know that ATX is home to the largest urban population of bats? One of the most unique things to do with kids in Austin is to check out the bats ascend from Congress Bridge. From March through fall, crowds gather on and near the bridge at sunset to watch this wild scene. By the end of the season, roughly 1.5 million bats ascend from Congress Bridge each night! The dark specs in my above photo are all bats flying out from the bridge.
Peppermint Parkway (during the holiday season)
If you happen to be visiting ATX during the holiday season, Peppermint Parkway is a fun way to get into a jolly spirit. It features a one-mile drive of immersive holiday displays, millions of lights, dancing elves and more. Sports and entertainment facility Circuit of the Americas also transforms the area into a holiday destination with a festive plaza that features food, rides, visits with Santa and more.
Peppermint Parkway runs from the end of November through the end of December.
Visit Barton Creek Farmers Market
I adore walking around farmers markets and supporting local small businesses. There’s something so wonderful about buying produce right from the source! That’s why I simply had to include a farmers market as one of my top things to do with kids in Austin. ATX offers a number of farmers markets, and one that we visited and enjoyed was the Barton Creek Farmers Market. It began in 1987 and is Austin’s first farmers market!
We had a great time strolling around & sampling the goods, including fresh lemonade, soft pretzels, apples and chocolate. The Barton Creek Farmers Market is located outside of a mall, but don’t let that deter you, because parking is easy, ample and free. The market runs on Saturdays from 9 am-1 pm year round.
Check out this article if you’re looking for a complete rundown of farmers markets in Austin.
Dine at The Little Darlin’
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy eats and adult beverages with your kids in tow, The Little Darlin’ is a great neighborhood watering hole with an impressive array of infused liquors and a spacious outdoor space. They offer weekend brunch, lunch and dinner.
This lively outdoor restaurant and bar regularly hosts special events. While we were in town, The Little Darlin’ hosted a holiday kids’ brunch event that included face painting, balloon animals and visiting with Santa.
The Food…
And while we’re talking about dining in Austin, the healthy eating options in ATX are plentiful and awesome! There are so many places to choose from, it’s kind of overwhelming.
Vegan Eggs Benedict at Bouldin Creek Cafe
I don’t even feel like I scratched the service after over a month in the area, but here are a few eateries in Austin where we enjoyed vegan and vegetarian food:
- Bouldin Creek Cafe ~This bustling woman-owned vegan/vegetarian restaurant has something for everyone, from pasture-raised egg or tofu omelettes and breakfast tacos, to blueberry cornbread and hearty veggie and grain bowls. Bouldin Creek also has a fun drink menu that includes items like lavender mocha espresso, pistachio rose matcha and hot apple cider. Everything I’ve eaten and drank here is absolutely delicious!
- The Vegan Nom ~ This food park features Rockin’ Vegan Tacos and Nom Burgers. Try the vegan milkshakes at the dessert truck too!
- Numero 28 ~ An Italian joint located in downtown ATX (that also has locations in NY, NJ & Miami) that makes great pizza and pasta. Try the white truffle mushroom pizza!
- Community Vegan ~ A plant-based fast food truck in East Austin that offers menu items like mushroom wings, cauliflower chikn sandwich and crab cake totchos.
- Moonbowls ~ Korean joint that offers veg-friendly items like Impossible beef veggie bowls
I hope that you enjoyed my rundown of my favorite things to do with kids in Austin! If you’re interested in following along on my nomad adventures, follow me on Instagram @foodielovesfitness and check out more of my travel guides:
I’ve heard about the bats at Congress Bridge! My Dad lives near Austin, and we’re going down later this summer to visit. Thanks for all of the ideas – I’ll need some things to keep Robbie entertained on that trip!
Oh fun!! Checking out the bats is an activity that’s definitely cool for all ages!
I love Austin too! Thanks for sharing all these great places with us.
You bet! Thanks for reading.
Austin sounds like an amazing city! It’s on my bucket list!