The Texan city of Austin has experienced something of a renaissance in recent decades, and is now a big hit with families who come to enjoy its many outdoor spaces and kid-friendly attractions.
A resident at Austin Zoo enjoys a well-earned stretch (Photo: MarkScottAustinTX via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
A dynamic cultural scene and eclectic neighbourhoods also contribute to the state capital routinely making it onto lists of the region’s most liveable cities. Little wonder that so many families choose to visit each year. If you’re planning to spend time in Austin with children and would like to pack your itinerary full of great things to see and do for all ages, we’ve come up with your starter for ten below.
Spend a day at the zoo
The suggestion of a trip to the zoo is a sure-fire winner with kids and in Austin there is one of Texas’ finest. Located at the southwest edge of the city in the scenic Texas Hill Country, Austin Zoo is home to over 300 animals spanning over 100 species, most of which have been rescued from deprivation or cruel treatment. Indeed, it is an altruistic mission that underpins the zoo’s efforts, with each of its inhabitants boasting their own unique story. Among the diverse creatures that can be found here are African Lions, Bengal tigers, cougars, three species of monkeys, black bears, ring-tailed lemurs, and porcupines.
10808 Rawhide Trail / Mon-Fri 8.30am-2pm Sat-Sun 8.30am-5pm
Check out a museum
Despite its forward-thinking reputation, Austin is also a city with a keen sense of its past. An ideal family attraction for a rainy day, the Bullock Texas State History Museum invites visitors to step back in time and see how the region has changed down the years through a huge assortment of exhibits and artefacts, some of which feature live-action and storytelling, covering such fascinating themes as Texas’s role in the Civil War and its deep-rooted Wild West culture. There’s also an IMAX theatre that’s a great draw for kids and adults alike.
1800 Congress Avenue / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
If your little ones may not be ready to engage with more adult museum themes, then the Thinkery provides a reliable alternative. Situated in the Mueller district in the eastern reaches of the city, this popular children’s museum features a wide range of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities designed to encourage and inspire kids to take an interest in science and technology. Highlights include the Light Lab, which invites you to investigate the impact of colour, light, and shadows in a darkened gallery; and Spark Shop, a makerspace where children and adults can build, tinker and make together.
1830 Simond Avenue / Fri-Mon 10am-5pm Tues 9am-7pm Weds-Thurs 9am-5pm
A child engages with a hands-on exhibit at Thinkery (Photo: Donnie Ray Jones via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
There is, however, surely no museum more likely to catch the attention of your kids than one dedicated to that most classic of sweet treats – ice cream. Situated in the city’s northern suburbs, the Museum of Ice Cream invites visitors to taste, play, dance, connect, and imagine in 12 multi-sensory installations themed around the famous frozen dessert. Wander through a banana forest to discover a rainbow tunnel, dive into a sprinkle pool, and taste delectable ice cream along your journey through the museum’s many galleries.
11506 Century Oaks Terrace / Sun-Thurs 9.30am-7.30pm Fri-Sat 9.30am-8.30pm Closed Tues
Head to an urban park
Situated in the heart of Austin’s bustling downtown district, Zilker Park makes for the perfect urban escape from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life in the city. As well as a place to relax and unwind, the 361-acre public park offers a wide array of recreational and leisure opportunities, including bike and canoe rentals, a disc golf course, a sculpture garden, a botanical garden, a miniature train ride, a large children’s playground, and the reinvigorating waters of Barton Springs, a natural spring-fed swimming pool.
Mon-Sun 5am-10pm
Traverse Austin’s waterways by kayak
The serene waterways running through Austin are a delight to explore, and one of the most fun ways to do so with kids is on a kayak tour run by the Austin Rowing Club. As you paddle along the calm waters, you’ll get to see a number of notable landmarks sprinkled throughout downtown, as well as the bridges along Lady Bird Lake. Speaking of bridges, if you opt for a sunset tour, you’ll get to see perhaps the city’s most famous – Congress Avenue Bridge, also known as bat bridge, at its most dramatic, with millions of bats forming strange dancing clouds in the dusk sky come nightfall. In addition to the guided tours, Austin Rowing Club also offers year-round hourly paddleboard and kayak rentals if you prefer to explore the waterways at your own pace.
74 Trinity Street / Mon-Sun 8am-9pm
Kayakers out on the waters around Austin (Photo: Austin Rowing Club)
Let your hair down at a family-friendly festival
Not for nothing is Austin known as the Live Music Capital of the World. Home to hundreds of music venues, each year the city also hosts one of Texas’s most acclaimed music festivals. A massive multi-genre event held over two separate weekends in Zilker Park, Austin City Limits features a diverse line-up of acts across some eight stages. There’s plenty to do between sets too, including a mini-fest for children – known as Austin Kiddie Limits – featuring its own live music stage, arts and crafts, games, face painting, and lashings of food and drink.
Zilker Park / October each year
A group of young performers play instruments at Austin Kiddie Limits (Photo: Anna Hanks via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Test your mettle on a thrilling zipline
If your kids are blessed with nerves of steel then there’s no better way of testing their limits than on an exhilarating zipline. Located a short drive north of central Austin, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures invites adventure-seekers to traverse Texas’s longest and fastest zipline, providing views that will last long in the memory. The venue has a total of five ziplines, each progressing in speed and height, so those of a more sensitive disposition can pick and choose as they wish. There’s also a private beach with hammocks where you can relax after your sky-high endeavours.
2389 Stratford Drive / Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Sun 12pm-5pm
Go wildlife spotting in a nature preserve
Keen to introduce your kids to the wonders of nature? Look no further than Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve, an urban oasis teeming with towering palm trees, lush gardens and fish-filled ponds. Spread over some 23 acres, the park is a haven for nature lovers, with scenic hiking trails and plenty to keep the kids entertained including endless wildlife spotting opportunities – look out for the blue and green herons dotting the trees and brilliant peacocks surrounding the ponds.
3505 West 35th Street / Mon-Sun 5am-10pm
A peacock displays its plumage at Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve (Photo: Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve)
Explore a scenic lake by boat
Another water-based activity that’s a big hit with children is a boat tour along Lake Austin. Aboard a pontoon boat, you’ll cruise around the lake as your captain and guide points out the natural flora and fauna as you pass, along with the many luxury waterfront and cliffside homes – including the Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria, a former Italian-style lakeside villa built in 1916 that’s now home to an art museum and outdoor sculpture park. There’ll also be a chance to capture a memorable photo with the iconic Pennybacker Bridge as your backdrop.
You can book an Austin boat tour at GetYourGuide