Hellobee

Living in Austin has been such an adventure. We both grew up in the area but never explored it much as children – now that we have a child ourselves, we’ve taken to visiting as many random places around town as we possibly can. This summer, we’ve gotten to visit a ton of amazing places, but there are still a lot of places left for us to go. I thought it would be fun to do a quick roundup of our favorite local spots to take Jackson (plus a few we haven’t tried yet but want to!). For locals, I tried to include stuff from all corners of Austin, and hopefully some off-the-beaten-path places you may not know about. For visitors, just know that this is not nearly a comprehensive list of all of the amazing things, just a few of our favorites!

THINGS TO DO/SEE:

Just a few of the places we’ve been or places that we want to go. All are kid-friendly, most are toddler-friendly!

1. Book People downtown (FREE) has a great weekly story time, and they regularly have a story time with a traveling petting zoo! We were going to go this past month but Jackson had a cold so we had to miss out – I hope to go soon!

2. The Play For All Abilities Park in Round Rock (FREE) is perfect for toddlers. There are a ton of sensory areas and the equipment is all very accessible for younger kids. Older kids love to bring their scooters or bikes to ride around the little “town” setup, and the playscape here is amazing.

3. Mt. Playmore (<1 – free; 2-3 – $4.95; 4-18 – $10.95; 19&up – $1.50)  – we haven’t actually made it out here yet but it’s high on our list of places to try out. I hear it’s perfect for both toddlers and older kids. The big play area is specifically made big enough for adults, and I have to admit that I might have more fun here than Jackson will!

4. Zilker Park (FREE, Train is $2 for children and $3 for adults). It’s kind of a given, but Zilker is a fantastic place to go let off some steam, run around, and take in the beautiful Austin sights.

At the botanical garden last summer.

5. Zilker Botanical Garden. ($1 for children, $2 for adults) We love going to the botanical garden and spending a few hours looking around. It’s so incredibly beautiful and kind of hard to believe that something so awesome and nature-focused can be located so close to the heart of the city!

6. Umlauf Sculpture Gardens.  (<12 – free, 12&up – $5) I love that they encourage you to touch the sculptures – perfect for curious little hands! The grounds are breathtaking and a perfect spot for little ones to run around a bit.

7. Austin Aquadome. (FREE) This is a tropical fish store that is supposed to be incredible. This is another one on our “must try” list, and I’ve heard it’s a great place to escape the heat and let the kids check out all of the sights.

8. Hill Country Water Gardens. (FREE) We were skeptical about going here as a family outing, but it’s beautiful. It’s so much larger than you would think it could possibly be, and it was so fun to look at all of the different displays and imagine what it would be like to have one of those fantastic ponds at our house! Jackson loved checking out all of the fish and it took some serious convincing to keep him from diving into the ponds!

9. Brushy Creek Lake Park. (FREE) We love the splash pad here – it’s never too crowded and we think it’s the best one we’ve been to. The playground is great as well, and the whole park is just incredibly beautiful – it’s the perfect place to bring a picnic and spend the afternoon!

10. Veteran Memorial Pool. (<3 – free; 4-8 – $2; 9-17 – $4; 18&up – $5) This is our favorite pool in North Austin. We love the giant splash area for younger kids and Jackson could spend all day here. This pool is pretty widely known for having amazing lifeguards, and we love that there are always a ton of lifeguards and they are 100% focused at all time.

Playing on the cows in the Arboretum!

11. The Arboretum at Great Hills. (FREE) We love to go play on the cow statues, visit the pond and the ducks, and grab some Amy’s Ice Cream! If you’re here at lunch time, you can’t miss out on Blue Baker and, of course, we can’t come out here without a quick trip to Trader Joe’s!

12. Little Stacy Pool. (<1 year – free; 1-11 – $1; 12-17 – $2; 18&up – $3) The little wading pool here is perfect for younger kids who aren’t quite ready for the big pool. The playground next to it is fantastic as well.

13. Hop N Happy. (<5 – $6.75; 6-10 – $8.75; Adults are free) We haven’t been here yet but this bounce house gets fantastic reviews and is supposed to have an awesome spot for toddlers. We’re dying to check this place out!

14. The Toybrary. ($5 per child, free for members) Such a unique concept – this is a toy lending library where you can come check out toys, or just visit and play for a while! It’s a great way to try out some new toys or keep yourself busy on a hot summer afternoon.

15. Terra Toys. (FREE) We all love going here! It’s right next to our favorite game store, so we’ll often pop in here after we go look at board games. There are so many different toys on display to check out, and Jackson loves darting around and touching everything he can get his hands on!

16. Bass Pro Shop. (FREE) The new Round Rock store is huge and so much fun. We aren’t normally “outdoor store” people, but Jackson loved the giant aquarium, playing around in the boats, and all of the taxidermied animals. If you have older kids, there’s even a bowling alley attached!

17. The Domain. (FREE) There are several different play areas for kids, a ton of great restaurants and food trucks, and about a million stores to keep you busy. We also keep an eye out for their fun events like their Taste of North Austin event!

18. Go see the bats (FREE). This is better for older kids who understand the concept of waiting for something cool to happen – Jackson would never sit still while we waited, but this is pretty incredible to see. Summer is the best time to go – you don’t want to miss this!

19. Quarry Splash Pad. ($2 per person) This is a huge splash pad with some really cool features. It’s a beautiful area and seems to be lesser-known so not quite as crowded as some of the other splash pads in the area.

20. Austin Nature & Science Center. (FREE) It’s located in Zilker Park and we haven’t tried this one yet, but hear it has some fantastic hands-on exhibits for kids and is a great way to take a break from the heat and explore indoors a bit!

21. LEGO Store. (FREE) Perfect for our little guy who is quickly becoming obsessed with blocks and Legos. Also perfect for a dad who is still obsessed with Legos!

22. Austin Zoo. (<2 – free; 2-12 – $6; 12&up – $9) We love this little zoo and would come every weekend if it wasn’t such a long drive for us. The train is too cute and it’s a great way to have the zoo experience without having to drive to San Antonio or Waco.

Checking out some books at The Thinkery

23. The Thinkery. (<2 – free; 2&up – $9)  Perfect for older and younger kids – if you come on Mondays they have Baby Bloomers for kids ages 0-3, but their toddler area is open anytime they are open and Jackson loves to play here! So many fun exhibits, and I can’t wait until he’s big enough to play on the amazing outdoor playscape.

24. Kiddie Acres. (FREE admission, rides are by the ticket) We haven’t been to this place but it looks like a blast and I hear great things about it. You just purchase tickets for whatever you want to do, so you only have to pay for exactly what you do. There are lots of fun rides and food, and it looks like a great way to spend a day!

25. The Drag (Free). This is a great area to walk around, check out the shops, and just enjoy the atmosphere of downtown. This area used to be home to the best toy store in the world, but they’ve since moved…but it’s still a great place to visit!

26. Boggy Creek Farm. (FREE) This little farm in the middle of downtown Austin is nothing short of incredible. They have a farmer’s market on Wednesdays (and other days, depending on the time of year), but you can go out anytime and see the farm and chat with everyone there. It’s beautiful and so fun to explore!

27. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (<5 – free; 5-17 – $4; 17&up – $10) Similar to the botanical garden, this is another beautiful place to come explore, enjoy the sights, and relax!

28. Laguna Gloria. (<18 – free; 18&up – $5; FREE on Tuesdays) Another beautiful place to walk around outside and take in some art. Outdoor exhibits are a perfect way for the adults to get their museum fix while not worrying about the toddlers destroying anything or making too much noise!

29. Bull Creek. (FREE) We came out here to have some photos done a few years back and we loved it. It’s a beautiful park with a gorgeous creek that’s perfect for wading or swimming. There are some great hiking/walking trails, and it’s such a serene area!

30. Peter Pan Mini Golf. (<5 – $4 for one course; 5&up – $6 for one course) This is the coolest, most “Austin” mini golf place in existence. I can’t wait until Jackson is old enough to come here and play,

31. Mt. Bonnel. (FREE) Definitely better for older kids who can handle a long walk (and about half a million stairs) and understand safety rules, but this is a breathtaking view that you will never forget. Come at sunset, bring a snack (and a bottle of wine!) and enjoy.

32. Kayak on Lady Bird Lake. (Cost varies depending on where you rent from). I can’t believe I’ve lived in Austin my whole life and still haven’t done this, but one of these days I swear I’ll get around to it. I love to watch the people on the lake when I’m downtown, and it’s crazy how crowded it gets on hot summer days. This is an iconic Austin activity!

33. Round Rock Express. (Prices vary) I’m not at all a fan of baseball but even I love coming out to games at the Dell Diamond. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon, and one of these days I’m going to gather enough people to reserve tickets to swim in the pool while we watch the game!

WHERE TO EAT:

I’m only including places we’ve actually eaten at, since I can’t recommend food from somewhere I haven’t been. We tend to frequent more affordable, casual restaurants so that’s mostly what you’ll find here! All are very family friendly.

34. Torchy’s Tacos. Cheap, fast, and amazing. The one near our house has a full bar with amazing drinks. Don’t forget an order of queso (the best in town!) and some Lil’ Nookies.

35. Hopdoddy. These burgers will blow your mind, and the atmosphere is so much fun. The shakes are incredible, and so are the fries.

36. Jack Allen’s Kitchen. Go for brunch. Lunch and dinner is amazing too, but this is our favorite brunch spot in town. They have a brunch buffet, and it’s much fancier and amazing than it sounds. You don’t want to miss it!

37. Hoover’s. Classic Southern cooking, you’ll leave 100% stuffed and happy. I haven’t eaten anything here that wasn’t absolutely amazing.

38. Noble Pig. You must order the potato salad! These sandwiches are to die for, and I can’t get enough.

39. Dahlia Cafe. This is pretty far north of Austin, in Liberty Hill, but it’s so worth the drive. Order a dessert (the chocolate chess pie will change your life), a glass of incredibly affordable wine, and the chicken fried steak. Mmmmm.

Jackson had his first burger at Kerbey Lane!

40. Kerbey Lane Cafe. An Austin staple, and quite versatile – they’re known for amazing queso and amazing pancakes! I can never decide if I want to order breakfast or lunch here, and sometimes we end up ordering a little of each and sharing.

41.  Chuy’s. Ohhhh, Chuy’s. For me, this is the height of amazing Tex-Mex, and there is nowhere else I’d rather get my Mexican food fix. Order a Texas Martini, some queso (seriously, Austin just has good queso), and don’t forget to ask for the Creamy Jalapeño!

The Blackout donut from Gordough’s – HEAVEN!

42. South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery.  This may be my favorite place to eat in all of Austin. I have dreams about Gordough’s donuts, and there’s nothing there that I’ve tried that wasn’t amazing. Jack loves to hang out here and try all the different food, and we are suckers for a good food truck!

GO WITHOUT THE KIDS:

If you have a chance for a date night out, here are a few of our favorite spots that are less kid-friendly! 

43. Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. We love to come hang out here for a few hours. It’s always very crowded but if you wait around long enough you can always find a seat – we usually head upstairs where you have a better view and are less likely to get heckled. These guys always crack us up, and we love listening, singing along, and people watching here!

44. Esther’s Follies. Hilarious. So, so funny. We never fail to have an absolutely amazing time when we come here, and I wish we could go more often. You’ll laugh your head off all night long, promise!

The view at Grape Creek – incredible!

45. Fredericksburg wineries (our favorites are Grape Creek and Messina Hof!). It’s a bit of a drive to get to Fredericksburg from Austin, but it’s so worth it. The drive is incredibly beautiful, and the whole town is filled to the brim with wineries – they literally line the street. You can hop from place to place doing tastings (which is a blast), or you can stop at one winery and stay a while. We have a membership to Grape Creek and go every chance we can get!

46. Blue Starlight. This urban drive-in movie theater is supposed to be so much fun. I’ve always wanted to visit a drive-in, and this is the only one anywhere near us. I actually think it would be fun to take Jackson too – he loves to play in the front seat of the car, so he’d be happily entertained the whole time!

47. Austin Panic Room. This is high on our list of places to try. We already have a group to go with, we just need to pick a date and do it! This is a really fun-sounding puzzle for a group, where you get locked in room and have to solve the puzzle in order to get out (of course, you have a certain amount of time and get let out either way at the end of it!). It has amazing reviews, and we can’t wait to check it out.

48. The Buzz Mill. This is a 24-hour coffee shop/bar. The atmosphere is awesome, there’s usually some sort of live music, and their handmade infusions are amazing – Mr. Garland loves the walnut whiskey!

49. Alamo Drafthouse. We love to come get a drink, some food, and enjoy a movie. They have baby days for the first showing every Tuesday where you are free to bring your baby/toddler, but we haven’t braved that with Jackson yet. This is pretty much the only place we’ll go see a movie anymore!

50. Take in a show! There are always at least a dozen different music shows going on at any given time in Austin, and you’re sure to be able to find something that suits your mood.

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These are just a tiny fraction of all of the fun places Austin has to explore! We have so many more places on our list of things we want to try out as a family, and I’m thrilled that we got to cross a lot of places off the list this summer!

What are your favorite places to go with your family?