St Elmo Springdale

The Best Austin Breweries With Playgrounds

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

Craft breweries in Austin are a family event. Here are some of the best breweries with playgrounds.

Carpenter hotel coffee

23 Coolest South Austin Coffee Shops

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

I normally wouldn’t say that coffee shops are “cool.” I’d call them serene, calming, or excellent places to work or start your day. But in this case, these South Austin coffee shops are cool. And that’s not just because South Austin, in general, is just a cool little area of ATX… It’s also because the…

Better Half Bar beens and greens

Better Half Bar Is Still The Best Lunch In Downtown Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 7, 2025

It’s not new, and it’s not a trendy, but Better Half Bar in downtown Austin is still the best place to get lunch in downtown Austin.  Better Half Bar is an all-day coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. They have a robust coffee program that opens early in the morning, an all-day menu featuring breakfast, lunch,…

Evan LeRoy (James Beard Nominee) Launched A Special Menu, And It’s Insane

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

There are only two Austin nominees in the James Beard Award – Best Chef Texas category, and Evan LeRoy is one of them. And if you haven’t been to the new LeRoy and Lewis brick-and-mortar restaurant in South Austin, seriously, what’s wrong with you? 🙂 I’ve been geeking out about LeRoy and Lewis being one…

Violet Crown Trail

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots: Here Are The 15 Best Hiking Trails in Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

Austin is a very outdoorsy city with lots of great hiking trails. Ask anyone who lives here and they’ll tell you that the terrain of Austin, with the limestone cliffs and numerous creek beds, lends itself to lots of great, easy hiking. So if you’re looking for a fun weekend adventure, here are 15 of…

hiking at Walnut Creek Park

FREE In Austin: Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park (And It’s A Gem!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

I love scoping out free things to do in Austin, because sometimes it seems like the cost of simply walking out your door is $400 these days! (Does anyone else feel this way?) There are loads of free things to do in Austin, but one of my very favorites is finding incredible public parks and…

SXSW live music | How To Do SXSW For FREE!

How Does SXSW Work + How To Do SXSW For Free 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 5, 2025

South By Southwest Festival (also known as SXSW, SX, or “South By”) is a massive festival that happens in Austin Texas every spring. Although it started in the 1980s as a small-ish festival of 700 people, it has expanded and it’s now one of the biggest international stages to showcase the best and brightest in…

Top Notch

20 Classic Austin Restaurants For Your Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 15, 2025

Austin has a rich history of restaurants; some have even been around since way back in the mid-1800s!  If these classic Austin restaurants have managed to stick around that long (amidst all the trendy, modern-day restaurants that are opening nearly every week), we all want to know why. And so, after running around the city…

Mexta Restaurant Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend It

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 13, 2025

Well, I already shared my TL;DR in the title, so I’ll go ahead and cut right to the chase about the new Mexico City-inspired restaurant in downtown Austin: Mexta isn’t going to be on my Best Restaurants in Austin list, at least for now. Here’s my review of Mexta where I’ll share both the (very)…

Uchiba Austin patio

Uchiba Is My Favorite Of The Uchi Restaurant Empire

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 10, 2025

I recently went on a double date to Uchiba and felt compelled to say why this restaurant is my very favorite among the Uchi restaurant empire.

Black's BBQ Austin

9 Austin BBQ Spots You Need To Visit

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

Whether you’re local to the Austin area or you’re visiting for a long weekend, one thing is really clear about this town: we love our barbecue. I mean, we LOVE it. In fact, ever since Franklin Barbecue put Austin on the map for being one of the best places in the United States to eat…

East Austin Restaurants

Map Of The Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin (For 2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

It’s not hard finding breakfast tacos in Austin, but what about the best ones? We’re talking about soft homemade tortillas that are softly dusted with flour, warm, fluffy eggs, and homemade, fiery salsas. Sure, you can get decent breakfast tacos on just about every street corner in Austin. If you’re a and you want to…

Day Maker Is The New Diner Concept From Jack Allen’s Kitchen, And It’s Awesome

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

I absolutely LOVE a diner (like Phoebe’s, Kerbey Lane, and 24 Diner), in no small part due to Gilmore Girls’ influence on my upbringing. Hello Luke’s diner! But also because a big plate of chilaquiles and a hot cup of coffee on a random Tuesday morning? Yes please. Day Maker Half Day Café just opened in…

Salad at Local Foods in Austin Texas

Discover the Best Healthy Restaurants in Austin For 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 8, 2025

We’re bringing some of our favorite healthy Austin restaurants – yay! Austin has a lot of places for fresh lunches, allergen-free treats, vegan meals, and hearty dinners here in town. If you’re thinking the healthy restaurants are boring, think again. Austin is known for being a foodie’s paradise, but you don’t need to gorge on…

24 Diner breakfast in Austin

22 Places To Indulge In Weekday Breakfast In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 6, 2025

Sure, weekend brunching is practically a professional sport here in this foodie city…but don’t forget about the often overlooked weekday breakfast spots in Austin! There are plenty of good reasons to indulge in something delicious on a random Wednesday morning. powered by Proxi ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin…

Fun and Romantic Things to Do in Austin for Date Night

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 13, 2025
UT Basketball Game

You’ve done dinner and a movie a hundred times…but what about some other fun date ideas in Austin?

How Many Days Do You Need in Austin With Kids? (My Perfect 4-Day Itinerary)

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 2, 2025
Austin with kids

I live in Austin and have tried pretty much all of the “kid-friendly things to do in Austin.” If you’re planning a family vacation here, you might be wondering: how many days in Austin do you really need with kids? Long story short: 4 days (a long weekend) is the perfect amount of time. Here’s…

Best Pumpkin Patches In Austin (2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 27, 2025
Dripping Springs Pumpkin Fest

A quick guide + map to the best pumpkin patches in Austin this year.

Kid-Friendly Halloween Events Near Austin (2025 Edition)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 25, 2025
Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas

Fall is back, the air is crisping up (kinda…), and Austin is full of festive events perfect for kids and families. Not gonna lie – Halloween and fall events in Austin have gotten EXPENSIVE! If you’re going with a family of 4, expect to spend $100 on admission alone. Here are a few of my personal…

Easy Family Hikes Near Austin (Kid-Tested Trails!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 23, 2025
hiking at Walnut Creek Park

Looking for an easy family hike near Austin? I get it! I love being outdoors with my kids, but I don’t always want to commit to a long trek with steep climbs, tons of stairs, or rocky terrain. The good news is there are plenty of kid-friendly hikes near Austin that I’ve explored with my…

Where To Eat Near ACL Fest 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 22, 2025
Sandy's Hamburgers

From pre-fest coffee to post-fest drinks + carbs, here’s where to eat close to ACL Festival.

27 Fun Things To Do With Kids In Austin (That Locals Actually Love)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 22, 2025
Goat Farm at Jester King Austin

Whether you’re a local or you’re visiting with kids, here are some of my favorite really fun things to do in Austin with kids.

Do You Need A Car When You Visit Austin? A Mom’s Honest Take

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 19, 2025
Downtown Austin skyline at night

Wondering if you need a car when you visit Austin? Ok, hi! Sure! I’ll answer that. As a local Austin resident and someone who is constantly hopping around ATX to eat and explore, I have a feel for where to stay when you visit Austin and how you should plan to get around. ABOUT THE…

21 Cool Hotels Near Austin City Limits Festival

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 18, 2025
21 Best Hotels Near Austin City Limits Music Festival

Because why stay somewhere boring when you could stay somewhere awesome? Here are the best hotels near ACL Fest.

The Thinkery In Austin: Is The Children’s Museum Worth It?

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 18, 2025
The Thinkery

The Thinkery is our awesome little kids museum here in Austin. It’s located in the family-friendly east Austin neighborhood of Mueller, and it’s on pretty much every “best things to do in Austin” guide. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to visit, I’ll go ahead cut to the chase: YES! I’ve been to this…

10 Fun and Kid-Friendly Hotels in Austin for Your Next Trip

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025
Origin Hotel in Austin

When you’re visiting a city, the most important thing to do first is book your hotel! Once that’s taken care of, everything else-restaurants, museums, concerts, and other fun activities-falls into place. I’ve written before about the best places to stay in Austin with kids, and I still stand by what I said: a vacation rental…

12 Best Playgrounds In Austin (Ranked By My Kids)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025
Skyline Park

Austin has some of the best playgrounds in Texas, and lately the city has been busy giving a few of them major upgrades. The Parks Department has poured millions of dollars into places like Pease Park, Walnut Creek, and Circle C Park. We’re talking bigger play structures, more shaded areas, and safer play spots in…

What To Wear To Austin City Limits Music Festival

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025
What To Wear To ACL Festival

There’s a formula to this! Hot tip: no rompers because PORTA-POTTIES.

The Best Breakfast Spots In Austin With Kids

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 15, 2025
breakfast in Austin with kids

You know where Austin really shines? Casual breakfast spots! My kids love going out on Saturday mornings for a big stack of pancakes, and luckily, Austin has plenty of options. If you’re looking for where to eat breakfast in Austin with kids, here are a few of our favorite spots – personally approved by my…

Where To Stay In Austin With Kids

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 11, 2025
where to stay in Austin with kids

When a friend tells me she’s visiting Austin with her little ones and wants to know where to stay in Austin with kids, this is exactly what I tell her: An awesome airbnb, centrally located. And yes, plan on renting a car! Texas doesn’t have reliable public transportation. I’ve lived in Austin forever and I’m…

The Austin Things

Where To Eat In Austin

Visitor Tips For Austin

Best Austin Activites