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…
A quick guide + map to the best pumpkin patches in Austin this year.
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…
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…
From pre-fest coffee to post-fest drinks + carbs, here’s where to eat close to ACL Festival.
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.
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…
Because why stay somewhere boring when you could stay somewhere awesome? Here are the best hotels near ACL Fest.
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…
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…
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 into places like Pease Park, Walnut Creek, and Circle C, making play structures bigger and better, adding shaded areas, and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for…
There’s a formula to this! Hot tip: no rompers because PORTA-POTTIES.
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…
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…
I know it’s a bit of an unpopular opinion, but as a local, I think South Congress is still incredible. Sure, it’s not the hippie mecca it used to be, and yes, a few big corporate stores have moved in-but the vibe is alive, the streets are fun, and the food? Absolutely worth it. Here…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…
Think of this as a brainstorming session to find a good downtown Austin lunch restaurant. These aren’t necessarily narrowed down to the best lunch restaurants in Austin. Rather, we’re providing a big, broad list + map of places you can eat lunch in downtown Austin so you can find a location near you and the…
Here’s your guide to some of the best casual restaurants in Austin. When you’ve been working from home all day in sweatpants and a messy bun and you’re not in the mood to wear makeup or put on “real” clothes, use this list to find a casual Austin restaurant near you. Because we’ve all been…
First off, don’t be weird and call it “cheese dip.” Queso is a BIG thing in Austin, and there’s no quicker way to show you don’t belong than by saying “let’s go get some burritos and cheese dip!” This spectacular appetizer (and sometimes a full meal…come on, everyone’s done it at least once) is one…
It’s a running joke in Austin Texas that the weather can fluctuate on a dime. You’ll wake up in the morning and put on a pair of jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, and a coat, and by lunchtime, you’re wishing you were wearing a t-shirt and sandals and paddle boarding out on the lake…even in the…
We’ve talked about Q2 Stadium plenty over here at The Austin Things. It’s a GORGEOUS soccer stadium that was built in 2020 to provide a home base for Austin FC, Austin’s MLS team. There are plenty of reasons why Q2 Stadium is the ultimate destination for soccer fans, but, one of the big reasons why…
Austin FC’s third season is kicking off, and with that comes a lot of anticipation from the fan base about upcoming changes to Q2 Stadium in north Austin. After all, a big part of attending the games and cheering on Los Verdes is the match day experience. And it just so happens that Q2 stadium…
Austin, Texas public library system isn’t the biggest in the country, but that just means the pressure’s on to make it really great! The Austin Public Library system has a lot of branches scattered throughout the city, and one absolutely phenomenal central library that’s been nationally recognized. Many of these Austin public libraries offer kids…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…
Some people like to travel by themselves, especially when visiting touristy attractions in the city. But there’s nothing quite like the experience of having an expert tour guide (especially if it’s a local). They can help you learn about Austin’s history and gain access to sites you may not be able to visit on your…
South by Southwest Conference and Festival is just around the corner, and in addition to packing stuff and updating your business cards and creating the perfect schedule of panels to attend and booking hotels and finding ways to do SXSW for free, you’re probably always wondering…what does one wear to this festival? After all, it’s…
Looking for the perfect Austin escape? When visiting the city, make sure to choose a hotel that truly represents the unique character of the vibrant destination. From funky decor to rooftop pools with awe-inspiring views of the city and cozy beds, there’s no shortage of boutique hotels in Austin offering a truly one-of-a-kind experience. I’ve…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…
Paddle boarding in Austin is a really big deal. Since there’s a beautiful body of water in the heart of Austin (Lady Bird Lake, although old-timers in Austin call it “Town Lake”), you can pretty much see people paddle boarding (SUP = Stand Up Paddleboard) or kayaking any time you’re walking on the trail around…
Chances are, if it’s a beautiful day in Austin and the sun is shining (aka 300 days of the year…), you want to get outside and soak up the beauty. And, like lots of Austinites, you’re drawn to the incredible body of water in the center of our city, adjacent to the sprawling downtown Austin…
