Austin with kids

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 2, 2025

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…

Dripping Springs Pumpkin Fest

Best Pumpkin Patches In Austin (2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 27, 2025

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

Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas

Kid-Friendly Halloween Events Near Austin (2025 Edition)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 25, 2025

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…

hiking at Walnut Creek Park

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 23, 2025

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…

Sandy's Hamburgers

Where To Eat Near ACL Fest 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 22, 2025

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

Goat Farm at Jester King Austin

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 22, 2025

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.

Downtown Austin skyline at night

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 19, 2025

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 Best Hotels Near Austin City Limits Music Festival

21 Cool Hotels Near Austin City Limits Festival

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 18, 2025

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

The Thinkery

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 18, 2025

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…

Origin Hotel in Austin

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025

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…

Skyline Park

12 Best Playgrounds In Austin (Ranked By My Kids)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025

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…

What To Wear To ACL Festival

What To Wear To Austin City Limits Music Festival

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2025

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

breakfast in Austin with kids

The Best Breakfast Spots In Austin With Kids

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 15, 2025

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

Where To Stay In Austin With Kids

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 11, 2025

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…

Jo's Coffee

10 Best Restaurants on South Congress (From a Local Who Eats Here Weekly)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 5, 2025

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…

Where To Stay In Austin For A Bachelorette Party: Here’s A Map

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 10, 2024
Pool at The Thompson Hotel in Austin

There’s no doubt that Austin is an incredible place for a bachelorette weekend. It’s perfect for people who want to just have FUN without a lot of pressure. We’re pretty casual here in ATX…this isn’t going to be your LA or Miami nightlife scene. Instead, Austin has great dancing, insane restaurants, all sorts of weird/local…

Kid-Friendly Holiday Activities In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 6, 2024
kid-friendly holiday events in Austin

The holidays in Austin are so much fun! There are plenty of kid-friendly holiday activities in Austin that the whole family can enjoy together. So if you’re looking to spend time in Austin with you little ones this holiday season and you want to soak up all the magical memories, you’re in luck. There are…

A Map Of All The Holiday Pop-Up Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 5, 2024
Miracle on 5th Street

A map of all the holiday pop-up bars in Austin so you can slip into an ugly Christmas sweater and go get you an eggnog!!

20 Things To Do In Austin In The Winter

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 4, 2024
Austin skyline in the winter

20 fun things to do in Austin in the winter. Even in the winter, this city is SO much fun to visit and there’s a lot to do!

Where To Eat Near The Moody Center In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 4, 2024
The Moody Center

Heading to a game or show at the Moody Center and wondering where to eat beforehand? The goal of this guide is to connect you to local Austin restaurants nearby the University of Texas campus! (Map included below.) My Top 3 Picks For Restaurants Near The Moody Center In Austin 1. Scholz Garden – if you want…

27 Places To Celebrate Your Birthday In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 4, 2024
Margarita at Gabriela's Downtown

Happy birthday, boo! Looking for something fun to do in Austin on your special day? It can be hard to figure out plans for your birthday… The trickiest part is just brainstorming, I’m sharing a lot of ideas for places to celebrate your birthday in Austin…for adults! I’ll start off by sharing the 10 best restaurants…

20 Wine Bars In Austin That Are Absolutely Darling

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 3, 2024
Underdog Wine Bar Austin - best new restaurants in Austin

Wine bars in Austin are plentiful. After all, this city gets more than 300 sunny days per year, so cute little bungalow wine bars in Austin with outdoor patios draped in twinkly lights are kind of our love language. There are some that are exceptional in every sense of the word, others that are trendy but…

The Ultimate List Of Holiday Activities In Austin (2024 Edition!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 3, 2024
Holiday Activities in Austin

Looking for some of the most memorable holiday events in Austin? From Trail of Lights to Christmas shopping, here are the can’t-miss events this year.

Kid Friendly Restaurants in Austin That Actually Have Good Food

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 2, 2024
homeslice pizza

Here it is! A round up of my very favorite kid friendly restaurants in Austin that *actually* have good food. This guide was created after one too many conversations with fellow moms asking “where can I eat in Austin with kids that’s NOT A BURGER RESTAURANT?” After you’ve had a few too many trips to…

What Are The Most Romantic Restaurants In Austin?

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 21, 2024
Uchiba

The sexiest, most romantic restaurants in Austin for when you’re ready to pull out all the stops.

16 Best Restaurants in Buda, TX

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 18, 2024
Best restaurants in Buda

It’s pronounced “Byoo-da,”ok? Buda is a charming city to the of Austin, and there are so many wonderful restaurants in Buda. Actually, it’s a little bit crazy how many fun places there are to eat and drink here, judging by the size of this small historic town.  But the development of the Mill & Grain…

Check Out These Charming Local Austin Book Shops

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 16, 2024
Vintage Bookshop and Wine Bar

Book, coffee, cozy morning. Check check check! Here are some of the best local book shops in Austin where you can #supportlocal.

A Map Of All The Michelin Restaurants In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 15, 2024
21 Best Date Night Restaurants In Austin

The Michelin Guide officially launched in Texas with a ceremony in November 2024. Here are all the restaurant in Austin that were recognized.

Where To Order Thanksgiving Food To-Go In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 14, 2024
Thanksgiving to go from Waltons

Thanksgiving is upon us! And while some love to spend hours in the kitchen, others prefer to outsource. Here’s where to get thanksgiving food to-go in Austin.

100 Creative Date Ideas In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 12, 2024
new restaurant in Austin

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

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