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…

Things To Do In The Fall In Austin: Your Autumn Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 17, 2024
fall activities in Austin

Your official fall bucket list! Oktoberfests, corn mazes, book festivals, and pretty patio weather await.

Your Guide To The Best Halloween Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 15, 2024
The Best Halloween Bars In Austin

Every year during the Halloween season (aka September and October) a few bars in Austin feature a pop-up Halloween theme. They’re so much fun! You can show up in spooky attire (or just your regular clothes) and sip on themed cocktails with fake eyeballs and smoke coming out of them and snap some pictures and…

Best Brunch In Austin With A View

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 4, 2024
brunch in Austin with a view

Waterfront dining, migas, and mimosas: here’s where you can get brunch with a view in Austin.

20 Things To Do In Austin With Toddlers

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 1, 2024
Zilker Mini Train

There’s nothing quite as exhausting as spending a day with toddlers. Here’s how to keep your sanity with some fun things to do in Austin.

All The Austin Restaurants on Diners, Drive-ins And Dives (And Which Ones Are Worth Visiting)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 27, 2024
Noble Sandwich | all the Austin restaurants on Diners Drive-ins and Dives

We’ve all seen at least a few episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on The Food Network. Even if you’re not a regular at watching bleach-haired Guy Fieri drive around in his cherry red ’68 Camaro, stopping at popular foodie destinations around the country and devouring 4-pound cheeseburgers, you’ve most likely seen an episode while…

A Map of Where To Eat Near Q2 Stadium In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 23, 2024
The best food and drinks near Q2 Stadium in Austin

If you’re heading to see a soccer game tonight, use this guide to find some really good food near Q2 Stadium! (Map included below so you can find where to eat near Q2 Stadium, fast.) Q2 Stadium is the epic soccer stadium in north Austin that was built at the whopping cost of $260 million.…

Where To Celebrate Oktoberfest In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 20, 2024
Banger's Oktoberfest

It’s Oktoberfest season, and it’s truly one of the funnest times of the year. The weather cools down, those rich and malty marzens and festbiers are finally ready to drink, and all of the fall fun is finally here. When does Oktoberfest happen in Austin? Most of these weekend festivals are late September and early…

10 Must-Try Restaurants in East Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 19, 2024
EZOV - best east Austin restaurants

If you love great restaurants, you’ll love east Austin. Here are the absolute must-try spots in east ATX.

A Local’s Guide to Dirty Sixth Street: Where to Eat and Drink

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 19, 2024
where to eat and drink on Dirty Sixth Austin

If you’re looking for this guide, you’re probably not a “Dirty Sixth” type of person…

The Best Spas in Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 4, 2024
Best Spas in Austin

A few of the most *fabulous* spas in Austin, for the next time you need to de-stress.

Dripping Springs Breweries With Playgrounds

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 2, 2024
Playground at Jester King

If you have little ones, you’re no doubt looking for kid-friendly restaurants where they can run around and play. One of the best places near Austin for lots of space, sunshine, and beer (!!) is Dripping Springs. It’s about 10 miles southwest of the city. Because of zoning laws and real estate prices, it’s a…

My Guide To the Best Restaurants in Downtown Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 1, 2024
La Condesa Austin

Downtown Austin is an absolute treasure trove of terrific places to eat and drink. But it’s also hella overwhelming because there are SO many downtown Austin restaurants! Whether you’re visiting or you’re a local who’s looking for a great downtown Austin restaurant, I’m here to share the best places to eat and drink in downtown…

25 Austin Activities For Babies

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 30, 2024
Things to do with babies in Austin

There are plenty of things to do in Austin with babies! But just keep in mind…looking for things to do in Austin with a toddler and things to do in Austin with a baby can be totally different activities. After all, toddlers can, well…toddle, and babies mostly just sit there (and look adorable.) So for…

Here’s Where To Go Country Dancing In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 2, 2024
Broken Spoke in Austin Texas | The best places to go country dancing in Austin

Searching for some of the best country dance floors in Austin? Well, there are still a few adorable, historic, family-owned honky tonks in ATX that make for a great date night, a memorable bachelorette party activity, or just a fun evening out with friends. Country dancing is a great excuse to dress up, have fun,…

Best Restaurants in Georgetown, TX for Local Eats and Drinks

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 1, 2024
Pizza at 600 Degrees Pizzeria in Georgetown Texas

Ask anyone who lives in Georgetown, Texas, and they’ll tell you: GTX is WHERE IT’S AT, y’all! This historic Texas town might has experienced its recent boom due to its 30 mile proximity to Austin, but now the same people who moved to Georgetown as a commuter city are very happy to call it home.…

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