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…
North Austin is the bridge between Round Rock and downtown Austin, so it’s where a lot of residents are looking to spend their evenings and weekends. And while many of the hot new restaurants in ATX are in downtown or east Austin, north Austin is home to some hidden gems that are absolutely worth checking…
A family photoshoot in Austin can be one of the best way’s to capture memories from your year. Good thing Austin is one of the most photogenic cities in the country! We have plenty of options for both beautiful urban sceneries and stunning natural backdrops. But before booking your annual family photo shoot in Austin,…
Austin is renowned for its many outdoor activities and trails, so if you love to get out there and explore, you’re in the right place! After living here for two years, I’d heard endlessly about the Barton Creek Greenbelt. I’m not the most outdoorsy person and thus needed help figuring out where to start. I…
Austin, Texas isn’t cheap, but there are still plenty of free things to do in Austin if you know where to look! So if you love hunting for a deal and scoping out budget-friendly travel ideas, this post is for you. From music to festivals, to museum exhibits, concerts, free zoo events, guided tours, kid-friendly…
If you’re visiting Texas, you absolutely must go to some craft breweries in Austin. The Austin craft beer scene has never been hotter, and the competition to get those national medals is fierce. That means, as a consumer, there’s a record number of INCREDIBLE beers out there for you to sip and enjoy. While there…
Let’s get to it: does Austin even have good seafood? That depends on who you’re asking. If you look at the quality, variety, and availability of fresh seafood restaurants in Austin, especially compared to what was available in this city just 10 years ago, you’ve got to admit: Austin is a pretty good city for…
Are you an early riser who loves to start your day with a big, delicious breakfast? Or do you hit the snooze button a million times and HATE actually getting out of bed? No matter what type of morning person you are (or aren’t…), if you’re awake and you’re hungry, you’re probably looking for the…
Sure, it’s not quite the crazy month of march when SXSW hits Austin. And it’s not the beautiful fall months when you can experience warm afternoons and ACL Festival. But spring in Austin is an AWESOME time to live in/visit this city, and there are tons of things to do in April in Austin. Here…
Easter is coming up soon! Have you made your brunch plans? If you’re planning to do an easter brunch in Austin 2023, make sure you book reservations as early as possible. Restaurants fill up so fast for Easter brunch reservations! Here are 24 great options for a beautiful Easter Brunch in Austin. Some of these…
The Austin Bats are the largest urban colony of bats in the WORLD! So yes, if you’re visiting Austin Texas, you absolutely must go see the bats emerging from the Congress bridge. It’s actually very, very cool. What’s the best way to see the Austin bats? It’s pretty simple. They sleep all day under…
West Austin is a beautiful, resident-filled section of Austin that has rolling hills, views of downtown, and lots of gorgeous hiking and boating opportunities. Do you know what else it has? Good coffee shops! Yep. Just a few years ago, you could hardly find any locally-owned west Austin coffee shops. It was all big-name brands…
Let’s start by making something really clear: the beaches in Austin are lake beaches and river beaches. Obviously, sure, but it’s nice to just clear things up from the beginning. There are no oceans in Austin, TX. Shocker. However, there are some really great sandy beach areas, clean, cold water, and beautiful places to enjoy…
When the weekend rolls around, you’re more likely to want to go out for a happy hour in Austin! Weekday happy hours are fun, but you still have to wake up the next day and go to work. If you can find great weekend happy hours in Austin, you can enjoy heading out around 4…
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…
Sometimes you want incredible food, and sometimes you want a kid-friendly restaurant, and sometimes you just want to try whatever is new and notable….but every now and then, the main criterion in your restaurant search is: make it pretty. What are the prettiest restaurants in Austin? We’re talking about unique architecture, vaulted ceilings, big windows,…
