There are numerous ways to have an enjoyable time with children in Austin. To get a taste of local culture, you could start with the Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo, which takes place in March, or the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th commemorating Mexican Independence. Chuy’s Christmas Parade is only one of a number of holiday celebrations.
You might not realize how many professional sports teams you can see with children in Austin. In addition to Austin’s first pro sports team, the Ice Bats Hockey team, the Dallas Cowboys play pre-season games in Austin, and the San Antonio Spurs can be found training at the Recreation Center of University of Texas at Austin. An affiliate team of the Houston Astros, the Round Rock Express, play in nearby Round Rock, an the Arena Football League team, Austin Wranglers, are also professionals.
If your family enjoys museums, there’s at least one you shouldn’t miss when you’re with children in Austin. The Children’s Museum is inexpensive and features learning exhibits and programs that are specially designed for children. Permanent exhibits include a karaoke show modeled on “Austin City Limits" in which children become the stars; an art center, Creation Station, where children can build using recycled materials; and the Funstruction Zone, where students can explore while building.
Should history be more at the center of the family’s interests, you might want to stop at the State Capitol while you are traveling with children in Austin. This government building is the largest of all the state capitols in America. The Texas Memorial Museum features the history of the state told through geology and anthropology. It is the exhibition area of the Texas Natural Science Center, and is on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Here, you can get up close and personal with paleontologists, and interaction with the staff is invited and encouraged.
If the family enjoys outdoor activities, there are several notable areas where you can do many different activities with children in Austin. Besides hiking, biking, and picnicking, McKinney Falls State Park offers opportunities for fishing, wildlife observation, and camping. The wildlife includes whitetail deer, armadillos, and raccoons. If you’re planning to spend time with children in Austin, check out the park calendar of events.
Zilker Metropolitan Park has trails for hiking and biking, picnic areas, soccer, rugby, and multi-use fields, and a pool. You can go canoeing on Town Lake, take a ride on Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train, or play volleyball or golf. And that’s not all. Those traveling with children in Austin should check out the Zilker Botanical Garden which features a Japanese garden and a butterfly garden and the Austin Nature and Science Center, which has an array of children’s and adult programs, including digging for dinosaur fossils.
