Austin, Texas is a city that is bustling with many parks, museums, and entertainment venues fun for everyone in the family to experience. The capital city is home to a unique variety of activities for all ages to enjoy.
If you’re visiting Austin for a weekend, don’t miss out on these awesome adventures including outdoor activities, unique places to visit, and interactive experiences that the whole family will love.
What Are the Best Family Things to Do in Austin?
Austin is filled with rich culture and many different experiences for the whole family. Here are some of the capital’s most popular attractions.
Pioneer Farms is one of the most fun family activities you will experience in Austin. Travel back in time to the 1800s where you get to explore what life was like in the 19th century. Take a tour in a covered wagon and meet characters dressed in period costumes that will tell you all about how they live.
Zilker Park is a great place to run around and enjoy the outdoors. This expansive park has a plethora of entertaining options including botanical gardens, sculptures, a hillside theater, a miniature train, and various places to enjoy water activities.
The Inner Space Cavern is one place you don’t want to miss. The rock formations inside the cave look like something from another world. Learn about how caverns are formed and all of the cool geological formations inside them.
If you want the thrill of a lifetime, take the family to iFLY Austin and experience the adrenaline rush of indoor skydiving. The exhilaration of freefall within the controlled indoor environment is an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
What Are Some Family Friendly Outdoor Activities to Do in Austin?
Although Austin is a big city, there are a lot of outdoor activities such as parks for you and your family to spend out in the fresh air.
A great family tradition is to go mini golfing at Peter Pan Mini Golf. There are two different eighteen hole courses to choose from with fun characters such as Peter Pan and a giant T. rex right in the middle of your golf game.
Climb Mount Bonnell, the highest spot in Austin, and enjoy a beautiful view of the city. With wide open spaces for everyone to run around and the sights and sounds of nature, who could ask for a better weekend trip?
If you’d rather be on the water, go to Spring Lake and take a tour of the water in a glass bottomed boat. You won’t be able to see the bottom of the lake, but you’re guaranteed to catch a glimpse or two of the fish that live there.
If you have a few minutes to spare at the end of the day, head over to Bat Bridge where you’ll see millions of bats flying into the sunset from spring through the fall.
Are There Any Unique Places to Visit in Austin That Are Family Friendly?
Austin offers some pretty unique experiences if you know where to look. Check out some of these for an unforgettable weekend.
Visit the capitol building made entirely of beautiful pink granite and learn all about the state of Texas from fun facts to its rich history. There are free tours and lots of space on the grounds to enjoy a picnic or let the kids burn off some energy.
If you love the sweeter things in life, you cannot miss the Museum of Ice Cream. There is a giant pool of sprinkles to “swim” in and a carousel made of life size animal crackers. Of course, you can also get any kind of ice cream treat imaginable.
Go to the Hideout Theater where an improv troupe will act out shows based on what the kids in the audience suggest. Throw out your zaniest ideas and laugh yourself silly as you watch the crazy antics come to life.
The Texas Toy Museum is another must-see venue for the whole family. Your kids will love it and you will get to feel like a kid again too as you walk among exhibits featuring toys from every era including your own.
Are There Any Interactive Activities for Families to Explore in Austin?
If you have a family of doers and not just observers, check out these awesome interactive experiences that will keep you busy having fun.
If you enjoy the thrill of competitive racing, try your hand on the go-kart track at the Circuit of the Americas. With speeds up to 55 miles per hour, you’re sure to have a great time and imagine you’re a professional racecar driver – which isn’t hard to do since there’s a Formula One track right next door!
Go to the Thinkery, an interactive children’s museum that has a whole suite of fun activities and interactive, educational science and technology exhibits. You’ll easily spend an entire day exploring the different parts of the Thinkery and your kids will have a blast.
When it’s too hot outside, cool down at Chaparral Ice by ice skating around the enormous rink. At different times of the year, there are hockey games you can join and even learn how to play curling.
For the more adventurous types, take a ziplining tour of McKinney Roughs Nature Park. You’ll get to view the awesome sights of nature as you glide along the treeline.
Summary
Austin, Texas has so many wonderful places to explore that it will take more than a weekend to discover them all. We have given you a few suggestions on where to go whether you want to get out in nature with a ziplining adventure or cavern exploration or you’re craving the adrenaline rush of indoor skydiving or go-kart racing.
No matter what you choose to do, this capital city is teeming with fun family activities so check out which ones you’re most interested in, start making plans, and book your tickets. Your family adventure weekend awaits!
