I can't count the numbers of times I've been to Austin without kids. I've partied on 6th Street, shopped at The Domain, had tacos at El Arroyo and watched the bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge. Several years ago, I even visited the Facebook offices there with my brother.
But I haven't really ever done Austin with kids.
It turns out Austin has a lot to offer for the under-18 set!
While traveling is tricky right now (hello, Covid), it can also be lots of fun if you are willing to venture out. We have found that many places are incredibly clean, properly enforce social distancing and are generally just not as crowded right now (although, let me be clear, there are many places that are not taking precautions, too).
This trip to Austin didn't include a few of the things I would have loved to do because of Covid closures. Seeing peacocks at Mayfield Park came highly recommended, but the park was closed. Many public parks and swimming areas in Austin are closed or at severely reduced capacity, meaning we didn't want to take our chances by showing up and getting turned away.
So I did some googling and came up with some fun, outdoor activities that allowed the girls to enjoy the unofficial last weekend of summer while still trying to keep germ spread to a minimum.
Obviously, seeing the bats was the top-most line item on my list of things to do in Austin. If you don't know what I'm talking about, start here: Austin Bats Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. It is estimated that 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats live underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. Every night at dusk, the bats begin flying out in droves to feed. It's an eerie but cool sight to see- and it's totally free (although you may need to pay to park)! Peak season is May-November to view the bats. You can watch from beside the bridge or on the bridge, and there are numerous boat and water tours (that cost money) you can also enjoy for bat viewing. We arrived at 7 pm and the bats flew around 7:45. The girls loved it! (the smell though...)
On Saturday we decided to head to Lake Travis to enjoy the water before water activities shut down for the season. A quick google search lead me to Volente Beach, Texas' only beach and waterpark resort. My girls love all things water, so I figured this was worth the 30-minute drive from our Austin hotel. Parking was $7, and the waterpark was $24.99 per person. The fee included 4 waterslides and a large pool area (with a kiddie slide) as well as a pirate ship play area for the 5 and younger set. The waterpark had an attached restaurant and a separate but attached bar. In the evenings, there is a stage for live entertainment (this hotspot becomes 18 and over after 7 pm). From the waterpark, you could walk to the beach and swim in a small area of the lake surrounded on three sides by a dock. My girls were there for six hours and did not leave willingly, so I'll call the day a win! The waterpark wasn't very crowded, which meant they got to enjoy the attractions for hours!
We stayed at the Aiden by Best Western, just south of downtown Austin on I-35 and highly, highly recommend this spot! The hotel was less than $100 per night for a room with two queen beds. It has an attached restaurant that has a full bar- and free breakfast is included! (due to Covid, the breakfast is not buffet style. You fill out an order form and get brown sacks filled with your requested food items, which can be consumed in the restaurant or in your room). The pool is in the center of the property and very picture-esque. It has a shallow area for kids and an 8 ft. area for older kids and adults. You can sit out by the pool and enjoy a meal or an adult beverage (no glass) and visit with friends. You do have a make a reservation at the front desk- only 30 guests are being allowed at the pool at a time to limit large gatherings. All rooms had outside entry so you didn't have to be in common areas of the hotel at all if you didn't want to be.
On Monday, we stopped at Sweet Eats Farm, just east of Georgetown and about 30 minutes from Austin. Y'all... my girls and I are doers of all things, and we have done hundreds of activities in DFW and beyond. And this farm is in my top five favorite activities we have ever done. Like, ever ever. This farm is a total throwback to my own childhood. No screens or gadgets or high-tech activities here (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Just good, old-fashioned fun. Check out the pig races, find your way out of the hay maze, swing, climb, slide, ride a horse, pet animals (alpacas and goats and baby chicks, oh my!), jump on an inflatable jump zone, slingshot apples and SO much more. The cost was $12 per person and it was SO worth it. Honestly, we stayed three hours because I was anxious to get on the road and get home to prepare for virtual school on Tuesday, but, if we had had more time, we would have stayed longer. The weather was warm but the activity areas were completely shaded. Food was available onsite. The girls got muddy and sweaty and didn't ask about iPads or YouTube Kids once. It was such a fun way to unplug and enjoy watching my kids be kids! (Although I did get good cell service, in you you were wondering!) The next time you are in Central Texas, I highly recommend checking out this spot!
Of course on the way home we had to stop at Buc cee's with half the state of Texas (are those spots ever not busy? Like, ever?). But it was an easy three hour drive each way to Austin and just what we needed for a little fun away from home. When is the last time you went to Austin? What activities would you recommend for family fun in Central Texas?
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