Things to do with Kids in Austin

Happy kids, happy you! Austin is a wonderful choice for families, with everything from aquariums filled with mind-boggling creatures of the deep to exhilarating outdoor activities and interactive museums.

Whether your kids are tiny tots or not-so-tiny-teens, you'll find an impressive list of top-notch and quirky family attractions in Austin. Under the sunny Texan skies, they can burn off some energy outside at the water parks, lakes and botanical gardens. When it gets too hot, head indoors and keep them entertained with movies on IMAX screens, retro toy museums and trampoline parks.

Austin's perfect climate and affinity for all things oddball (the city's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird") mean the kids will have a blast during their stay. Let your inner kid out too and embrace the quirkiness for a let-your-hair-down family experience in Texas.

Museums for Kids

  • Let The Thinkery answer kids' never-ending stream of 'why?' and 'how?' questions. The museum combines science with fun to challenge, excite and amaze.
  • Take a journey into the past at the Austin Toy Museum, where you'll have as much fun as the kids perusing the nostalgic toys and playing on retro arcade games.
  • The Bullock Texas State History Museum brings the past to life. Don't miss out on seeing a movie on the museum's enormous IMAX screen. The kids will love it!

Outdoor Activities

  • Let the kids loose at the vast Altitude Trampoline Park, where you'll hear whoops of joy as they bounce on 23,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines.
  • Take the family kayaking in delightful Zilker Park before expanding their minds at the interactive Austin Nature & Science Center.
  • When the Texan sun is beating down, nothing's more refreshing than hitting the water park at Volente Beach Resort on Travis Lake.

Nature

  • Get up close to impressive rescued animals including tigers and black bears at Austin Zoo, and learn about these magnificent species in the wild.
  • Let the kids run around to their heart's content at the beautiful Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the state botanical garden of Texas.
  • There are few greater wonders than the mysteries of the deep. Your youngsters can get face-to-face with a few of them, including stingrays, sharks and octopuses, at the Austin Aquarium.

Created in partnership with Visit Austin