10 Family Friendly Things to do and Places to go in Austin With Kids
Tired of Googling “things to do with kids in Austin” and getting the same three parks and a zoo? Same. This isn’t one of those lists written by someone who’s never actually done these with a kid that they’ve had to carry out at the end of the playdate. I’m a local photographer and mom sharing our favorites. With real reaviews to tell if you it’s worth the car seat struggle. Every link below takes you to a blog post with actual tips, my hot take opinions, and photos I took myself (because, hi, that’s my job).
I’m constantly adding new and fun places we’ve explored to the list! Check back to see where we go next!
1. Wonderspaces Austin with Kids
đź“Ť1205 Sheldon Cove Unit 2-A, Austin, TX 78753
đź’µ $$ Tickets required
⏱️ About 1 hour
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Immersive art installations that had my 6-year-old wide-eyed.
2. Austin Nature & Science Center
đź“Ť2389 Stratford Dr, Austin, TX 78746
đź’µ Free!
⏱️ 2-3 hours
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Hands-on exhibits, wildlife viewing, and interactive play areas make it a perfect weekday outing for curious kids.
3. Bull Creek District Park
đź“Ť6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731
đź’µ Free!
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend an hour or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Fun creek for splashing and cooling off.
4. Texas Science & Natural History Museum
đź“Ť2389 Stratford Dr, Austin, TX 78746
💵 ~$15–20 per person or Free on certain days
⏱️ 2-3 hours
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Dinos, fossils, and interactive exhibits for the kids.
5. Austin Public Library
đź“ŤVarious Branch Locations (21)
đź’µ Free!
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend an hour or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Free Programming, Books, & a Library Passport… what’s not to love?
6. Liz Carpenter Splash Pad
đź“Ť1000 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
đź’µ Free! ($ Parking)
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend an hour or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Free splash pad fun with skyline views and it lights up at night for extra magic.
7. Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin
đź“Ť2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
đź’µ Free on certain days or up to $8 per person
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend an hour or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Nature family time with fun areas to explore.
8. HOPE Outdoor Gallery
đź“Ť741 Dalton Ln, Austin, TX 78742
đź’µ Free!
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend an hour or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: Where else can you go to tag walls legally?
9. Visit Play For All Abilities Park
đź“Ť151 N A W Grimes Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664
đź’µ Free
⏱️ 2 – ? Easy to spend a few hours or half-day here.
đź“ť Why We Loved It: So many different play areas to explore!
10. Mezmerize: Living Dream
đź“Ť820 Shelby Ln Unit 106, Austin, TX 78745
đź’µ $$ Tickets required
⏱️ 1 – ? Easy to spend a few fun hours here!
đź“ť Why We Loved It: So many little hidden easter eggs that you can visit twice and your kids will find new things next time.
Want to Explore Austin & Capture Your Family’s Story?
If you love these kid-friendly Austin spots but want to skip the selfie chaos, I’m here for you. As a local family and senior photographer, I specialize in capturing real moments… the messy, the magical, and everything in between.
Ready to make some memories (and get photos that actually show who you are)?
