Summer is coming! With soaring outdoor temps, many parents opt for indoor activities in the Austin’s hotter months, especially after mid morning. If you’re not swimming and it’s later than 10AM, chances are that you’re going to want to head inside. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Austin with kids!
This iconic toy shop has been a life saver for our family. It’s pretty large and with so much to see, my boys are usually here for a couple hours. They often have fun toys out on display, too, so you’re able to play a little bit. As a bonus, there’s an adorable (and tasty) cafe with fun sandwiches, treats, and coffee. I always make sure we leave with a little something because I love to shop small and support local. Pro parenting tip: if they have some good sale toys, snag them to stash away for birthday parties!
With several locations around Austin, this is a great way for kids to still get in a ton of great exercise without the crazy heat. The south Austin locations offers a plethora of activities such as trampolines, a climbing wall, arcade, ropes course, and even virtual reality. I usually bribe my kids and tell them that they need to jump and climb for a certain amount of time before I’ll allow them to hit the arcade. This is one of those places that you could stay all day and have a blast. They also offer memberships if you are going to visit frequently, which is especially great for summer months.
We are so lucky in Austin to have such an amazing children’s museum! The Thinkery provides a full day of fun for kids of varying ages. When my kids were toddlers, they had just as much fun as they do now that they’re in elementary school. Each room has a different theme with STEAM related activities for children. The water play upstairs is our favorite! The giant outdoor climbing rope playground is a close second. The Thinkery also happens to be in a really fun, hip area of Austin with a lot of great restaurants to choose from, as well as an Alamo! Come at opening and grab lunch or a movie on your way home! Some of our favorite spots f0r food in that area include Colleen’s Kitchen and Kerbey Lane Cafe.
One of our favorite summer activities is to head down to BookPeople and browse their insanely amazing children’s book collection. Just like at Terra Toys, we never leave empty handed because we love to support local businesses. There is also a cute cafe, CoffeePeople, that has snacks, sandwiches, coffee, and other cold drinks. This was a staple in my routine when my boys were little.
This spot is best for kids ages 4-5 and older just because there’s more for them to do, and it has quickly become one of our favorites. My six year old son begged to go here for his birthday! High 5 is a bowling alley, laser tag zone, and arcade, combined with a restaurant. Though they do have a north location, the Lakeway location is by far the best because it has the most activities. Especially on a hot summer day, High 5 is the type of place that will entertain you for hours!
This iconic spot is great for even littles; especially because they offer free public skate lessons on Sundays with the purchase of admission! With cool lights and music, as well as some fun games, this is another great way to exercise in the summer months without having to sweat outside.
We are so fortunate that they are so meany great things to do in Austin with kids, whether indoors or outdoors! Which is your favorite?