Photography by Cherie Hogan Photography Mural Artists: Todd Sanders and Rory Skagen As the family expert for the True Austin program run by the Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, my role is to recommend the best kid-friendly fun in Austin. I field questions from parents planning a trip here, as well as questions from locals wondering how to entertain family visiting from out of town. Some wonder where to eat, others are looking for family-friendly live music, and many are seeking age- specific recommendations. I love this job! There is something magical about helping others get excited about exploring Austin with kids in tow. At Free Fun in Austin, we have the very same goal. We want to give you the information you need to have a great time in our amazing city. Whether you live in Austin or are just passing through, our aim is to encourage exceptional local adventures for families. Be sure to visit the True Austin and Free Fun in Austin websites for timely events and information when planning your visit. For this e-book, Family Fun in Austin, I invited several of Free Fun in Austin’s contributing writers to each share an itinerary for a family outing in one area of town. From the University of Texas at Austin campus to Zilker Park and beyond, these local mamas have got you covered. I hope you enjoy reading their tips for checking out some of Austin’s most beloved sights. Please visit the website provided for each locale to find current prices and hours of operation before heading off. Although the writers focused primarily on budget-friendly entertainment, not all of the attractions listed in this e-book are free. Happy exploring! Heidi Gollub Founder & Editor, Free Fun in Austin Heart of Austin: 1 Zilker Park Heidi Okla 3 Downtown Heather King 5 UT Campus Leigh Ann Torres Best of the Rest: 7 South Austin Nicole Basham 9 East Austin Emily Dieringer 11 West Austin Heidi Okla 13 North Austin Nicole Basham 15 Gateway to the Hill Country Kristin Shaw 17 Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville Nicole Basham Photography by Cherie Hogan Photography When Cherie isn’t busy being a mom to her rambunctious kids, you can find her capturing the in-between moments through her camera’s lens. Specializing in lifestyle photography, she enjoys shooting weddings, families, and high school seniors in a way that captures the love and personality of the people she photographs. Find Cherie on Facebook and through her website. HEIDI OKLA There are so many reasons why Zilker Metropolitan the center that my children adore Park is considered “Austin’s most-loved park.” most is the Dino Pit. Kids can play Located on Lady Bird Lake, it’s home to a wide variety paleontologist in a large sandy area of activities and some of the city’s most popular and dig for buried bones. And all of attractions: Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical the fun offered at the Austin Nature Garden, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Austin Nature and Science Center is absolutely and Science Center and the Zilker Zephyr kiddie free! train, as well as the Austin City Limits Music Festival Bordering on the Nature and held each fall and the Trail of Lights during the winter Science Center, you’ll find the holiday season. This 351-acre park also offers several Zilker Botanical Garden. What a athletic fields and plenty of open space for playing gorgeous place to take a stroll! games, taking a jog, or having a picnic. The botanical garden is located on It could take days to explore everything Zilker 31 acres of varied topography that Park has to offer. But there are a few family-friendly is especially suited for displaying highlights that I just can’t let friends pass up when an array of native, hybrid and exotic they are in town. plants. For a low fee, you can explore When my family is planning a day at Zilker Park, a Japanese garden that includes a little the first thing we do on the way is stop for breakfast waterfall and koi ponds; the Pioneer Village, tacos or kolaches to take with us for a morning picnic. which includes a cabin built in 1840; the pretty (Try Maria’s Taco Xpress for tacos or Moonlight rose garden, butterfly trail and cactus trail; and the Bakery for kolaches, both on nearby South Lamar Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which showcases a Blvd.) We eat and play in the impressive playscape statue of the dinosaur Ornithomimus surrounded by near the train depot, which features oversized plants originating from the Jurassic period. The Zilker xylophones and a real antique fire truck for climbing. Botanical Garden is a picture-perfect spot to capture We usually plan to ride the Zilker Zephyr kiddie train some great photographs of your kids among the in the morning hours to avoid crowds or heat from flowers. the afternoon Texas sun (especially in the summer). Following these adventures in Zilker, you’re sure to The highlight of the ride for the little ones is definitely work up a Texas-sized appetite. While there are many going through the tunnels. Choo choooo! dining options just outside of the park on Barton After riding the train and playing on the playscape Springs Rd., my family always begs to go to Chuy’s for for a while, there are a variety of other destinations some delicious Tex-Mex. This original Chuy’s location within Zilker to choose from, but my kids always ask to is appealing to the kids with its vibrant colors and go to the Austin Nature and Science Center. Located eclectic design, including a mirror-ball wall on the on the western edge of Zilker Park, the Nature and exterior and Elvis shrine inside. But it’s also the food Science Center includes lovely hands-on educational that kids love—tacos, queso, Hatch green chile sauce, exhibits including the Naturalist Workshop, where yum! Chuy’s is an Austin original that has caught on kids can explore touchable specimens through across the country, with restaurants popping up in microscopes and magnifying glasses. Visitors can walk more and more cities. through the wildlife exhibit and take a look at live If you’ve still got time for more Zilker fun after animals such as coyotes, skunks, owls and raccoons lunch, head back into the park for a dip in the cool, that have been orphaned or injured and are now clear waters of Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself getting care from the staff. But the one aspect of measures 3 acres in size and is fed from underground 1 freefuninaustin.com springs, with an average temperature of 70 degrees— ideal for cooling folks down in the scorching summer heat, but many locals swim year-round. Entrance fees for the pool are quite reasonable. If you’re swimming with little ones, you can head to the south end of the pool where the water is more shallow, but be careful: It’s quite slippery, so water shoes can come in handy. Whether you dive right in, just dip in your toes, or simply sit on the grassy hillside by the pool for some people-watching, you can be sure that you’re getting a true taste of Austin by visiting this local gem. Freelance web producer Heidi Okla is mom to three boys (ages 3, 5 and 7) and can’t pass up any opportunity for fun family adventures. Browse her literacy- focused kids’ activities on her blog, Read ‘Em and Leap. 2 H E AT H E R K I N G acked into the center of Austin are entrepreneurs improv show at the Hideout P and corporate junkies in high-rise buildings, Theater. If you haven’t experienced as well as hip urban-dwellers in modern lofts and improv theater, this is your chance, condos. This business-focused center is nestled in the and if you love improv theater, this midst of what “keeps Austin weird”—locally owned spot will not disappoint! Check the mom-and-pop shops and restaurants for the hipster, Hideout’s calendar for times to fit the wanderer, the tourist and, well, everybody! Visitors your trip agenda and look for their will experience no shortage of sites to see, food to eat, Sunday afternoon kids’ improv stores to shop, and historical locations to peruse, but shows with Flying Theater Machine. may have trouble narrowing them down. No worries, Are you getting hungry? friends. You can’t go wrong with these faves. Thought so. Austin is known for its excellent food, and downtown The Bullock Texas State History Museum is filled has everything from super casual with the rich Texan history this state holds dear. Even to fine dining. If you’re wrangling the smaller tots are entertained with the expansive the small ones, a great stop in exhibits, which pull museum-goers into The Story of your day is the downtown Whole Texas. There are three levels of exhibits with different Foods Market at 6th and Lamar. A themes, and many are interactive. Come for the must-see for foodies, the flagship education and stay for some 3-D entertainment at the store has its own unique style and IMAX theater. Bonus: The first Sunday of the month, vibe. It’s also a great place to pick admission to the museum is free! up some healthy lunch, shop for Just a few blocks south of The Bullock Museum some snacks, and play. Yes, play! The is the State Capitol of Texas.