This post featuring a fun weekend itinerary for Austin with kids may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy.
Known for its live music, outdoor recreation, and food scene, Austin, Texas, is also an excellent destination for a family trip! Recently, we spent a weekend exploring Austin during the winter. Our January visit was a bit chilly, but as hearty Minnesotans, we still really enjoyed our Austin adventures. On this trip, my daughter and I were joined by my mom for a little multi-generational family fun in Austin. During our trip, we explored many of the best things to do in Austin with kids, so I put together this weekend itinerary for families to help you plan your own experience. Our visit was definitely focused on finding great food and exploring some of the best outdoor spaces Austin has to offer. I hope this itinerary helps you plan an exciting weekend in Austin with kids!
Tips + Packing List for Austin with Kids
If you are planning a weekend itinerary for Austin with kids, there are a few things you should know first! From the best time to visit Austin to a few packing tips, be sure to keep these things in mind while planning your upcoming vacation to Austin with your kids!
A Few Tips
Here are a few tips for visiting Austin, Texas, with kids:
- While we visited Austin in January (and found it lovely!) – September to November or March to May are generally considered the best times to visit Austin. During these months, you can reasonably expect highs in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit.
- Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World®; if you are traveling with older kids or teens, add a family-friendly show to your weekend itinerary for Austin with kids.
- While there are walkable neighborhoods in Austin, the city is not easy to walk around to get between things. In my opinion, you will need a rental car. For us, a rental car offered more freedom and was more cost-effective than relying on Uber or other forms of public transportation.
- Watch the festival lineup. Large festivals mean longer waits for everything else in town. If the festival isn’t on your itinerary, you may want to find a different time to visit Austin with kids.
- The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to more than a million and a half Mexican free-tailed bats. Summer visitors are in for a treat to see them fly out at dusk! You can even book a bat excursion.
Packing List Reminders for Austin with Kids
In addition to the things you usually pack for a vacation with kids, don’t forget these things for Austin:
- Pack layers. Regardless of the season, the temperatures can change quickly and may be unpredictable. During our January visit, we saw temperatures as low as 18°F and as high as 50 °F (in fact, we even saw snow on our last morning!).
- Bring a swimsuit! Especially if you are visiting during the warmer months, there are plenty of places to swim across the city (plus, your hotel likely has a pool!).
- Sunglasses – Austin gets an average of 300 days of sunshine per year!
Ready to Pack? Here Are a Few More Family Travel Items We Love:
Day 1 in Austin with Kids
We found the airport reasonably easy to navigate (it’s pretty small considering the size of the city). Even better, the rental car lot is right out the doors – so there is no need to ride a shuttle! After you arrive and get settled in your hotel, it’s time to start exploring Austin!
Up first on this weekend itinerary for Austin with kids is lunch. After arriving at our hotel (see more info below), we asked the staff to recommend a nearby lunch spot. They recommended Iron Cactus. One of the top places to eat in Austin with kids, it offers a full menu of contemporary Mexican fare. They even provide a lovely kids’ menu. We loved the tableside guac and small plates. Luckily, this restaurant is also just down the street from our next stop.
Museum of Weird
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting before visiting, but this museum was certainly, well, weird! In fact, the Museum of Weird offers a truly whimsical mix of oddities – both real and fanciful. The museum has three areas, plus a special exhibit and a gift shop. Each of the areas is somewhat theme-arranged and offers a variety of informational cards to explain the exhibits.
The original “Cabinet of Curiosities,” features mummies, mermaids, fossils, movie props, and more. In particular, we really enjoyed the classic movie monster wax museum. Here, “Sfanthor’s Chamber of Horrors” comes to life, featuring famed characters like King Kong and Dracula.
The museum is located on Austin’s iconic downtown Sixth Street, and offers discounted admissions for children 8 and under. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best things to do in Austin with kids!
Sunset at Mount Bonnell
After visiting the museum, we returned to the hotel to unpack and rest. Then, it was time to head back out and explore one of the best free things to do in Austin with kids – hiking Mount Bonnell at sunset!
Admittedly, we arrived just before sunset by accident. While unplanned on our part, it was absolutely lovely, and I highly recommend you plan accordingly if you can! This quick, .5-mile loop is easy to find and navigate. The trailhead is very well-marked.
The trek mainly consists of walking up a series of stairs (step and would be tricky with a stroller). Once at the top, there are two viewing areas. One overlooks the river, while the other offers an incredible view of the Austin skyline. My daughter loved checking out all the views and walking around the top! As one of the best things to do outside in Austin with kids, it’s certainly worth a quick trek at any point in your own itinerary for Austin with kids.
Peter Pan Mini-Golf
While we chose to go to Peter Pan Mini-Golf after our jaunt to Mount Bonnell, it could easily be added beforehand or to the afternoon of day 3 if you are traveling with young kids and don’t want to be out too late.
Peter Pan Mini-Golf might be one of the most remarkable courses we’ve ever done! Not only has it been family-owned and an Austin fixture for 75+ years, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas, for families. You can choose to do 18-holes or 36-holes (we chose 36!). If you do 18 holes, you can choose from either course, while 36 holes means you can do both!
Each green is vibrantly designed with colorful statues and unique putts. In particular, we adored the tea kettle with the fairy, the sizeable colorful turtle, the towering dinosaur, and, of course, Peter Pan. Finally, children 5 years and under receive a discounted rate.
Dinner at The Picnic
After challenging one another to mini golf, we headed to The Picnic for dinner, one of the best places to eat in Austin with kids! This food truck park is a great spot to end your first day in Austin. Featuring some of Austin’s best eats, from BBQ to Tex-Mex, everyone in your family will find something they’ll love. We chose a couple of gyros from Habibi ATX, as well as some French fries from The Burger Truck! There are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy your food on-site. Since it was getting pretty late, we opted to bring our food back to the hotel.
READ NEXT: Foodie Family Approved: 9+ Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Austin
Day 2 in Austin with Kids
Day two is filled with fun things to do in Austin with kids! In fact, this might have been my favorite day in Austin. For us, day two was a Saturday. If day two lands on a different day, you may need to shift around because the Barton Creek Farmers Market is only open on Saturdays. Let the next day of family fun in Austin commence!
Barton Creek Farmers Market
No true weekend itinerary for Austin with kids is complete without starting Saturday at the Barton Creek Farmers Market. This is also the original Austin farmer’s market, open year-round, with a few exceptions. As a Minnesotan, I was hesitant to go to a farmer’s market in January (the month of our visit), but holy cow, did this market blow our socks off! In fact, my mom and I both commented that it might have been the best one we’ve ever been to – and we have been to A LOT of markets.
We planned to have breakfast and coffee at the market. Luckily for us, there were several options for both. We grabbed a coffee from Coffee Feliciano, which was divine. Then, we were off to explore the rest of the market. Even in the winter, the market was filled with diverse offerings from produce and jewelry to candles and yummy eats. As visitors, the market was all about the things we could eat – and a few souvenirs! For breakfast, we munched on pizza from Big Nick’s Bakes Pizzeria, pork dumplings from Goodie Dumplings, and a few other delightful finds. The live music added to the festive atmosphere and put us all in a good mood for the day.
Austin Nature & Science Center
After the market, we spent the rest of the morning at the Austin Nature & Science Center. One of the best free things to do in Austin with kids, there is a cozy indoor exhibit and several outdoor areas to explore. Inside, kids can learn about local wildlife like armadillos, raccoons, and coyotes. There are a few other little exhibits, as well as a math-inspired room with puzzles and other activities.
Inside, you’ll also find The Trade Counter in the Naturalist Workshop. I wish I had paid more attention to what this was before our trip because my daughter was SO disappointed she couldn’t participate. When the counter is open, visitors can bring nature items to trade for other items. There are a few rules about what you can bring, but trading something from Minnesota would have been super fun.
As one of the best things to do outside in Austin with kids, there are plenty of outdoor areas, too. Sure to be a hit with your kids, too, we spent the most time in the Dino Pit! Using casts of real fossils found in the area, kids can dig in the sand to “find” fossils and learn more about the field of paleontology. Then, there is also a Forest Trail, Pond Walk, and a small collection of rescued creatures like snakes and crows.
Lunch at Lucy’s Fried Chicken
Afterward, it’s time for lunch. My daughter selected Lucy’s Fried Chicken from a book she read about Austin. Coincidentally, the same book made her add Barton Creek Farmers Market to the itinerary.
Lunch was dynamite! From the unique atmosphere to the top-notch staff, this was one of the best meals we had during our trip. And, the food!! Dang, was it good. We loved the fried chicken and the polenta. I definitely think it’s one of the best places to eat in Austin with kids!
Zilker Botanical Garden
Our afternoon activity was the Zilker Botanical Garden. Located in the heart of downtown Austin, there are several themed gardens to wander through. The well-marked paths wind you through beautiful gardens like the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Hartman Prehistoric Garden, and Rose Garden.
My personal favorite was the prehistoric garden. I’ve never seen a garden like this before. And, as a dinosaur enthusiast, it was pure joy to feel like I was walking in the gardens of the past! On the other hand, my daughter loved visiting the koi pond in the Japanese garden and banging on the play instruments in the Children’s Garden. Finally, as one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Austin, they also offer discounted tickets for kids.
Zilker Metropolitan Park Playscape Shelter
After the botanical garden, we were still up for a bit of family fun in Austin. Just down the road, we found the Zilker Metropolitan Park Playscape Shelter. The massive playground was perfect for the 30 minutes my daughter needed to run about, and for us to rest on a nearby bench. In the summer, there is also a splash pad here. Plus, there is plenty of space to run around, toss a ball, or lay out a picnic. If you’re looking for free things to do in Austin with kids, add this to your list!
Dinner at Güero’s Taco Bar
After playing at the playground, we returned to the hotel for a quick rest before dinner. On the recommendation of a friend, we had dinner at Güero’s Taco Bar. The restaurant is huge! Not only that, but they also have an outdoor area that showcases frequent family-friendly live music shows (Oak Garden).
Back to the food – if you’re in the mood for Mexican food with a hint of Tex-Mex and great cocktails, this is the place! Plus, they have a kids’ menu to boot. We had a round of tacos and quesadillas and called it a night.
Well, then we had gelato from Gelato Paradiso (located just down the street)…and then, we called it a night.
Day 3 in Austin with Kids
Day three was our last full day in Austin. Technically, our trip to Austin was four days (Friday – Monday), but we had to be at the airport by 9:30 am, so there wasn’t much time left to explore on Monday. Anyway, day three rounds out our weekend itinerary for Austin with kids. We decided to keep day three less jam-packed. Firstly, because it was pretty cold (about 18°F). And, because we had had a pretty full weekend already!
We started day three at Houndstooth Coffee. Just a few blocks from our hotel, this downtown cafe offers a full menu of espresso drinks and lovely pastries. I found the espresso a bit bitter, but the environment was modern and pleasant. Unfortunately, they don’t have any juice or drinks for kids, so I went down the block to JuiceLand for a smoothie for my daughter.
LBJ Presidential Library
The bulk of our day was spent at the LBJ Presidential Library. This was my mom’s top pick for the itinerary. Having never been to a presidential library before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But I really enjoyed it! The collections are spread across three floors, highlighting Lyndon B. Johnson’s life, career, and presidency.
Offering several interactive exhibits, the museum is dynamic, informational, and fascinating (even for those who don’t enjoy politics). Permanent exhibits include a recreation of LBJ’s Oval Office and Lady Bird Johnson’s Office, as well as a chronicle of the tragic events that led to LBJ taking office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. They offer discounted tickets for teens and seniors, and free admission for children 12 and under. It’s also Free if your first, middle, or last name is Lyndon!
Lunch at Black’s Barbecue Austin
Before traveling to Austin, one of my requests was to have barbecue. We headed to Franklin Barbecue first. But even with 18°F weather and wind, the wait was still almost two hours, and they were already running out of food. So, we scrapped that plan and headed to Black’s Barbecue Austin. They offer several meat options (including brisket, chicken, pulled pork, and smoked turkey) and various yummy sides. I had the best sweet potatoes I’ve ever had in my life here! Note, that they don’t have a specific kids’ menu here, but my daughter devoured her smoked turkey and Fanta. All in all, we were pretty satisfied with how things ended up.
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail
Undoubtedly, exploring the area around Lady Bird Lake is one of the best things to do outside in Austin with kids. This beautiful area offers lovely trails, kayaking, and views of the Austin skyline. We ended up in a more secluded area of the park near Edward Rendon Sr. Park (though the weather may have affected how quiet it was for us). We walked around a bit and enjoyed the views of the lake. As the wind picked up, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel.
After a packed weekend itinerary in Austin with kids, we decided a nap was in order. So, we spent the rest of our final afternoon resting and hanging out before dinner.
Dinner at Elizabeth Street Cafe
Based on another recommendation from my friend, our last dinner was spent at Elizabeth Street Cafe. This French Vietnamese fusion cafe was a great way to end our weekend in Austin. The cafe has a large outdoor patio area, as well as cozy indoor seating. They offer a full dinner menu of delicious items like bánh mì, spring rolls, and steaming bowls of pho. A kids’ menu is also available, but still might be a bit tricky for some kids. Even so, I still think this is one of the places to eat in Austin with kids for its caring staff and great food.
Next time, I’m headed back for breakfast to try one of their famed croissants!
BookPeople
To top off all the fun things to do in Austin, Texas, for families, we headed to BookPeople. These three generations of readers have never met a bookstore we didn’t like! And, as the largest independent bookstore in Texas, there is a lot to explore and choose from across the two stories of shelves here! Not going to lie; we spent 75 minutes making our selections. My daughter adored the colossal kid’s section – they even do storytimes! Finally, they also offer a cafe if you need a snack or a warm drink while reading your newest book.
More Things to Do in Austin with Kids
Are you looking for more things to do in Austin with kids to fill your weekend (or longer) itinerary? Here are some additional things to consider adding or swapping in, depending on your family’s interests!
- Austin Duck Adventures
- Texas State Capitol
- Thinkery (Children’s Museum)
- Austin Zoo
- Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Austin Kayak Tours
- Barton Springs Municipal Pool
- See the bats take off at the Bat Bridge (April through October)
- Oak Garden at Güero’s Taco Bar on Wednesdays (live music)
- Alliance Children’s Garden
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Austin Aquarium
- Take a day trip to: San Antonio, Waco, The Alamo
Where to Stay in Austin with Kids
Wondering where to stay in Austin with kids? There are several great family-friendly hotels to choose from across the city. We decided to stay at Hilton Austin. It had the right balance of location, kid-friendly amenities (like a rooftop pool!), and a budget-friendly price. Since we had a rental car, we also utilized their on-site parking ramp (an additional fee). It made staying downtown and getting around the city very easy for us. Plus, the staff was spectacular!
Need more recommendations? To continue the family fun in Austin, look for hotels that offer family perks like pools or on-site dining. Generally, families also like Hyatt Regency Austin, Fairmont Austin, JW Marriott Austin, Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, The Westin Austin Downtown, and Four Seasons Hotel Austin. We are also huge fans of home rentals through Vrbo! Regardless of which accomodation you choose, you are sure to be close to all of the fantastic kid-friendly things to do in Austin!
Have Fun in Austin with Kids!
I hope this weekend itinerary for Austin with kids helps you plan your own fantastic vacation! We loved this vibrant city, filled with great food, friendly locals, and beautiful outdoor spaces. And, we hope that you do too! From some of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas, for families to packing tips and the best places to eat in the city with kids, I know you’ve found several things to add to your own itinerary. Enjoy Austin with your kids!
Unless otherwise noted, all images within this article were taken by and belong to the blog’s author, Antonia Grant. A reminder that this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy for more information.