Go To The Driving Range At Topgolf
Topgolf is a state-of-the-art entertainment complex with a covered driving range and other golf games. As you and your friends or family play, you can order food and drinks from an extensive menu. Even if you arent great at golf, Topgolfs games are fun for everyone!
Constructed in 1876, the Old Bakery and Emporium sells crafts created by local artists. Pieces to discover include jewelry, pottery and ceramic, and paintings. The landmark also has an art gallery and a history center, which offers background on the shops history.
Fun Things For Teens In Austin
Whats fun for teens to do in Austin, Texas? Weve got the scoop from the experts local high school students! Read on for some ideas on the best activities for teens in a variety of areas of Austin.
About our contributing author, Sela Kime: Living in Austin for 10 years, Ive had the chance to see my way around this great city. I am a high school senior at Acton Academy West, and a happy Austinite. After interviewing many of my friends, I have compiled a list of Austins best places and activities for teens.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
At the Bullock Texas State History Museum children and their parents can spend a few interesting hours learning all about the history of the State of Texas. At the heart of the museum you will find the La Belle Exhibit, featuring the hull of a 1686 explorer ship which lay under the seas for over 300 years. Together with the retrieved and restored hull of the ship you can see many artifacts and watch the multi-sensory film Ship Wrecked. Other highlights of the museum include a 1941 AT-6A airplane, a full-size windmill, the IMAX Theater and a NASA console from the Manned Flight Center. On the first Sunday of each month the museum offers free entrance and special activities for children.
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701, Phone: 512-936-8746
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Experience The Barbecue Pit At Salt Lick
You have to eat barbecue in Austin and the best experience is at Salt Lick because of the one-of-a-kind massive meat barbecue pit in Driftwood. Prepare to go home smelling like bbq.
The all-you-can-eat beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, potato salad, coleslaw, and beans is only $24.95 per person. Cash only and BYOB.
3600 Presidential Blvd, saltlickbbq.com
Hike At Barton Creek Greenbelt
TripSavvy / Austen Johnson
For the little hikers in the family, the Barton Creek Greenbelt offers miles and miles of unstructured fun. Make sure the little ones wear shoes with good traction because portions of the trail meander over big boulders that are slippery after a rainstorm. Also, beware of over-excited dogs running along the trail off-leash. In their exuberance, they can easily bowl over a small child, particularly on the narrow section of the route. Portions of the trail are shaded, but most of it is in full sun so bring plenty of water, hats, and sunscreen. The entrance to the trail is in the parking lot of Barton Springs.
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Spot The Bats From The South Congress Avenue Bridge
South Congress Avenue bridgeThe bats! are one of Austins simplest tourist attractions. Head down to the South Congress Avenue bridge in downtown Austin at the end of the day and pick a vantage point, either on top of the bridge or below on the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trailcareful to stand six feet apart from other groupsand wait until dusk for the little creepy critters to emerge. About 1.5 million bats live underneath the bridge in whats widely considered the worlds largest bat colony.
Have A Night On Sixth Street
While Sixth Street tends to be a bit rowdy, it’s the place to party in Austin and has been for decades. Sixth Street closes to through traffic from Thursdays through Saturday nights, meaning lots of people parading up and down the street in search of cheap drinks, entertainment, and that late-night slice of pizza.
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Fun Things For Teens To Do In Austin
Zilker Park, The Trail, and The PicnicIn the center of Austin sits local food trucks, a big, beautiful park, and a 10-mile trail surrounding quiet Lady Bird Lake. All are great places to hang out with friends. The Picnic includes food truck favorites like Mighty Cone, Coat and Thai, and many more. Zilker Park is a great location for lounging about on a blanket or starting a pick-up game of frisbee, and the trail is a great place to run, walk, or bike with friends.
Zilker Park, photo by Sela Kime
Barton Creek Square MallStrolling around the mall for a few hours is so much fun. Barton Creek Square is home to hundreds of places to go with friends. From the AMC theater to the Nordstrom Bistro, the mall has it all. Enjoy the food court, trendy clothing stores, toy stores, and kiosks.
Barton Creek Square photo by Sela Kime
South Congress Ave.South Congress is one of the most interesting and fun parts of Austin. Play dress up at Lucy in Disguise have great food at Home Slice, Hopdoddy Burgers, and more and listen to live music as you stroll down the street. Additionally, the well-lit streets and friendly atmosphere make South Congress a safe place to be at night.
South Congress Ave. photo by Sela Kime
Lady Bird LakeWinding through downtown Austin, Lady Bird Lake is open all year long! Paddleboard and kayak with friends at a great price. Play some music, head out to Redbud Isle, and bring snacks because there is no place like beautiful Lady Bird Lake.
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See A Movie At A Drive
Austin has a few drive-in movie theater options. A drive-in movie night makes for a perfect couples activity. Some drive-in movie theater options include Docs Drive in Theater, The Ultimate Drive-In, and Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive In. If a drive-in theater isnt your thing, you can also relax at a discounted movie at a traditional movie theater.
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Firehouse Hostel And Lounge
Firehouse Hostel and Lounge
If youre looking for a place to stay in Austin, consider the Firehouse Hostel and Lounge.
Its located on the top floor of an old, abandoned firehouse, and it has more secrets than its blocky building would suggest.
You see, theres a speakeasy hidden in the depths of the firehouse.
Thats where the lounge part comes in.
While the world-weary travelers are sleeping upstairs, the party animals are living large in a secret bar that can only be accessed by pulling a latch on an out-of-the-way bookcase.
Some people stay in the hostel with no idea that the lounge exists.
Others come specifically for the lounge as part of scavenger hunts or city tours that go off the beaten path.
Regardless of how you find it, the Firehouse Hostel and Lounge is one of the top destinations in Austin, so you wont want to miss it.
Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and get to searching!
You could be enjoying craft drinks in a speakeasy tonight.
Address: 605 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, United States
Easy Tiger Bake Shop And Beer Garden
Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden is one of the United States’ most acclaimed beer gardens, featured in international publications such as Food and Wine, Bon Appétit, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living. The unique hybrid eatery is known throughout the Austin area for its artisanal breads, which are prepared in house daily and crafted with whole grains exclusively grown and milled in the state of Texas. Breads available for purchase range from traditional favorites like rye and foccacia to European-style breads like pain de mie and pane Italiano. A full menu of pub fare is served up throughout the day at the beer garden, including cheese and charcuterie boards, pretzels with homemade beer cheese, and hot and cold artisanal sandwiches. Diners can enjoy a selection of more than 30 local craft brews, complemented by a full menu of cafe-style espresso beverages.
709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701, Phone: 512-614-4972
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Catch A Classic Flick
The Paramount Theatre is a century-old performance venue and movie theater located in the heart of downtown Austin. Originally opened as a vaudeville house, today the eclectic entertainment ranges from music to comedy shows.
Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin.” Courtesy of Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin.
Dine At The Driskill Hotel
Opened in 1886, the Driskill Hotel is an iconic building in Austin. Even if you arent staying at the hotel, you can go inside on a rainy day to enjoy a drink or a meal. Dining options include having afternoon tea, getting a drink at the cozy Driskill Bar, or enjoying baked goods at 1886 Cafe & Bakery.
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Buy Local Produce At The Texas Farmers Market
The Texas Farmers Market has an indoor location in Mueller, 15 minutes from downtown Austin. At the market, you can browse stalls selling local produce. Items to purchase include artisan bread, fruit and vegetables, and coffee. You can also find some beauty products and craft items.
Solving problems and cracking codes to get out of an escape room is a fun rainy-day activity. After booking a game at The Escape Game Austin, youll have an hour to complete the game and escape. Themes to choose from include an art heist and a secret agent mission.
Mt Playmore is 20 minutes from downtown and offers young kids lots of things to do. Theres an indoor jungle gym with climbing features, slides, and more, plus a toddler play area and arcade.
After your kids have played, they can choose child-friendly snacks from the cafe, like corn dogs, mac and cheese, chicken fingers.
Fun Things To Do In Austin With Kids
Planning a trip to Austin with kids? Like many visitors, I found myself in this lively Texan city for a conference. Instead of leaving everyone behind, I decided to tack on some extra days and have my husband and kids join me for a long weekend of family fun in Austin.
We lucked out with some incredible weather and were even gifted an extra day in the city when our flights were delayed. Not every flight delay is a gift, but since we had a few more things to do with kids in Austin that we would have missed otherwise, it was a win.
So, with no further ado, please check out these 10 fun things to do in Austin for kids. Not quite what you were looking for? See top attractions and other kids activities in Austin from Viator and Get Your Guide.
Please start with our short Austin kids activities video or use the expandable table of contents menu below to find what you need quickly.
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Go All Out At Food And Drink Festivals
Various locationsOur city may have a lot of festivals, but if you havent been to a flavor-based one you are really missing out. First up this fall is the Texas Craft Brewers Festival on October 1st at Fiesta Gardens. This bazaar of bubbly is the states largest beer festivaland, with over 200 beers on tap from small and independent brewers around the Lone Star state, you shouldnt make any plans for the following day that dont involve your couch and a decent amount of hangover-recovery takeout. Then, theres Austin Food & Wine Festival from November 4th through the 6th, when you can try delicious bites from some of the most exciting culinary talents in the state, sip on endless cups of roses, and twerk to Get Low at an end-of-the-weekend, festival-closing DJ set. Needless to say, it strikes the perfect balance between fancy and balls-to-the-walls and, this year, in addition to snacking on morsels from favorites like Aviary Wine & Kitchen and Austin Rotisserie, the Rock Your Taco contest is bringing together a variety of great chefs to compete for ultimate tortilla bragging rights.
Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
With its peaceful lakefront views, the Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park is a great place to escape the urban frenzy of Austin.
Youll be able to get away from it all without actually venturing too far from the fun stuff of the city.
You can just take a break from it for a while.
The water is calm and pretty. The wooden docks are a great place to sit and fish.
Folks usually bring their dogs to run around the open fields and catch Frisbees, and it isnt uncommon for swans to come up to picnickers and ask for food.
Local events include nature tours, birdwatching trips, gardening shows and more.
Check their schedule to see if something fun is happening while youre in Austin, or give them a call to ask about private arrangements for a big family or work group.
You dont have to leave the city to get away from the steel bridges and high-rise apartment buildings.
Serenity can be found in a nice little park like the Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park!
Address: 614 N Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78733, United States
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Play A Round At Peter Pan Mini Golf
TripSavvy / Austen Johnson
Itâs hard to miss the giant green Peter Pan statue as you drive by. A south Austin institution since 1948, the facility has two 18-hole courses full of dinosaurs, pirates, whales and other whimsical characters. The west course is challenging, but the east course involves mostly straight shots, and youâll hear the occasional “whoop” signifying a hole-in-one. In keeping with its retro image, the course only takes cash, so be prepared. Adults are allowed to BYOB, so there may be a few mildly tipsy players, but they rarely get rowdy. Thereâs also a picnic area that can be rented for birthday parties.
Book A Food Or Drink Tour
Austin is home to a lot of great breweries, wineries, and distilleries, as well as eateries. If you both like to drink and like trying new foods, booking a guided tour is a great idea. You can taste delicious drinks, try some of Austins best dishes, and get educated at the same time. Some options include an Austin secret food tour, biker gang ride and food truck park, and a half-day craft beer and brewery tour. Other favorites include the Infamous Brewing Company and the Brew Bus Austin brewery tour.
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Soak Up The Local Culture With A South Congress Avenue Stroll
South Congress is perfect for strolling, eating, and getting a taste of Austin character. Kids will love the Big Top Candy Shop with treats from floor to ceiling, playing outdoor games at TOMS shoe and coffee shop, and playing dress up at Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds .
Of course there are plenty of fun spots for mom and dad too, like Allen Boots and Jos Coffee Shop with its delicious coffee and prime location for people watching.
The Thinkery Childrens Museum
The Thinkery hands-on exhibits encourage children to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts and math , while also having a ton of fun. Give yourself ample time as the museum has over 40,000 square feet to explore.
Permanent exhibits include Currents , Lets Grow , the Light Lab and Our Backyard . Learn more at: or read reviews on Tripadvisor.
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Known For Music And So Much More
Years ago when people talked about Austin they would quickly mention the music. But that’s just the beginning of what they’re saying these days. Austin is also home to a wonderful ballet, world-class museums, one-of-a-kind shopping and beautiful outdoor spaces. With so many things to do in Austin, you can just as easily spend your morning paddling the lake as you can strolling through a celebrated history museum. And it’s okay if you don’t have time to fit it all in, you can just come back and visit us again.
Visit Mckinney Falls State Park
Within Austin’s city limits is this outdoor oasis that’s perfect for unplugging from technology and connecting with nature. Visitors can hike, bike, boulder, camp at one of 81 campsites, or swim in Onion Creek. Check out “Old Baldy” while you’re here. It’s one of the oldest bald cypress trees in Texas, and is more than 500 years old and 103 feet tall.
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Watch The Bats Fly Out From The Congress Bridge
Wondering why there are hundreds of people standing at Congress Bridge at sunset? Over 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from the Congress Avenue Bridge almost every night. Austin has the largest urban bat colony! Its a pretty incredible sight to watch the bat colony fly out thats worth standing for.
Walk over to the Mexic-Arte Museum to see an evolving collection of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino and Latin American art .
Koko Tip: Go to P6 at the Line Hotel to watch the bats fly out with a cocktail.
Congress Ave
Get Out On The Water At Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird LakeWhether your vehicle of choice is a paddle board, kayak, canoe, or inner tube, theres plenty of buoyancy to be found on Lady Bird Lake. Bundle up, pop on your shades, and enjoy a few peaceful hours of serenity bobbing amid the tranquil waters. Before you pack the car for the day, make sure to check local listings for rental outlet locations and availability.
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