Katie’s Guidebook
Kid-friendly activities
These are some of our favorite spots to take our kids!
A small, non-profit rescue zoo, this is a great morning outing with the littles. There is a section where you can feed the farm animals from your hand, a train to ride, and lots of big animals, such as lions and tigers and bears (oh my!).
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Austin Zoo
10808 Rawhide TrailA small, non-profit rescue zoo, this is a great morning outing with the littles. There is a section where you can feed the farm animals from your hand, a train to ride, and lots of big animals, such as lions and tigers and bears (oh my!).
Wide open spaces in a beautiful setting.
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I-Center ye-Wildflower ye-Lady Bird Johnson
4801 La Crosse AveWide open spaces in a beautiful setting.
Rock climbing, ropes courses, a big play structure, bumper cars, arcade games, pizza, and beer. Indoors.
Epic Fun
State Highway 71Rock climbing, ropes courses, a big play structure, bumper cars, arcade games, pizza, and beer. Indoors.
Austin’s Children’s Museum. Located in Mueller, so you can make a day of it with nearby restaurants, a big playground across the street, and a lake-side park.
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Thinkery
1830 Simond AveAustin’s Children’s Museum. Located in Mueller, so you can make a day of it with nearby restaurants, a big playground across the street, and a lake-side park.
Tells the story of Texas over the past few hundred years. Very kid-friendly and has an IMAX theater.
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Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveTells the story of Texas over the past few hundred years. Very kid-friendly and has an IMAX theater.
Six stories of books and award-winning architecture. An enormous, enclosed kids’ area, cafes, events, and right across from the Hike & Bike Trail.
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Austin Central Library, Austin Public Library
710 W Cesar Chavez StSix stories of books and award-winning architecture. An enormous, enclosed kids’ area, cafes, events, and right across from the Hike & Bike Trail.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
These are all places that are easy to eat with young kids.
Walking distance! The menu is mostly seafood. It’s casual, with arcade games, a chalkboard wall, corn hole, and lots of TVs for sports.
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TLC Austin
1100 S Lamar BlvdWalking distance! The menu is mostly seafood. It’s casual, with arcade games, a chalkboard wall, corn hole, and lots of TVs for sports.
A local brewery with great pizza, salads, and sandwiches. A large outdoor area and live music.
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The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StA local brewery with great pizza, salads, and sandwiches. A large outdoor area and live music.
A beautiful outdoor patio! Close enough to walk to. Live music in the summer and space for the kids to run.
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Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs RdA beautiful outdoor patio! Close enough to walk to. Live music in the summer and space for the kids to run.
Funky digs and awesome tacos. Very Austiny. Nice outdoor patio.
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Maria's Taco Xpress
1210 S Lamar BlvdFunky digs and awesome tacos. Very Austiny. Nice outdoor patio.
Phil's Icehouse
2901 S Lamar BlvdA burger joint and ice cream counter with a playground.
A small play area and a great patio with a view of the greenbelt. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and salads.
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Red's Porch
A small play area and a great patio with a view of the greenbelt. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and salads.
A diner with breakfast all day and an extensive menu of lunch and dinner items too.
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Kerbey Lane Cafe
3003 S Lamar BlvdA diner with breakfast all day and an extensive menu of lunch and dinner items too.
Sazon
1816 S Lamar BlvdGreat interior Mexican and margaritas. Casual enough to take the kids.
A restaurant and bar directly next to a city park, so the kids can play while you eat and drink. The menu is mostly burgers and sandwiches.
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Doc's Backyard
5207 Brodie LnA restaurant and bar directly next to a city park, so the kids can play while you eat and drink. The menu is mostly burgers and sandwiches.
Parks
Nearby parks and playgrounds
Our closest playground. About ½ mile. If you walk, you’ll go right past the convenient store as well as a bakery. Fun to stop for a treat!
Zilker Elementary School
1900 Bluebonnet LnOur closest playground. About ½ mile. If you walk, you’ll go right past the convenient store as well as a bakery. Fun to stop for a treat!
Barton Hills Elementary School
2108 Barton Hills DrA smaller, shady playground, also close by.
Austin’s biggest park. They have a big playscape for the kids and a creek running through it. Pay to get into Barton Springs pool, or swim for free at the spillover. Picnic areas, a dog park, and lots of other fun.
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Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdAustin’s biggest park. They have a big playscape for the kids and a creek running through it. Pay to get into Barton Springs pool, or swim for free at the spillover. Picnic areas, a dog park, and lots of other fun.
The train ride at Zilker Park. Loads of fun!
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Zilker Zephyr Miniature Train (temporarily Closed For Repair)
2100 Barton Springs RdThe train ride at Zilker Park. Loads of fun!
A natural swimming hole (depending on rain) with some walking trails and rocks to climb.
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Gus Fruh Pool
A natural swimming hole (depending on rain) with some walking trails and rocks to climb.
A 10-mile loop around the lake with plenty of spots to stop and sit or feed the ducks. Great for a run, too!
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Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
A 10-mile loop around the lake with plenty of spots to stop and sit or feed the ducks. Great for a run, too!
Convenient Stores
The closest places to go if you just need a couple of things.
Just a few blocks away, this is the quickest place to stop for beer, snacks, and similar items.
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Bluebonnet Food Mart
1701 Bluebonnet LnJust a few blocks away, this is the quickest place to stop for beer, snacks, and similar items.
A little bit further, but with a broader selection of grocery items, and a lunch counter offering gyros and sandwiches.
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Barton Hills Market
1220 Barton Hills DrA little bit further, but with a broader selection of grocery items, and a lunch counter offering gyros and sandwiches.
An excellent selection of beer and wine, as well as Giovanni’s Pizza stand and a sandwich counter.
Valero Gas Station
2900 S Lamar BlvdAn excellent selection of beer and wine, as well as Giovanni’s Pizza stand and a sandwich counter.
Grocery Stores
Places to get ingredients for dinner
There are several locations, but none are particularly close. South Congress and Oltorf is probably the easiest to reach.
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H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdThere are several locations, but none are particularly close. South Congress and Oltorf is probably the easiest to reach.
A beautiful store with everything you could possibly need, including an excellent seafood selection. A bit pricier.
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Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdA beautiful store with everything you could possibly need, including an excellent seafood selection. A bit pricier.
A smaller, natural store. This is great if you just need a few items or just need something quick for dinner.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
4006 S Lamar BlvdA smaller, natural store. This is great if you just need a few items or just need something quick for dinner.
There are two locations nearby, downtown at the Seaholm and in Westlake. Great for frozen dinners and snacks.
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Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrThere are two locations nearby, downtown at the Seaholm and in Westlake. Great for frozen dinners and snacks.
The flagship location is at 6th and Lamar, downtown. With 80,000 square feet of groceries and several restaurants, it’s an outing in itself.
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Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThe flagship location is at 6th and Lamar, downtown. With 80,000 square feet of groceries and several restaurants, it’s an outing in itself.