Thread: What kind of things can we do for family fun in Austin Texas?

My family is planning a trip to Austin, Texas for Labor Day weekend. Does anyone have any ideas for fun family outings in the area? We have booked a great hotel, and have considered the children's musuem...any other suggestions?

Play golf.

You will probably want to check out Barton Springs pool if it's hot and sunny (or Deep Eddy pool if your kids are really young). Outside of town, there's swimming at Hamilton Pool and Krause Springs, both of which are really beautiful - but check the water conditions before you go. The Congress bridge bats in the evening are always fun. If you like caves, there's some caverns with tours up north in Georgetown (Inner Space Cavern), and also down South in San Marcos (Natural Bridge Caverns). There's lots of great restaurants as well - people usually recommend the ones on Barton Springs road for people with kids.

rent a boat and get out on lake Travis.

go to the capital. Watch the bats from TGI Fridays (FYI, they always screw up orders)

Go to Laguna Gloria Art museum and the park next to it.

go to Mt. Bonnell.

eat at the very historic Driskill Hotel (they have a little restaurant there)

The restaurants on Barton Springs are going to be crowded. I'd go at off times if I were you. But it is nice.

If you go to Zilker park, just down the street, the kids can ride a small train and play on the play scape before going into Barton Springs. Families gravitate to the north side of the springs FYI.

Schlitterbahn down in New Braunfels isnt too far away (about an hour or so from downtown depending on traffic). There are also the rivers. I know in Greune you can rent inner tubes and go tubing. Its a great time of year for that. Im sure there are other places to do that closer to Austin too, maybe on the lakes. Gruene is just where we always went as kids.

zilker park is really nice if you want to stay close into the city. there's also barton springs and hamilton pool(one of my favorite local spots, it's a bit of a drive though). the children's museum is very cool for young kids. austin also has a "zoo" but you should know in advance not to have high expectaions. it's really a refuge center for wild or farm animals that people tried to raise as pets and eventually neglected or abandoned.

if you don't mind driving a little south, you can also float the river in new braunfels. san marcos has the best outlet mall shopping. schlitterbahn is a blast, i think it's the biggest waterpark in the country. if you go, i recommend doing so early in the day. it gets very hot and crowded vey fast. hope you and the family have a great time!

bob bullock musem, zilker park, the capitol, volente beach, shopping

btw the childrens museam is the best, i always loved it as a kid