Top 20 Places to Take Kids In and Around Austin - 2022
Austin's favorite places to take kids for 2022
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. Typically, we showcase the Top 20 winners... but this year, in honor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's 21st birthday (we originally launched in June of 2001), we bring you the Austin area's
TOP 21 Places to Take Kids!
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Browse through our site to find all the lists and ideas you need. Check out our daily calendar as well as our everything that's free link. And make sure to sign up for our fantastic FREE weekly newsletter with dozens of ideas each week for local stuff to do with kids, many of them free.
1. Science Mill
Discover the fun of science at the Science Mill in Johnson City! This family destination offers a fun, interactive learning environment for all ages. Through cutting-edge exhibits and educational programs, the museum expands understanding and appreciation of science in everyday life. Housed in an historic 1880s mill, the Science Mill features more than 50 interactive, world-class outdoor and indoor exhibits. Visit http://sciencemill.org to learn more and plan your visit.
2. Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin, Texas, tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits; special effects shows in the Texas Spirit Theater; and Austin's premier IMAX Theatre.
3. Austin Zoo
The mission of Austin Zoo is to help animals in need through rescue, conservation and education. Embark on an adventure in a Hill Country setting where children and adults can enjoy an up-close experience with our rescued animals. You will be able to see lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Austin Zoo has a robust Education Department, offering Virtual Education Programs, Saturday Camps, Summer Camps, Homeschool Day, Homeschool Nature Series and much more! Celebrate a birthday with us, plan a field trip or inquire about a scout program. Come and see us!
4. Briscoe Center for American History
Through stewardship scholarship and outreach the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin increases knowledge and fosters exploration of our nation's past.
5. Austin Aquarium
This Aquarium has so many fish and animals! Sharks, Stingrays, Giant Pacific Octopus, Lorikeets, Macaws, Reptiles, and Amphibians. Plus, new mammals like kinkajous and Lemurs. The best part is you can pet and feed them all. If you come in to visit you might even spot a Mermaid or Princess!
6. Butler Park Pitch & Putt
Not your typical golf course. An Austin original since 1949, the 9-hole, par 3 course has real grass greens with holes that are unique, fun and easy to play.
7. Altitude Trampoline Park
Altitude Trampoline Park Austin is the eighteenth location of the Altitude family offering high-energy and exciting entertainment activities such as a foam pit, rock climbing wall, gymnastics tumble tracks, a kid zone, basketball dunking lanes, dodge ball and group fitness. The park is approximately 23,000 square feet of interconnected wall-to-wall trampoline attractions!
8. Anna's Toy Depot
9. Sweet Berry Farm
A pick your own Strawberry farm in the Spring and a Pumpkin patch in the Fall. Loads of family fun.
10. Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
It is Animal World & Snake Farm’s Zoo’s mission to protect biodiversity, promote animal welfare, encourage sustainable living practices and empower communities to care about the world in which we inhabit.
The zoo offers a wide variety of interactive programs and animal encounters daily, and a zookeeper can be found running an educational show every 30 minutes! There is no better way to connect with an animal than to share an experience with it. Nothing sparks human curiosity like interaction!
11. Aquafly Austin
Welcome to Aquafly! We’re a Premiere Flydive Flight Center offering flight training, introductory flights, as well as sales and service of Hydroflight devices. We feature the X-Board by Flydive, the Worlds easiest JetBoard to fly. Our staff of Factory Certified Instructors are here to help guide you through the steps necessary to experience Human Flight Without Wings!
12. The Thinkery
The Thinkery is an evolution of the Austin Children’s Museum. It’s Austin’s sparkling new home for “why” and “how.” A place where science and families play side by side. Where people connect with ideas by doing, making and experiencing.
13. Austin Nature & Science Center
The ANSC provides hands-on educational exhibits and recreational activities that increase awareness and appreciation of the natural environment. Located on the western edge of Zilker Park, they are dedicated to the exploration of the natural world.
14. Dinosaur Park
The Dinosaur Park features a unique outdoor museum setting. While most museums have dinosaur skeletons, our realistic life-size dinosaur replicas show skin and color variations to give a better understanding as to how they looked when alive. These statues range in size from the 2-foot long Compsognathus to the 123-foot Diplodocus, the longest dinosaur that ever lived. As you walk through a tree-lined nature trail the dinosaurs sit back from the trail, situated among plants, trees and rocks, making it easy to imagine real dinosaurs in a natural environment.
15. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Austin area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
16. Pinballz Arcade
The Original Pinballz Arcade in Austin is the birthplace of Pinballz. Opened in 2010 after the owner’s personal collection started to get out of hand, the Burnet location has quenched Austin’s thirst for pinball machines and classic arcades ever since. The Original Pinballz Arcade features our largest selection of classic pinball machines, a terrific variety of modern games, and a wide variety of ticket and redemption/award gaming fun.
With tasty fare and soft drinks available from our Replay Cafe, and a customer-friendly BYOB policy, The Original Pinballz Arcade is the perfect choice for your next birthday celebration, company meet-up, or date night.
18. Playland Skate Center
Playland Skate Center is the largest skating facility in Austin, Texas, offering the finest in skating entertainment with an impressive light show, fog machine and state of the art sound system playing a wide variety of music. Our extra large skating facility at 27,500 square feet is Austin’s largest. Playland Skate Center has been in business since 1973 offering children and adults a safe, fun, clean and entertaining roller skating experience.
19. Boggy Creek Farm
Take a step back in time at Austin's original urban farm, 2 miles east of downtown. Walk the grounds, see what's growing in the fields, visit the 100 pet hens, the compost they contribute to and ask if you have questions. The farmers are stewards of this gem and are working to ensure future generations may also take a step back in time while benefitting from the nutrient dense produce grown on this regenerative farm. Welcome to Your Little Farm in the City!
20. H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park is a multi-use, city-owned entertainment facility that holds 6,778 seats for hockey, 7,200 for basketball and up to 8,700 for concerts and other events.
21. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Center’s gardens display the native plants of the Central Texas Hill Country, South and West Texas, while the Plant Conservation Program protects the ecological heritage of Texas by conserving its rare and endangered flora.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in several categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Austin Children's Theater
Austin Children’s Theater is a non-profit company whose mission is to educate, inspire and empower children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through the arts. Our vision is to provide a safe space for artists to explore, engage, and experience the creativity within them and the world around them.
Top Sports Educator: Austin YMCA
For more than 150 years, the YMCA of the USA has forcefully pursued a mission of service to men, women and children of all ages.
Top STEM Educator: Science Mill
Discover the fun of science at the Science Mill in Johnson City! This family destination offers a fun, interactive learning environment for all ages. Through cutting-edge exhibits and educational programs, the museum expands understanding and appreciation of science in everyday life. Housed in an historic 1880s mill, the Science Mill features more than 50 interactive, world-class outdoor and indoor exhibits. Visit http://sciencemill.org to learn more and plan your visit.
