By Edwin Thomas
Austin, Texas Kids Activities
Quizzically, the capital of Texas is also one of the largest centers for alternative culture in the South and Southwest. It is also a major university town, and one of the most important tourist destinations in the state. While adults might be attracted to the famous live music scene, there is plenty for kids to do in the
Austin area. This covers everything from educational attractions to a spooky, bat-filled sunset.
Austin Children's Museum
Austin's play-cum-learning center has more than 12,000 square feet of exhibits to keep kids entertained. Permanent exhibits include the Funstruction Zone, the Rising Star Ranch and a global city project. The admission is $4.50 for children 12 to 23 months, and $6.50 for everyone above the age of two.
Austin Children's Museum
201 Colorado St.
Austin TX, 78701
(512) 472-2499
Beat the Heat
Barton Springs is a set of natural springs, the largest of which is used to provide water to a swimming hole on the grounds of Zilker Park. The pool is a great way to beat the heat in chlorine-free water, but it is open all year-round and is naturally warm even in wintertime. There is an admission fee charged from mid-March to mid-October, which is $3. Zilker Park is also home to the Dinosaur Trackways, a set of preserved tracks left by an ornithomimus (ostrich-like dinosaur), which is open to the public.
Barton Springs
2101 Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas 78704
(512) 476-9044
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm
This farm dates back to 1852, and creates a vision of frontier life in 1880s Texas. This living history attraction is therefore a great educational opportunity, and older children could be engaged in some of the skill and craft classes offered on the farm. Admission is $6 for children and $8 for adults.
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm
10621 Pioneer Farms Drive
Austin, Texas 78754
(512) 837-1215
The Austin Bats
The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the single largest colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in North America, including Mexico itself. There are roughly 1.5 million of these creatures living under the bridge at any given time. They can be counted on to become active in a staggering display fit for the next "Batman" movie at sunset on any night between March and November. Watching the bats fly is a popular thing to do even among Austin residents, and sure to provide an entertaining episode for the kids.
Resources
About the Author:
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
Photo Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
