Here’s a list of some fun outdoor activities for children in and around Austin. Outdoor activities are an excellent way to get out of the house and see some of what our city has to offer. More than just outdoor alternatives to things to do in Austin, these outdoor activities are among the most fun to be had in Austin for you and your kids. Here are some fun outdoor places to see and activities for you and your family to enjoy:

Zilker Kite Festival

Check out a Park:

Zilker Park - Zilker Park is one of the most popular outdoor destination for parents with children of all ages. Barton Springs Pool is there, there’s the Zilker Botanical Garden, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the Zilker Zephyr train is a delight for young kids. Zilker is also home to family friendly events throughout the year, such as the Zilker Kite Festival, Zilker Hillside Theatre, the Zilker Tree and many others.

Austin Parks Directory – This City of Austin list can help point out some parks near you and will provide info on what’s available at each park. There are a bunch of great parks in Austin worth exploring.

Take a hike:

Stairs leading to the top of Mt. Bonnell

Mt. Bonnell – Mt. Bonnell has been enjoyed for over a century for its scenic views of the Texas Hill Country. A brief hike or ascent up some steps will reward you with views of the river, the 360 bridge and beyond.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve – Just off 360, this wilderness preserve has 2.5 miles of Hill Country trails, and will have you forgetting about the highway you just came from in no time.

Barton Creek Greenbelt - An almost 8 mile trail network running along Barton Creek, the Greenbelt is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers and other people looking to get away from the city. It features entry points off 360, at Zilker, and along other points in the route.

Interact with Animals:

Bats – Seeing the bats depart the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset is a uniquely Austin activity which has been enjoyed for over 20 eyars.  It is estimated to be the largest urban bat colony in North America with around 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats departing nightly during the summers. In north Austin, the bridge at I-35 and McNeil also features a large colony of bats (estimated over 1 million) that can be seen leaving nightly.

Austin Zoo and Animal Santuary – The Austin Zoo features over 300 animals from 100 different species. A non-profit, one of the main goals of the zoo is assisting animals that need rescue and rehabilitation, and many of the animals have a story. There can be a bit of walking, but there’s also a train ride which provides a unique way to see the zoo.

Get Spelunking:

Inner Space Cavern

Longhorn Caverns – Located outside Burnet, Longhorn Caverns features a cave network, a short nature trail, and multiple daily tours with which to enjoy it all. For the more adventurous, there is a monthly paranormal tour which explores some of the more mysterious aspects of the caves.

Natural Bridge Caverns – Located outside of New Braunfels, it’s a bit further away than some other attractions, but it can make an excellent day trip. Natural Bridge Caverns offers multiple tours of its cave system, panning for rocks, a zipline, and other family friendly activities.

Inner Space Cavern – Just north of Georgetown, Inner Space Cavern is one of the better preserved caves in Texas and features some fine cave formations. Right off 35, Inner Space Cavern has multiple tours and is opened daily throughout the year.

Visit some Farms:

Boggy Creek Farm – An urban farm just a few miles east of downtown, Boggy Creek Farm sells fresh, organic produce on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with much of it picked the same day. You can explore the farm, meet the people who grow the produce, and interact with some chickens.

Pioneer Farms – More than just a farm, Pioneer Farms is an interactive living history park which provides glimpses into Texas over a century ago.  Open on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, Pioneer Farms provides an informative and interesting look at Texas history.

Hopefully this list has proven helpful in giving you some ideas of fun things to do in Austin with kids. There are certainly plenty of fun family oriented to do in and around Austin, and lots not on this list, so head out and explore!

Image Attribution:
Zilker Kite Festival by sonicpenguin
Mt. Bonnell Stairs by Brent Schneeman
Inner Space Caverns by  DaveWilsonPhotography

Wondering what to do in Austin for New Year’s Eve in 2010? Of course, you can always enjoy fireworks around your neighborhood from your own home, but if you’re looking for a reason to get out of the house for New Year’s Even, we’ve got some suggestions for events to give you an exciting start to 2011:

Family-Friendly Events

Austin’s New Year – Put on by The City of Austin, Austin’s New Year is a family-friendly celebration on New Year’s Eve which continues the spirit of First Night Austin. Located on Auditorium Shores, Austin’s New Year will run from 5:00-10:30 and feature music, short films, food and of course, fireworks. The fireworks will start at 10:15 and will be sure to light up the area around Lady Bird Lake.

Dining

The Driskill – The Driskill knows how to put on a nice party; Fine food, music, champagne and dancing are the way to start off 2011 here.

Music

New Years Eve Show with T Bird and The Breaks – Stubb’s knows that New Year’s and BBQ go together, and they’re brining in 2011 with a concert with T Bird and The Breaks. Tickets include a BBQ buffet and champagne toast. 

New Year’s Eve at Seaholm Power Plant – Seaholm has become one of Austin’s most unique venues and this year will be ringing in the New Year with N.A.S.A and Ladytron DJ Set featuring Reuben Wu.

New Years Eve Spectacular featuring Cake – At the Austin Music Hall, this New Year’s Eve concert will feature music from Cake, White Ghost Shivers, Agent Ribbons, and Mariachi Texas.

New Years Eve with Bob Schneider – Bob Schneider is back to ring in the New Year at the Paramount. Bob will be performing all his hits and some newer material to bring in 2011.