Looking for ways to spend the long summer days here in Austin? We’ve got a handy checklist for you to print and post on your fridge! Keep kids active, and limit screen time, while checking off items on your free printable checklist of 100+ Austin Summer Adventures. You’ll be making fun family memories together and giving your child a summer they’ll always remember!
A very special thank you to OurPact for partnering with us on this checklist! OurPact is a leading parental control app for iPhones, iPads, and iPods that makes it easy for you to set limits on how much time your child is spending on mobile devices. Download your free OurPact app for iPhone or Android, and make plans to leave screens behind as you get out and enjoy some summer fun together as a family!
Print your free copy of the two-page Austin 100+ Austin Adventures Checklist! Or, read on to discover all the fun you can have in Austin this summer with kids. (Note: Not all of these adventures are free. Click on the links for more information.)
100+ Austin Summer Adventures
Visit one of Austin’s free splash pads. Or, challenge yourself to see how many you can make it to in one day!
Bring a float and relax in the chilly water of Barton Springs Pool on the hottest days of summer.
Pack a picnic and go see the free Zilker Summer Musical, Shrek the Musical, at the Zilker Hillside Theater.
Bring trash bags (and hand sanitizer) and pick up litter while you hike at McKinney Falls State Park.
Make (and pop) giant bubbles on the Long Center lawn at Bubblepalooza!
Try Jim Jim’s water ice after an invigorating swim at Deep Eddy (the oldest swimming pool in Texas).
Enjoy the flora at Zilker Botanical Gardens.
Play a round of Putt-Putt at Peter Pan Mini Golf, and take selfies by every comical statue you see.
Make a reservation to visit Hamilton Pool. Go for a hike and a swim (as long as swimming is allowed at the time; check website first).
Hamilton Pool. Photo by Jessica Gollub.
Explore Krause Springs for a day hike and a swim, or plan to camp and spend the night there!
Visit one of Central Texas’ swimming holes, like Blue Hole in Wimberley.
Go for a swim in one of Austin’s free swimming pools and start a game of Marco Polo. See how many other kids you can get to join in!
Go black light bowling at the UT Underground.
Pretend to be knights and princesses in a castle at Children’s Park in San Marcos.
Go for a bike ride along the Brushy Creek Trail and stop at all six playgrounds along the way!
Swim and play for free all day at Dick Nichols Park.
Complete the scavenger hunt at the Dinosaur Park in Cedar Creek.
Take your kids to explore the Play For All Abilities Park. Bring their bikes and scooters so they can race around the little play town!
Bring sunscreen and sand toys along to discover Austin’s “Secret Beach“. Then, stop at the Roy G. Guerrero Playground and let the kids run around the giant playscape.
Explore the grounds of Bee Cave Sculpture Park.
See a Round Rock Express baseball game on an H-E-B Kids Day. Kids can run the bases after the game!
Stroll around one of Austin’s farmer’s markets. Have the kids each pick a fresh new-to-them vegetable to make for dinner that night!
Climb the giant boulders inside the Austin Bouldering Project.
Be a ninja on the obstacle course at Urban Air or the BAM Academy.
Float along the lazy river at Round Rock’s Rock’N River, or try some of the water park’s brand new waterslides!
For a playground alternative, take the kids to see some outdoor art at Laguna Gloria, which is free on Tuesdays.
Mingle with peacocks after hiking at the Mayfield Nature Park.
Climb Mt. Bonnell and take a family photo at the top, with the Austin skyline in the background.
Hike along the Barton Creek Greenbelt and cool off with a dip in Twin Falls.
Feel like you’re worlds away while touring Westcave Preserve.
Search for the rope swing while hiking along St. Edwards Trail, then go for a swim!
Look for shells while you cool off in the water at Bull Creek.
Make sandcastles at Emma Long Park.
Canoe, kayak, or SUP at Lady Bird Lake.
Climb the giant indoor play structure at Mt. Playmore (remember to bring socks)!
Hike the Turkey Creek Nature Trail.
Jump in the ball pit at the Little Land Play Gym. (Save $1 with this coupon!)
Go underground and explore the caves at Inner Space Caverns or Natural Bridge Caverns.
Make rock towers while wading in the swimming area of the Pedernales Falls Park.
Dig for dinosaur bones at the Austin Nature & Science Center, the Texas Memorial Museum, or Champion Park.
Let your dogs in on the summer fun by taking them for a dip at Barking Springs at Zilker Park.
Practice your skateboarding skills at one of Austin’s free skate parks.
Feel like you’re under the sea while you bowl inside Bass Pro Shops.
Run around during a game of laser tag at Main Event in North Austin, or Blazer Tag in South Austin.
Hike or bike along the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Don’t forget to feed the ducks at the Lou Neff Point along the way!
Play along the shores of Lake Pflugerville and imagine you’re at a real beach. Bring goggles and try to spot fish in the water while you swim!
Escape the heat and go ice skating at Chaparral Ice. Perfect your figure 8, or just try to make it all the way around without falling.
Go roller skating at Playland Skate Center and let the kids climb the play structure in the back.
Stay up past bedtime and go to one of the Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center’s free Nature Nights on Thursday evenings.
Jump in the foam pit at Hop N Happy.
Climb the trees at Springwoods Park.
Listen to local music outside at Central Market. Let the kids run around on the playground while you cool off with some gelato!
Take a hike at Walnut Creek Park and splash in the water along the way to cool off. Teach the kids how to skip rocks, then collect a few bigger rocks to paint when you get home.
Bring a basketball and shoot hoops at Little Stacy Park.
Teach your kids how to do the monkey bars at the Zilker Park playground, then ride the Zilker Zephyr!
Let everyone pick out their own lunch from the salad bar or hot food stations inside Whole Foods on North Lamar, then bring the food upstairs for a picnic while the kids play on the rooftop playground! Bonus points if you ride the special cart escalator down to the parking garage.
Feed the ducks at Mueller Lake Park after playing on the playground.
Spend the day in Georgetown, either swimming at Blue Hole, walking around Berry Spring Park, or playing at the giant Creative Playscape at San Gabriel Park. Then wander around their charming downtown square when it’s time for dinner!
Wear your socks and jump your crazies out at an indoor trampoline park like Jumpoline, Jumpstreet, or Jump USA.
Dance to live music at Children’s Day Art Park.
Take a hike at Balcones Park, then stay to let the kids play at the playground.
Play Hide & Seek inside the little playhouse at Katherine Fleischer Park.
Go for a long walk along the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake.
Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk.
Spend a day on Zilker Park’s great lawn. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Do some cloud watching, fly a kite, play frisbee with your friends (or dog), and climb the rock island.
Play baseball, whiffle ball, or kickball at a local park’s baseball diamond. San Gabriel Park has one right behind the Creative Playscape.
Go camping at Inks Lake and don’t forget the s’mores!
Take a day trip to San Antonio or Waco. Both have great zoos and children’s museums to explore!
Get brunch and boogie down on Sunday mornings with free kids music at Cherrywood Coffeehouse.
Splash around in the Hill Country Galleria’s interactive fountain.
Climb Enchanted Rock.
Hike the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.
Climb the giant spider web at Ramsey Park.
Ride bikes on the BMX trails at Elizabeth Milburn Park in Cedar Park.
Bounce and slide at Pump It Up, Hoppin House, Inflatable Wonderland, or iPlay.
Dance around while listening to live music at Unplugged at the Grove or Blues on the Green.
Let the kids run around and play in the AC at Ashley’s Playhouse.
Get dizzy from all the fun at Catch Air.
Join a Summer Reading Program at a local bookstore (like BookPeople or Half Price Books). Then, bring your books to a park with lots of shade and spend the day reading outdoors on a blanket. Don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch!
Keep Austin Weird and visit the Cathedral of Junk!
Laugh til your tummy hurts at What’s The Story, Steve?, an improv comedy show for kids.
Attend a free kids DIY workshop at The Home Depot and bring home your creation.
Spend a Saturday morning making free crafts at Lakeshore Learning.
Go on a street mural scavenger hunt and take a selfie at each one! Find the “Murals of Austin” geocache for some ideas.
Bring the kids to the Thinkery and make a cool design on the giant Lite Brite table. Remember to bring a change of clothes if you plan to visit the water room!
Learn all about Texas history at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. When you’re ready for a walking break, sit down and catch a 3D movie at the IMAX Theater inside the museum!
Go to the Blanton Museum of Art on a Thursday when they offer free admission.
See the graffiti art at Austin’s HOPE Outdoor Gallery.
Stroll around the Umlauf Sculpture Garden to enjoy some outdoor art.
Stand along the Congress Avenue bridge and wait for the bats to emerge at dusk.
Visit the animals at the Austin Zoo.
Learn about what it takes to work on a farm at one of Austin’s urban farms (such as Crowe’s Nest Farm, Boggy Creek Farm, or Springdale Farm).
Teach the kids how to fish this summer at Mills Pond. Bonus points if you can find the secret tunnel that leads to the playground across the street.
Ride the go-karts at Austin’s Park and Pizza.
Enjoy the AC inside Lakeline Mall while the kids run around the free play area. Then buy tickets and ride the little train around the mall, waving at everyone you pass by! Or, to keep the day completely free, just ride the escalators up and down for a while.
Visit the Capitol and take a free tour.
Travel back in time while visiting Pioneer Farms.
Stay and play for awhile at Toybrary, then check out some toys to bring home.
Watch the daredevils at iFly Austin. Then, eat dinner at Phil’s Icehouse next door, and let the kids play on the outdoor playground.
Ride the Ferris wheel at Kiddie Acres.
Teach your kids to give back by taking them to volunteer over the summer. Try the Capital Area Food Bank or Austin Pets Alive.
Pick out a giant watermelon from the store and have a seed spitting contest in your front yard. Invite the neighbors to join in the fun!
Turn your backyard into a water park with sprinklers, water guns, and water balloons.
Visit a local ice cream store (like Lick or Amy’s), bring home a pint, and make ice cream sandwiches with homemade cookies!
Check out a library story time, and bring home a bunch of books to read together.
Window shop along South Congress, eat at a food truck, and take a family picture at the “I Love You So Much” mural in front of Jo’s Coffee. Stop by Big Top Candy Shop for a sweet treat at the end of the day.
Set up a lemonade stand in your neighborhood. Take what you earn and catch a cheap Alamo Kids Camp flick (they’re only $1)!
Go to a storytime at BookPeople and let the kids run around the play area for a bit while you pick out a new book to read this summer. Snap a picture of the kids sitting in the old barber chair before you leave!
Make homemade cookies and bring them to your local fire department. If they’re not busy and you ask nicely, they might even give you a private tour of the station and let you sit in a fire truck!
Treat yourselves to a giant Texas-sized donut at Round Rock Donuts, then discover the giant “round rock” that gives the town its name. Bonus points if you can spot wagon wheel tracks from the olden days, or find bronze cattle along the Chisholm Trail.
Smile for a picture in front of the “smile even if you don’t want to” mural, then treat yourself to some Austin-famous pizza at Home Slice on South Congress Avenue.
Dine at a restaurants with a playground for kids. If you’re at the Kerbey Lane in Round Rock on a Tuesday, kids eat free!
Pet the rays at the Austin Aquarium, then let the kids run wild on the climbing structure in the back! Save on admission with this coupon.
Cool down with a gelato from Mandola’s at the Triangle, and make sure you stop by the playground while you’re there!
Explore the Hill Country Science Mill.
Want more? Check out our Austin Summer Fun Guide!
If you’d like to ensure your child gets the most out of summer, try the free OurPact app to limit their screen time at-a-touch. You can download OurPact today free from the App Store or learn more at www.OurPact.com.
