- March 12, 2013

Austin Active Kids’ Top 5 Ways to Stay Local & Be Active

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The boys hit the trail at Mayfield Park

Long before I started the Austin Active Kids blog, I was a big fan of Free Fun in Austin. We’re excited to share some of our fun and affordable family-friendly adventures with you just in time for spring break!

So, you’re in town for spring break and the kids are bored. You’re looking for some ways to burn off energy that don’t cost a fortune. You’d also rather avoid downtown traffic due to SXSW. Here’s just what you need: Austin Active Kids’ Top 5 Ways to Stay Local & Be Active During Spring Break!

  1. Blunn Creek Greenbelt in the Travis Heights neighborhood inspired our family to create the Austin Active Kids Blog. A meandering trail in the greenbelt connects Little Stacy Park and Big Stacy Park. Kids will love to explore the playscapes, trail, and creek bed at their own pace.
  2. Mount Bonnell and Mayfield Park in West Austin are two historic gems that you can visit in one easy outing. Mt. Bonnell provides fabulous views of the river, the 360 bridge, and the Austin skyline. Mayfield Park has beautiful grounds to explore (including a family of peacocks!) and 21 acres of trails.
  3. The Bull Creek Greenbelt in Northwest Austin offers 3.5 miles of trails. Our favorite spot is off of Lakewood Drive near Loop 360. If you pay close attention, you will be rewarded with sightings of butterflies, lizards, fish, grasshoppers, and many other interesting creatures.
  4. The Texas Memorial Museum on the University of Texas campus serves as an exhibit hall for the Texas Natural Science Center. It’s a great way to spark conversations about science with your kids. There are plenty of places to run around outside, too. 
  5. Road trip anyone? You can still stay relatively local with a day trip to San Marcos to visit Aquarena Center and the Children’s Park. Since being purchased by Texas State University, Aquarena Center has changed a lot from the old Aquarena Springs amusement park days. Luckily, the amazing glass-bottom boats are still in operation! It’s fascinating to learn about Spring Lake and see it for yourself on one of these boat rides. Less than 2 miles away, you will find a gigantic playscape at the Children’s Park, adjacent to the San Marcos River. Plan to stay a while!

For all of the Top 5, just click on the link for all the details you need, including directions, tips, and lots of pictures!

Make sure to check out the Austin Active Kids website or Austin Active Kids Facebook Page during spring break because we will have at least 2 or 3 new posts while the kids are out of school!

Austin Active Kids creator Casie Wenmohs and her three sons spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying Austin’s natural beauty. Austin provides countless interesting and delightful opportunities to get kids moving that are low-cost or free. She hopes her family’s adventures around Central Texas inspire you to explore with your family, too!