What could be more fun than a Weird family vacation?
I’m not talking about the kind of weird where everyone gets the stomach flu, the car breaks down, or the airline loses your luggage. Those pitfalls go beyond weird into miserable. I’m referring to Keeping it Weird in Austin, TX! The mantra of the locals pushing to keep everyone shopping local while basking in all things Weird and outside of the box.
In recent years Austin has proven to be one of the hot spots for family relocations due to the booming economy and mild year round weather. Perhaps it is best known for its funky festivals celebrating everything from wiener dog racing, the bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge, and Austin City Limits. But if that’s all you think Austin has to offer you are missing out on some of the greatest family experiences the state of Texas has to offer.
OUTSIDE ADVENTURE
If you have tweens and older kids, do not pass up the opportunity to hop on a Segway tour of downtown Austin. I was very apprehensive at first because I wasn’t sure I had the coordination to maneuver the machine but it is VERY simple to learn and a great way to see a ton of interesting sites around downtown!
For families with smaller children the Austin Duck Adventurestour is on our “can’t miss” list. The operators are great with the kids and make the tour of Austin fun for all ages! The little ones will be mesmerized when their bus turns into a boat as it drives into Lake Austin for a tour of the lake houses in West Austin.
Zilker Park by itself can fill several days of fun for a family looking to have some outside adventures in Austin. Riding the Zilker Zephyr train, swimming in Barton Springs Pool, or Kayaking through Ladybird Lake are just a few of the favorites of the Hatch family whenever we have family in from out of town!
The Austin Zoo and Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center are a favorite spot to hang out for animal lovers and nature lovers alike located near downtown in SW Austin. You can stroll through each park, enjoy the wildlife and catch a glimpse of the beauty of the famed Southern Wildflowers that make a trip to Austin in the Spring worth every cent!
For a day of unrivaled beauty head to Blue Hole Regional Park for a dip in the natural spring. Just 30 minutes outside of Austin in Wimberley, it’s the perfect place to hide away from the Texas heat!
FOOD FUN
A trip to Austin is not complete without a visit to one of our famous “Trailer Parks” where food trucks gather to offer up the best of Austin fare. You can get a taste of everything from Tex-Mex, Asian, vegan, gourmet doughnuts, ice cream, BBQ, cupcakes and more. With live music, playgrounds and picnic tables... a picnic with the family will never be the same!
Here’s a quick list of some of the best trailer parks in Austin:
Just about an hour East of Austin is the famed Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory with daily tours (closed on the weekends). Kids get a great inside look into how the treats are made and the drive is beautiful through East Texas. The tour is about 30 minutes with a free scoop of what is arguably the best ice cream in the world at the end of your visit.
HISTORY
The Bullock Museum tells The Story of Texas in a unique, fun narrative of everything that makes Texas what it is today. There are 3 floors of artifacts, films and exhibits that will tickle historians of all ages.
LBJ, Presidential Library is a fascinating look into former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency from the day he took office after the Kennedy Assassination, to his limousine and even boasts a replica of The Oval Office in ⅞ scale.
The Austin Fire Museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday features AFD relics dating as far back as the 1870′s, including a Hook and Ladder No. 1 lantern, uniform pieces from the turn of the century, memorabilia from Texas’ first African American firefighters and more.
So whether you are up for a taste of history, a taste of some of the country’s best food, or a taste of nature, Austin is ready to serve it up wonderful while keeping it Weird.
