Welcome back to the Austin Pedal Party Blog! With Austin being such an eclectic city that is always growing and changing there is an activity for everyone! From Vegan food to date night ideas, we take the time to cover the topics you’re interested in. We also know bicycle bar enthusiasts come in many different varieties and ages, so for those of us that might be enjoying Austin with little ones in tow then this article is for you! Even if youre not the proud parent of a child you can still unleash your inner child and go have a ball using this blog as inspiration. Here we have highlighted thirteen activities that are good for the whole family.
Peter Pan Mini Golf
4.5 ★
Who doesn’t love a good round of Mini Golf with the family? If you’re looking for a way to spend a few hours engaging in some active bonding with everyone in the group, Peter Pan Mini Golf is where you don’t have to stop being a kid. Don’t worry though, we are sure your ball will always land! Open until 10 pm during the week, 11 pm on Friday/Saturday, head down Barton Springs Rd for a choice of two incredibly fun (and sometimes challenging) course selections at Peter Pan Mini Golf. Extra cool points to anyone who read our last blog about barbeque and can start or end this adventure with a meal at Green Mesquite Barbeque just a few meters away.
Austin Duck Adventures
4.5 ★
Only open during the day, Austin Duck Adventures is an amphibious tour given in an unsinkable boat, inspected by the US Coast Guard. Affordable, entertaining, and it features a selection of sightseeing opportunities that can’t be beat, Austin Duck Adventures even lets children 2 and under ride for free. The whole experience is entirely family friendly and they have some of Austin’s greatest tour guides (next to us of course !) Austin Duck Adventures is a great trip from the moment you board near the Austin Visitor’s Center. This is the ultimate “surf and turf” experience and it will give you and yours views of Austin that are better than photo worthy.
Pinballz
4.4 ★
Over 200 varied machines are just waiting for you to get a little competitive with your family and friends at Pinballz. The original location is on Research Blvd but they also have two other locations , one on the Lake Creek side of Research boulevard and the other one just outside of Austin proper in Buda TX. Between all three there are tons of games and machines. They even boast the largest selection of pinball machines and classic video games in Texas ! Even the most devout gamer can find something new to mess around with. Laser tag, bumper cars and escape rooms are also a small handful of activities available throughout the three locations. Show up on a Friday for some live music if you really want to amp up the afternoon at Pinballz. There’s really no better way to bond with your children and siblings than by challenging them to a round of the classics.
Pease Park
4.7 ★
Austin’s first public park has been mentioned before here on the blog and with great reason. Treehouses, volleyball pads and much more are ready for you at Kingsbury Street in Austin. Semi-new features including the Kingsbury Commons, with an interactive water play area just in time to beat the summer heat. Fully family friendly, with something to do for all age groups, Pease Park has always been one of Austin’s favorite ways to get some exercise and have some fun. With so many options spread out over 42 acres of gorgeous Texas land, there are plenty of views alone to keep you busy all morning-afternoon. Also keep tabs on their local events that go on in Pease Park because it seems like every weekend there are gatherings for music, movies, and just about anything that you can do in the sun!
Blazer Tag
4.5 ★
Nothing really beats a day spent traveling back in time to the era of lazer tag. Here at Blazer tag you can jump, run, and zap your way into youth no matter how old you are. In this instance it is only made more enjoyable at Blazer Tag. They have a full host of accommodations including an arcade, food and even a ropes course to play on if you’re feeling adventurous. Come in any day other than Monday-Tuesday (when they are only open for reservations and pre-booked events), until 9 pm during the weekdays, 11 pm on weekends for the time of your life and bring the whole family out. Solo players and teams are encouraged to come out again and again, especially since you are not able to access the advanced course without having played AT LEAST 5 games of Blazer Tag already. Family days, birthday parties, corporate events, you might be surprised to see how into Blazer Tag any group of even the most unexpected people can get. Ask about their newest attraction and try your skill out with a couple rounds of mini bowling for a real treat.
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Alamo Drafthouse Dinner Theater
4.6 ★
Don’t let their location of Slaughter Lane fool you, the Alamo Drafthouse Dinner Theater experience is for movies lovers from every genre. Find everything from new releases to anime flicks for the kids and settle down for a meal and entertainment in the most cozy setting imaginable. Cheeseburgers, pizza, draft beer and even fancy cocktails can all be ordered directly to your seat at Alamo Drafthouse. No more of that waiting in a concession stand line and missing the previews. None of that dry mouth from popcorn and overpriced candies either, the Alamo Drafthouse is the prime way to catch a flick while in Austin. This location is a larger one out of the three in Austin but if youre looking for something closer to downtown the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar works just as well.
Swan Pedal Boat rentals from Capital Cruises
4.8 ★
Kayaks, canoes and swan pedal boats, just like the ones from the movies! Capital Cruises is much more than a giant set of ships to board. Take some time on the water for you and your group as you cruise around Ladybird Lake taking in the sights. If Swan Boats don’t get you, be sure to ask about their donut boat options. Whatever selection you make is apt to keep you busy until an hour before dusk when the rentals are due back to the dock. Arrive early, you won’t want to miss any amount of time spent out on the water.
Chaparral Ice Skating Rink
4.5 ★
Do you know how to ice skate? Are you curious to find out what all the fuss is about? Whatever level of ice ability you are “skating” on, come down to Chaparral Ice and take some lessons or join the league of your dreams. Classes are available for all levels and ages of ice enthusiasts from hockey to figure skating. You can even rent the ice out for parties and events. Who says you need snow to try out the best cold weather activities? Bring plenty of layers to put on once you’re inside, don’t forget that ice skating requires more cold than what we are used to around here.
Austin Zoo
4.2 ★
What started initially as a goat ranch back in the 90’s, the Austin Zoo has grown to be home to 15 acres (and always expanding) of rescued animal exhibits. Go out and meet all of their animals and even consider taking the time to sponsor one. The Austin Zoo is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a safe place for all animals while informing the community about how they can help. Feel good about your day spent at the Austin Zoo, from 9:30-5 pm (6 pm on the weekends) every day. If you’re a resident of Austin, you might even want to look into their career opportunities, the Austin Zoo is always hiring passionate team members.
Austin Aquarium
4.2 ★
Not just a giant fish tank (even though their giant fish tanks are pretty cool) the Austin Aquarium is home to reptiles, mammals and birds, alongside plenty of marine life. Interact with the animals while learning tons about every display available. From 10 am – 8 pm 7 days a week, you can witness everything from animals to mermaids who can’t wait to take a selfie with you. Trust us, you will want to visit their website before showing up, there’s too many activity options to list and no one wants to be overwhelmed on their first visit. But let’s be honest with ourselves, a selfie with the mermaid is more than enough of a reason to plan your entire day around visiting the Austin Aquarium.
Austinaquarium.com
Playland Skate Center
4.5 ★
Take it back to the days of disco at Playland Skate Center on McCann drive with a 27,500 square foot skating rink with all the bells and whistles. Take lessons, hosts birthday parties or just come out and show off your skills on Tuesday or Thursday-Saturday (check website for varying hours) while jamming out to great tunes on their epic sound system. Classic food and drink options are a perfect way to relax after all the exercise so sit down with a slush drink or pickle pop once you’ve finished.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4.7 ★
An aesthetically pleasing the facility housing a wide variety of flowers at the University of Texas The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has over 30 years of experience being home to almost 900 species of plants native to Texas. 70 species of native trees call this land home, and there is plenty of land, and the information available is enough to make your head spin. Get to know your inner botanist with one of what is sure to turn into many trips to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, open every day from 9 am – 5 pm.
Altitude Trampoline Park
4.4 ★
“Austin’s Best Trampoline Park” is a great place to tire out your entire family! Trampoline parks are a great way to get some exercise and are sure to lead to some quality ZZZ’s at the end of the day (or immediately afterward) . Not only will you find plenty of room to jump, Altitude Trampoline Park on West Gate blvd has an array of attractions to select, from extreme dodgeball to a foam pit. Heck, you might even want to use this venue as an excuse to escape the family for a bit. Closed on Monday-Tuesday but open until at least 8 pm most other nights, you won’t want to leave Altitude once you start jumping.
CONCLUSION
Well there you have it, enough family friendly activities to hopefully keep you busy for at least the next two visits you take to Austin. Here at the Austin Insider, we can’t get enough of this city and are stoked to tell you all about it. Before you run off to plan the family excursion right out of the movies, don’t forget to take some time to read around the website. While our experience is not entirely family friendly (must be 21+ to enter the establishments we stop at) our Pedal Party is an Eco-friendly and fun way to tour Austin, Texas. Downtown Austin never looks better than when you are riding with friends on the Pedal Party so book your tour now and find out for yourself! Until next time, thank you for visiting the Austin Insider.