Things to do with kids

What are the 10 best things to do with toddlers (ages 4,2,1) in the Austin area? Looking for any of the non-typical responses (i.e., we know all about Zilker, etc).

Things to do with kids

Here%26#39;s my list - it includes the typical things because they really are good things to do with kids.

Austin Children%26#39;s Museum www.austinkids.org/

Barton Springs Swimming (there%26#39;s Plenty of shallow parts) www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

Zilker Park - Playgrounds and miniture train ride http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/

Deep Eddy Pool - more swimming http://www.deepeddy.org/

Austin Nature Center http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ansc/

Boggy Creek Farm http://www.boggycreekfarm.com/

Congress Street Bridge - Bats

Amy%26#39;s Ice Cream http://www.amysicecream.com/

Along with all of the regular kids things - pizza restaurants, toy stores, ice skating, roller skating

Then there are day trips - New Braunfels, San Antonio, etc.

Things to do with kids

Here%26#39;s a few other things -

Austin Zoo - It%26#39;s semi-rural and an animal rescue facility, but it%26#39;s small enough they don%26#39;t get whiny

Capitol grounds - They may get bored seeing the building, but they love running around on the Capitol grounds, rolling down the hills, climbing trees etc.

Outdoor free music events - Let them run around, dance, bring a big blanket %26amp; plenty of snacks.

McKinney Falls State Park - it%26#39;s just outside of the city, but there%26#39;s some good trails.

Wildflower center - see if the Little House is open. They have activities for young children.

City Hall for the great art.

(I was just there yesterday with my five year-old for work.) Your kids should go to the elevator area for a fun interactive surprise. I could not drag my daughter away. She also liked the sheep on the second floor balcony and the bird in the snack room. My daughter loved goofing around outside, too.

Forgot about Bats - duh!

There are very few places in the US where you can witness millions of bats leaving their roosts to go hunting for food. San Antonio (Austin) is lucky to be near two very easy spots:

One is the Congress St. Bridge in Austin. Advantage - Austin is fun, lots of shopping, restaurants, live music. Downside - it%26#39;s an urban setting, noise and traffic.

The other is the bat cave at Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area 鈥tate.tx.us/huntwild/鈥?/a> near Fredericksburg. Upside - cool wilderness setting, shopping, and restaurants nearby in Fredericksburg. Disadvantage - viewing area has limited capacity and they close off the area when it reaches capacity (get there early.)

OK here%26#39;s a secret about the bats (at either location.) While it%26#39;s way cool to watch them leave at dusk, it%26#39;s even more cool to watch them come back in the morning. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunrise. Yes I know it%26#39;s early, but it%26#39;s worth it! As you approach the roosts, you%26#39;ll hear this vibrating noise, sort of like paper tearing. It sounds so close. As it gradually gets lighter, you%26#39;ll start to see them, thousands of bats diving down and into the tunnel or under the bridge. It%26#39;s so cool! The bats feed at up to two miles high, when they are ready to come back to roost, they tuck in their wings and start a freefall. As the get close to the ground, they open their wings to navigate back to their spot, that%26#39;s the noise you hear.

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