I wish we were cool and rich enough to live in a downtown Austin high-rise with children, but we're neither. Living in the '04 is the next best thing, though, and our proximity to downtown makes zipping over there and pretending to be hipsters a fulfillable fantasy. There are dozens of downtown activities to experience with children (AMOA, the library, the bats under Congress bridge, the Capitol, picnic at Town Lake, performances and classic movies at the Paramount, etc.), but down below are my five favorites.
The Downtown Austin Alliance's "This Week in Downtown" email list and website is handy for keeping up - with the email sign up you'll get email updates on street closures (which is not only convenient for driving plans, it also tells you what parades and fests are going on) and downtown activities.
The only downtown museum I'd say stay out of when accompanied by kids is Arthouse at the Jones Center, which showcases contemporary art, unless you've previewed the current exhibit first. It's tempting to run across the street after a visit to AMOA, but E and I once waltzed in there and the young punky girl at the front desk gave me her Teacher Face and was all "you do know there are some explicit exhibits here, don't you?" Er, did I just get mama-judged by a tatted-up 22-year-old art chick? My parenting standards must be really low. We went for pizza instead. Although, I have to say it's refreshing to see a museum that is bucking the trend and not falling all over itself to attract families. It's a comforting feeling to be a targeted demographic, but I appreciate places other than bars that remain havens for grownups only.
These are my favorite activities particularly appropriate for younger kids (under 7) in downtown Austin, with apologies/a shout out to local doyenne of awesomeness Anne Elizabeth Wynn, who wrote a delightful feature on this topic for the Austin-American Statesman some time back with more of a older kids focus and which I would link to if I could find it.
The Downtown Austin Alliance's "This Week in Downtown" email list and website is handy for keeping up - with the email sign up you'll get email updates on street closures (which is not only convenient for driving plans, it also tells you what parades and fests are going on) and downtown activities.
The only downtown museum I'd say stay out of when accompanied by kids is Arthouse at the Jones Center, which showcases contemporary art, unless you've previewed the current exhibit first. It's tempting to run across the street after a visit to AMOA, but E and I once waltzed in there and the young punky girl at the front desk gave me her Teacher Face and was all "you do know there are some explicit exhibits here, don't you?" Er, did I just get mama-judged by a tatted-up 22-year-old art chick? My parenting standards must be really low. We went for pizza instead. Although, I have to say it's refreshing to see a museum that is bucking the trend and not falling all over itself to attract families. It's a comforting feeling to be a targeted demographic, but I appreciate places other than bars that remain havens for grownups only.
These are my favorite activities particularly appropriate for younger kids (under 7) in downtown Austin, with apologies/a shout out to local doyenne of awesomeness Anne Elizabeth Wynn, who wrote a delightful feature on this topic for the Austin-American Statesman some time back with more of a older kids focus and which I would link to if I could find it.
Mine here are in no particular order and if you live in Austin, you've probably done at least two of these things already, but who doesn't love a list?
1. Austin Children's Museum + Jo's Coffee + strolling around 2nd Street (2-5 hours). Yes, I hated a bit on the ACM back in my rainy day post, but here's the secret. Go on a pretty day, not when a new exhibit is first opening, when all the other parents are out doing outdoorsy things with their kids. Try for a 1:1 adult:kid ratio if you have both a baby/toddler and an older one(s). That way someone can stay with Lil' Bit in the toddler corral and the other person can do the fun big kid stuff in the other rooms. Go early in the day (they open at 10), have lunch or a snack at Jo's and then walk around and window shop in the 2nd street district. Speaking of Jo's. . . on films shooting in Austin, does every actor's contract require a visit to one or both Jo's? Every day? 90% of my celeb sightings in Austin have been at Jo's. C'mon Hollywood, we have other coffee shops here. Granted, none of the others offer a tasty pulled pork sandwich, but y'all don't eat anyway, so branch out.
2. The Farmers Market at Republic Square (1-4 hours). I know it's tired to go on and on about how we should all shop at farmers markets all the time, but the downtown market is not only a great place to get your food, it's a hoot for young kids. Sure, you can meet farmers and buy great local veggies and safe, humanely-ranched meats (the Berkshire pork and Loncito's lamb in particular are tasty), but you can also dance to a band, watch a cooking demo, have a snack and tea, pet friendly dogs, and run around on the hill. And if it's warm, you can play in the fountain. You can fill almost an entire Saturday morning with this outing, and it's easy to combine with other downtown activities, because you will have already found a great parking space, and why waste that? When we go I always feel like we are rushing just to buy food and hit the road, and I am resolved to stop doing that and experience the market more slowly and from my children's perspective. As soon as it warms up.
3. Parades and Walks/Runs. (2-5 hours) Even if the parade has a lame premise, kids will go bonkers over marching bands, boy scouts on floats, the Luling Watermelon Queen waving at them, whatever. And participating in a walk or watching a marathon or a triathlon can be really entertaining - always something to see in a crowd. Our girls love the AIDS Walk. I already have red tutus for them to wear next year!
1. Austin Children's Museum + Jo's Coffee + strolling around 2nd Street (2-5 hours). Yes, I hated a bit on the ACM back in my rainy day post, but here's the secret. Go on a pretty day, not when a new exhibit is first opening, when all the other parents are out doing outdoorsy things with their kids. Try for a 1:1 adult:kid ratio if you have both a baby/toddler and an older one(s). That way someone can stay with Lil' Bit in the toddler corral and the other person can do the fun big kid stuff in the other rooms. Go early in the day (they open at 10), have lunch or a snack at Jo's and then walk around and window shop in the 2nd street district. Speaking of Jo's. . . on films shooting in Austin, does every actor's contract require a visit to one or both Jo's? Every day? 90% of my celeb sightings in Austin have been at Jo's. C'mon Hollywood, we have other coffee shops here. Granted, none of the others offer a tasty pulled pork sandwich, but y'all don't eat anyway, so branch out.
2. The Farmers Market at Republic Square (1-4 hours). I know it's tired to go on and on about how we should all shop at farmers markets all the time, but the downtown market is not only a great place to get your food, it's a hoot for young kids. Sure, you can meet farmers and buy great local veggies and safe, humanely-ranched meats (the Berkshire pork and Loncito's lamb in particular are tasty), but you can also dance to a band, watch a cooking demo, have a snack and tea, pet friendly dogs, and run around on the hill. And if it's warm, you can play in the fountain. You can fill almost an entire Saturday morning with this outing, and it's easy to combine with other downtown activities, because you will have already found a great parking space, and why waste that? When we go I always feel like we are rushing just to buy food and hit the road, and I am resolved to stop doing that and experience the market more slowly and from my children's perspective. As soon as it warms up.
3. Parades and Walks/Runs. (2-5 hours) Even if the parade has a lame premise, kids will go bonkers over marching bands, boy scouts on floats, the Luling Watermelon Queen waving at them, whatever. And participating in a walk or watching a marathon or a triathlon can be really entertaining - always something to see in a crowd. Our girls love the AIDS Walk. I already have red tutus for them to wear next year!
There's the Chuy's Thanksgiving "Children Giving to Children" parade, or Veteran's Day, or Juneteenth, or go down there when the Republic of Texas biker rally roars into town, or the Pride Parade. Sometimes those last two happen on the same weekend in June, a coincidence I've always found charming.
Except for walks, we opt for a backpack carrier instead of a stroller for most crowded events. Easier to keep track of your kid, you have hands free, they can see great from up there so there will be less complaining, and noone (including you) will spill a drink on their heads. Come to think of it, we frequently opt for the backpack over the stroller. Ironic result for a family that owns 4 strollers, two of which each cost more than I used to pay in rent.
You can find out from the City of Austin special events website which parades and street fairs are coming up, although with a few exceptions (like First Night Austin) we usually avoid large street fairs with young children - a lot going on and not enough of it little-kid-friendly, it's too easy to lose them, food is expensive and lines are long. But there are more parades and smaller street fairs going on in Austin than you think. Coming up March 6 - Texas Independence Day parade. Yee-ha! My hands down favorite, though, is the Dia de Los Muertos procession and festival hosted by Mexic-Arte in October.
You can find out from the City of Austin special events website which parades and street fairs are coming up, although with a few exceptions (like First Night Austin) we usually avoid large street fairs with young children - a lot going on and not enough of it little-kid-friendly, it's too easy to lose them, food is expensive and lines are long. But there are more parades and smaller street fairs going on in Austin than you think. Coming up March 6 - Texas Independence Day parade. Yee-ha! My hands down favorite, though, is the Dia de Los Muertos procession and festival hosted by Mexic-Arte in October.
This photo taken at Dia de los Muertos is old because we weren't able to go in 2009, but I can't wait until next year. I am already sketching out how to paint a calavera on E's face. I have a feeling S won't let me get near her with a brush and paints, but we'll see. Maybe I'll just swipe a Frida unibrow on her and call it a day.
4. Tea (or hot chocolate and pastries) at the Driskill Hotel (2-3 hours). During the holidays, the Driskill's 1886 Cafe does a formal afternoon tea, perfect for little girls who consider Fancy Nancy a celebrity. But even during the rest of the year you can put together your own special tea time or hot chocolate break, and then stroll upstairs to walk around the gorgeous lobbies and maybe hear some piano in the bar.
5. Check out whatever they are presenting at Ballet Austin's rehearsal space, then go have a treat at one of the 2nd street restaurants (2-4 hours). BA has performances at the rehearsal studio that are perfect for children, and sometimes even kid-specific performances. We attended an outstanding mini-Peter and the Wolf (45 minutes - perfect) performance last year. Lots of thoughtful aspects - for example, they had the dancer playing the wolf come in before the show holding his wolf head and demonstrate putting it on in front of the children, so noone freaked when he later crept out on stage in character. Simple, brilliant. A couple of weeks ago, E and I went to a Ballet Austin Family Dance workshop. I tell you what, that was the best $10 I have spent in ages. The junior company did some demos, then worked with the kids to assemble their own dances. E was in heaven. That night when I tucked her in she said "I am closing my eyes so I can see the dance I'm going to create in the morning." I about passed out.
See you downtown!
4. Tea (or hot chocolate and pastries) at the Driskill Hotel (2-3 hours). During the holidays, the Driskill's 1886 Cafe does a formal afternoon tea, perfect for little girls who consider Fancy Nancy a celebrity. But even during the rest of the year you can put together your own special tea time or hot chocolate break, and then stroll upstairs to walk around the gorgeous lobbies and maybe hear some piano in the bar.
5. Check out whatever they are presenting at Ballet Austin's rehearsal space, then go have a treat at one of the 2nd street restaurants (2-4 hours). BA has performances at the rehearsal studio that are perfect for children, and sometimes even kid-specific performances. We attended an outstanding mini-Peter and the Wolf (45 minutes - perfect) performance last year. Lots of thoughtful aspects - for example, they had the dancer playing the wolf come in before the show holding his wolf head and demonstrate putting it on in front of the children, so noone freaked when he later crept out on stage in character. Simple, brilliant. A couple of weeks ago, E and I went to a Ballet Austin Family Dance workshop. I tell you what, that was the best $10 I have spent in ages. The junior company did some demos, then worked with the kids to assemble their own dances. E was in heaven. That night when I tucked her in she said "I am closing my eyes so I can see the dance I'm going to create in the morning." I about passed out.
See you downtown!
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