Texas Family Vacations

7 Reasons to Choose Austin
for Your Next Family Vacation in Texas

There are many great choices when it comes to Texas family vacations. After all, Texas is the 2nd largest state behind Alaska and the 2nd most populous state behind California. With its geographical and cultural diversity, its rich and unique history, and its famous hospitality, vacationing in Texas is as memorable as it is rewarding.

At the top of any Texas Family Vacations list should be a trip to Austin, the capital of the state and home to many Lone Star State attractions and entertainment opportunities.

Here then are 7 categories of family attractions in Austin, great reasons to vacation in Austin:

#1 - Historical Attractions in Austin

As the capital of Texas, Austin is rich with history. First settled by those of European descent in the 1830s, Austin was originally founded along the banks of the Lower Colorado River and known as Waterloo . After it became the capital, the town was renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin .

Without a doubt, the number one Austin tourist attraction is the Texas State Capitol. Constructed in the 1880s, the Texas State Capitol has more floor space than any other state capitol and is taller than the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Open to the public every day except major holidays, the Texas State Capitol features magnificent Renaissance Revival architecture, local limestone and distinctive regional Sunset Red granite, beautiful interior wood work, lush grounds, and a magnificent and inspiring rotunda.

The Texas Governor's Mansion is another popular tourist destination, although the site is currently closed for major renovation and repair following a 2008 arson attack. Tours are expected to resume by 2012.

Construction of the Greek Revival style Mansion was completed in 1856. The building is a Texas Historical Landmark, National Historic Landmark, and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Austin is also home to the beautifully manicured Texas State Cemetery , where many prominent Texans--governors (including John Connolly and Lt. Governor Bob Bullock), judges, legislators, Republic of Texas veterans, and Confederate Generals--have been laid to rest.

Most notably, Stephen F. Austin is interred here.

The cemetery also features WWII and Vietnam Memorials as well as a tribute to those Texans who died on September 11, 2001.

The cemetery is normally open to the public 7 days a week, and admission is free.

Austin landmark hotels such as The Driskill and the Stephen F. Austin Hotel are also terrific spots for Texas family vacations. Whether you stay at one of the hotels or just stop in for lunch or dinner, you're in for a treat.

The Driskill , constructed in the 1880s by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, has been restored to its original opulence. In addition to its impressive 19th century aesthetics, the hotel also has an entertaining and colorful history, which includes several supposed ghostly residents.

Likewise, though younger by nearly a half century, the Stephen F. Austin Hotel , constructed in the 1920s is another of Austin's historic grand hotels. It features one of the best terraces in Austin as it overlooks Congress Avenue and offers a spectactular view of the Capitol.

#2 - Austin Outdoors - Activities and Fun

Austin is a nature lover's dream and is unmatched when it comes to enjoyable outdoor activities for the entire family, a perfect Texas family vacations backdrop.

Originally settled along the banks of the Lower Colorado River, Austin's main waterway was dammed in a couple locations to form what is now known as Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake), which serves as a sort of meandering border between downtown Austin and South Austin; and Lake Austin , a section of the Lower Colorado River farther west and north of downtown that eventually makes its way to Lake Travis, even farther north and west.

Lady Bird Lake can be enjoyed in many ways, including by guided tours aboard riverboat or cruise ship as well as by exploring via a kayak or canoe rental.

Where the Congress Avenue Bridge spans the lake, reside more than 1.5 million migratory Mexican free-tailed bats nine months out of the year. At dusk, crowds gather along the rails of the bridge and on both banks of the lake to watch the bats depart en masse from beneath the bridge and scour the Austin sky to feed on insects.

Love to go boating on your Texas family vacations? Whether you own your own boat or prefer the convenience of renting, both Lake Austin and nearby Lake Travis offer ample opportunity for family relaxation on the water.

And for swimming enthusiasts, Austin provides two hugely popular spring-fed swimming pools - Barton Springs and Deep Eddy .

Austin's extensive hike and bike trails running along both sides of the Lady Bird Lake can accommodate a wide variety of Texas Family Vacations. Whether you prefer a nice leisurely stroll in a beautiful setting, a refreshing bike ride (bike rentals available), or just an old-fashioned invigorating run, there are more than 10 miles of shore-lined trails with the Austin skyline as a backdrop to enjoy.

Austin abounds in parks. The official slogan of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department is, "Austin: A City Within a Park." It's true - the city of Austin boasts 206 parks, 12 preserves, and 26 greenbelts.

Foremost among Austin parks is Zilker Metropolitan Park . Zilker Park is Austin's work horse park and the site of many annual Austin events and festivals including the longest running festival in Austin a the Zilker Park Kite Festival held each spring since 1929.

The park isn't the largest in Austin, but at 350 acres it's large enough to provide a ton of facilities and attractions, including the previously mentioned Barton Springs Pool , a fun playground complete with an old fire truck, the popular Zilker Zephyr kiddie train , a snack bar, the beautiful and serene Zilker Botanical Gardens , the outdoor Hillside Theater where free performances of Shakespeare and Broadway musicals take place each summer, and the Austin Nature and Science Center where kids (and adults) can learn about the natural environment of central Texas with fun, hands-on exhibits and activities.

Other notable parks in Austin include the Emma Long Metropolitan Park which is comprised of nearly 1150 acres along Lake Austin and features boat ramps, a swimming area, both tent and full hook up camping, and hot showers; and McKinney Falls State Park , a terrific Texas Family Vacations wooded spot for camping, fishing, swimming, bird watching, and hiking and biking along a 7 mile trail system.

Additionally, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department maintains smaller parks and attractions.

One such location is the popular and easily accessible Mount Bonnell with its inspiring and panoramic view encompassing the Austin skyline to the south, Lake Austin below (along with some impressive estates along its banks), and the striking Pennybacker ("360") Bridge to the north.

Another notable location is the 7 acre Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum tucked away on the eastern edge of Zilker Park.

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden features the sculpture of the late artist Charles Umlauf in a quiet, shaded setting with a mature grove of cottonwoods, wildflowers, and an extensive water feature that includes a bubbling brook, serene pond, and two wooden foot bridges.

#3 - Fun Austin Tours

For those who enjoy tours with their Texas Family Vacations, there are some good selections of interesting tours of Austin.

You can enjoy a guided bat-watching tour from atop the Congress Avenue Bridge via a Segway or from below on the waters of Lady Bird Lake via riverboat or cruise ship . And of course there are also numerous non-bat tours of Austin via Segway or Cruise Ship as well.

Austin Duck Adventures provides a fun amphibious exploration of downtown Austin and Lake Austin.

Enjoy ghost stories? Austin Ghost Tours provides two popular downtown tours showcasing a darker side of Austin's past.

The Hill Country Flyer is terrific day trip excursion to the nearby Texas Hill Country . Enjoy a steam train ride and an afternoon shopping in the Hill Country town of Burnet.

The University of Texas at Austin also offers various engaging tours of the campus, including a popular one that includes a climb to the top of the famous UT Tower .

#4 - Great Austin Museums

With 30+ museums in Austin, there's something for all interests and all Texas Family Vacations. In particular, four Austin museums are ideal for Austin visitors with kids:

• Austin Children's Museum - catering to the under 12 crowd, the Austin Children's Museum features numerous hands-on exhibits and fun science-oriented educational programs.
• Pioneer Farms - Experience living history on five restored historical sites from the 1800s. Pioneer Farms also offers special programs, family concerts, and seasonal events throughout the year.
• Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum - Not only does the three-story Bob Bullock Museum provide a first class learning experience about Texas history, it also boasts Austin's only IMAX Theater as well as the multimedia and special effects Texas Spirit Theater.
• Blanton Museum of Art at UT - One of the best university art museums in the nation, the Blanton features more than 18,000 works of art, including a special emphasis on Western European art from the 14th through the 20th centuries. Admission to the Blanton is free on Thursdays.

#5 - Austin Restaurants - Tex-Mex and More

Austin is a Tex-Mex lover's dream. The breakfast taco could be included in the city's official emblem. No matter where you go in Austin, great Tex-Mex abounds.

But there are also a terrific selections of other first-rate Austin restaurants as well a both high end and casual and encompassing the entire culinary spectrum. Be sure to consult our Austin Restaurant resource page for more ideas when making your Texas family vacations plans.

#6 - Austin Live Music and Festivals

No case arguing that Austin is your best Texas Family Vacations choice is complete without a mention of the city's reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World."

Austin - with numerous legendary live music clubs and bars such as Antone's , Stubbs , the Continental Club , and Emo's - is a mecca of live music.

But not all performances take place in bars and nightclubs. There are many options for catching great live music in more family-accessible settings. Popular Austin restaurants such as Threadgills, Artz Rib House , The Oasis , Freddie's Place, Shady Grove , and Hill's Cafe are just some of the choices.

Austin also knows how to celebrate year round in terms of festivals and special events , many of which are geared toward families, from the countless festivals celebrating the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds that make up the citizenry of Austin to other fun family-oriented celebrations such as Ice Cream Festival and the Wiener Dog Races in nearby Buda to the annual Austin Rodeo and the Austin Family Music Festival at Pioneer Farms .

#7 - Other Austin Family Entertainment

Finally, if you're looking for still more ideas to entertain the kids during your Texas family vacation in Austin, consider these options:

• Peter Pan Mini Golf - Austin's favorite miniature golf course since 1946, Peter Pan Mini Golf features a variety of oversized characters including Peter Pan (of course) and a giant T-Rex. The facility includes 2 separate 18 hole courses. Note: Cash/Checks only.
• Austin's Park - Located right off I-35 just one exit north of Austin in the suburb city of Pflugerville, Austin's Park features unlimited laser tag, go-karts, bumper boats, kiddie trains, climbing walls, miniature golf, arcade, and all you can eat pizza buffett (batting cages are also available, but paid for separately).
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort - Ideal for a day trip while on your stay in Austin, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels (located about 30 minutes south of Austin on I-35) is one of the best water parks in the country.

Enjoy the Best Texas Family Vacations in Austin

While this page is fairly comprehensive, it is by no means all Austin has to offer on the subject of Texas family vacations and family attractions in Austin.

In fact, it's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Feel free to look around this site and discover in more detail what makes Austin such a special vacation destination.

Real Austin Texas currently consists of more than 350 pages . . . and with more always on the way.

Enjoy your next family vacation in Texas . . .