Hello GF! The fam and I took a weekend trip to Austin, TX this past weekend. Although I have been to Austin many times I have never made a blog post about my trips. I wanted to share with you a few fun family friendly things to do in Austin TX. I will be sharing a few activities that we did this time around as well as a few favorites from our previous trips.
Don’t forget to read these Texas Travel Guides on different Texas Travel spots.
Spend the morning shopping at South Congress
South Congress also known as SOCO is a street not too far from downtown that is full of all your shopping dreams! You can see the Capital in the distance as well. There are many places to shop at but here are a few notable favorites.
Allen’s boots
You’re in Texas and when in Texas you have to do as the Texans do and grab yourself a pair of cowboy boots. While we don’t wear these daily they are a closet staple for us Texans. Especially come rodeo season! Allens boot store offers a large variety of boot for men, women, and children. They have western wear clothing and they also offer cowboy hats that are tailored specifically for you! Even if you aren’t in the market for a pair of boots this is such a fun place to visit and see all the different varieties of boots there are.
Address: 1522 South Congress, Austin, TX 78704
Kendra Scott Flagship store
Chances are you have heard of Kendra Scott before. Did you know she started her business in Austin and would walk from door to door sharing her pieces in her humble beginnings? Also, another fun fact, I was able to meet her a few years back while I was in Austin. She is so nice!
She opened her Flagship store in SOCO and it is the cutest store that I have seen! It even has a mini bakery inside which offers pastries and drinks. There is even a outdoor seating area for you to enjoy your treats as well! Hop on in and grab yourself some cute jewelry and a sweet treat while you are at it.
Kendrascott.com
LoveShackFancy
LoveShackFancy is such a cute high end store. They offer clothing that is full of florals and puffy sleeves. The price range is costly but its to much fun to see all the pretty dresses and outfits that they have to offer. The originate from New York and have made their way down south. While I was there the owner mentioned that they are opening a store in the Houston area soon.
Big Top Candy store
Old time candy store vibes is what you will feel the moment you walk into Big Top Candy store. Located on South Congress, the candy store is filled with all kinds of treats and sweets. There are individually wrapped candies as well as bulk bins for self serving. We picked all things gummy and sour. If you have kids or even a sweet tooth this place is for you. Candy is always a family friendly and a fun time.
Make a stop at Bishop Cidercade
We wanted to make this trip fun for the kids too, so we decided to spend one evening at Bishop Cidercade. Cidercade is an arcade that has hard cider, kombucha, and smoothies on tap. You pay an entrance fee and then all of the games are unlimited. No need to buy extra token or even bring coins. It happened to be really cold this night so staying indoors and paying skeeball plus so many other games was just what was needed.
What is neat about Cidercade is that they offer hard cider, kombucha, and smoothies on tap. You can also order food as well. They have an outdoor lounge area which sits over lady bird lake and the Austin skyline. We had a great time playing games and hanging out as a family here. Our favorite was the room full of pinball machines!
I just found out they have a location in Houston EADO as well! We can’t wait to visit again. I almost forgot to mention, at 8pm they turn into an adult only arcade, so anyone 21 and under is asked to leave. We got there around 6 and had enough time to play what we wanted.
If you are looking for something to do that is family friendly or for adults only (8pm) then Cidercade is the place to be.
Snap a selfie at the Austin murals
There are many iconic murals in Austin. You could spend the day driving around town and taking pictures are each one. We decided to stop at 2 this trip. The famous I love you so much sign and the welcome to Austin mural.
I love you so much Mural
For the I love you so much sign you can find it alongside Jo’s coffee which is in the heart of South Congress at 1300 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704. As for when the best time is to visit, I would say anytime. The wall is on the side of the building and is shaded so we had no problems with harsh lights at 2pm.
Welcome to Austin mural
The welcome to Austin mural is located at 1720 South 1st Street, Austin, TX on the side of the Roadhouse Relics building, an art exhibit. This one tends to get a little more foot traffic so depending on when you go you may have to wait a little bit for your turn. We went 2 times, once to find it & check out the lighting and a second time to snap a picture. Both time it was very sunny. I would say the best time to visit this mural is at golden hour when the sun is setting, otherwise the lighting is too harsh.
Visit Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake is a beautiful lake that runs through Austin. There are many activities that can be done on the lake. In the past we have kayaked on the lake. This trip we took a walk around the lake on a walking path. We played frizz bee with the kids and sat down by the water and searched for baby turtles. It was a nice time together and the kids loved it.
Looking for a place to grab a bite to eat?
Austin is known for its live music and delicious food. There are so many great places to try out it can be a little overwhelming. These are a few of the places we have eaten at in Austin over our many visits there. I also want to mention a blog of a local Austin girl who shares all the best places to brunch at in Austin too. A Taste of Koko shares 25 places to have a good Sunday brunch!
Try award winning BBQ at Franklins
Address: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
When we got to Austin, I knew one of the things I wanted to do was eat some good barbecue and Franklin bbq DID NOT DISAPPOINT! It was so delicious. They open at 11-2 or 3 depending on when they sell out. After shopping at SOCO we had a late lunch and showed up at 2:30. We were the LAST customers for the day! We ordered brisket, turkey, and the sausage plus the sides which were coleslaw, beans, and potato salad and it was $75 and worth every penny! One of Austin TX best eats!
The James Beard Award winning bbq seems to get a line during peak times. When we got there, we were able to go straight in and order but like I said we were the last ones being served that day. Be sure to check their website for the latest up to date information. franklinbbq.com
Eat delicious Tacos at
Chow down on an Acai bowl and more at Bowls and Blenders
Having a restrictive diet, no gluten and dairy, can be a little tricky when traveling. Many of the times we bring our own food and stay in an airbnb. This time we said at a hotel. We had to find places that I could eat at. Bowls and Blenders was that breakfast fix for us. They offer a variety of delicious smoothies and acai bowls. We ordered a regular acai bowl and I ordered an acai smoothie, It was so good and healthy!
Lucy’s Fried Chicken
If you are looking for a hearty meal. Be sure to make a stop at Lucy’s Fried Chicken. They serve fried chicken baskets as well as other meals. We were able to go a few years back with family members. We sat outdoors and enjoyed all the fried chicken we could eat. If you are looking for a melt in your mouth chicken try out Lucy’s.
Eat a pink taco at Taquero Mucho
Okay, grab your pinkest outfit and head over to Taquero Mucho. This cute taqueria is full of instagram worthy spots and is such a vibe! I am sad to say that I wasn’t able to visit this trip but it is on my list for next time. I was however to drive by a have a look. First things first, you have to pay to park in their parking lot. They are located on 6th street which is a very busy area. The place gets busy so be sure to factor that in your plans. They serve pink tacos and the cutest drinks as well.
Cafe No Se
This cafe is so cute! I didn’t get to eat there this time but I did a previous time. You can see more about it here. The salad was delicious and the place was really cute with Instagram friendly decor.
Closing thoughts
There is so much to do in Austin. This post only scratches the surface. We enjoyed our family time there and were so happy to find so many family friendly activities in Austin. We had the most fun shopping the stores on South Congress as well as spending time together at the Arcade. Thank you so much for reading this post. I hope that you found it helpful.
XO,
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