Whether you live if in Austin or are planning a family trip this fall, you can expect to have ample indoor and outdoor fun! There are numerous family-friendly museums in the city, including the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, The Contemporary Austin, and Texas Memorial Museum. Additionally, the Austin Nature and Science Center, Dinosaur Park, and Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms are excellent options for kids to have a ton of fun! Austinites take pride in curating interesting hands-on learning and activities for all ages. Locals love to get involved by doing instead of just watching. For these reasons and so many more, Austin is the place to be if you want make family memories! With that said, here are some of our favorite fun things to do with your kids in Austin this fall…

Get thinking at the Thinkery

The Thinkery, Austin’s children’s museum, offers hands-on art and science exhibitions for the entire family. Here, you can see how far a self-designed airplane can fly, collect faux chicken eggs, weigh vegetables, learn about electricity, or play with appliances in the kitchen lab.

The outside play area of the Thinkery is also very loved by children. You can find the Thinkery in Mueller Lake Park, a beautiful park in the Mueller neighborhood. It offers ample open green space, a walking trail around the lake, and a large playground, making it a wonderful Austin family attraction.

Go Indoor Climbing at the Austin Rock Gym

If the weather in Austin gets chilly for outdoor activities, indoor climbing at the Austin Rock Gym can get everyone in the family moving. Children as young as four can join their families for an exciting indoor climb or participate in one of the youth programs available. The younger children will begin with a Monkey Business session before progressing to the Spider Monkey class after mastering the basics. Parents will receive a free belaying lesson during these kids’ programs so that they can climb with their children outside of class. The gym provides excellent children’s birthday parties, with a professional staff member to supervise and assure the children’s safety.

Watch the Bats from the South Congress Bridge

Every evening from March through November, thousands gather along South Congress Bridge to see the most significant urban bat colony in the United States. A 1.5 million colony of Mexican free-tailed bats take their nightly flight right when the sun is about to set. These flying mammals live beneath the bridge, attracting photographers and visitors ranging from curious children to nostalgic Austinites. If you can’t get a front-row seat on the overpass or your kids are afraid of heights, you may view the bats from the grassy slope on the bridge’s northeast side. Lady Bird Lake also gets filled with boats and kayaks for the performance. We can guarantee this is one of the most fun things to do with your kids in Austin this fall.

However, if you want to ensure you and your kids will have fun and not worry about your valuables during your Austin trip, you can always choose to rent a storage unit. Experts from heavenlymove.com highly recommend doing so for your and your item’s safety and comfort. So place your belongings in the storage unit when you arrive in Austin and pick them up before you leave.

Visit a Child-Friendly Brewery

Austinites are well-versed in the world of artisan brews. There’s no shortage of beautiful venues to grab a cold pint with a friend in the surrounding region, with so many local brewers. Furthermore, what we appreciate the most about Austin is how many breweries have declared themselves family-friendly. Most have play areas for small kids and board games for older ones. At the same time, many breweries have live concerts and movie nights that will keep kids entertained for the night. Therefore, if you’re a beer enthusiast, bring the kids along, sit back, and relax, sipping from your favorite drink.

Go on a Haunted Tour

As Halloween is approaching, we thought of sharing some fun things to do with kids in Austin this fall related to this celebration. One of the best activities for families is going on a haunted tour around the city. A walking tour with a qualified guide will teach you everything about Austin’s history, hauntings, and ghosts. Begin your eerie trip by learning about Austin’s haunting past. Then, go to some of the city’s most haunted landmarks, including the Driskill Hotel, the Texas Governor’s Mansion, and the Texas State Capitol. As you stroll, you’ll learn about Austin’s haunted past and some theories regarding the hauntings.

Celebrate Halloween in Austin

Austin has even more Halloween-themed events every October. As you will probably see, there will be so many events in your area, regardless of where you are staying, that it might be hard to choose where to go first. The family-friendly Pumpkin Nights, for example, will exhibit all things frightening on October 31. The festival will feature a festive strolling trail with magnificent views, such as giant jack-o-lanterns, the world’s largest pumpkin guitar, and other exciting surprises. Throughout the month, the historic living museum will also hold daytime activities such as pumpkin carving workshops and a Dia de Los Muertos exhibit.

Grab a Bite in Between Fun Activities

Austin is often associated with barbecue, and visiting the city without sampling some would be a mistake. Therefore, when you want to take a break from visiting the city, and your bellies get hungry, make sure to visit one of the best barbeque places. Terry black’s and Cooper’s are among our favorites. If you don’t necessarily want barbeque, you can see another popular place for eating in Austin, Raney Street. There are several excellent eateries in this region, but for a taste of Austin food truck culture, we recommend dining at the Rainey Street food trucks. At the same time, you can stop wherever you are, and you will find an excellent place to eat, guaranteed.

Final Words

There are many fun things to do with kids this fall in Austin. Whether they like the outdoors or prefer indoors, there is something for every family member. So pack your bags and come to experience this beautiful city as soon as possible. Halloween is just around the corner, and you wouldn’t want to miss all the celebrations.

Marcus Roper

Broker Associate / Compass Real Estate
Principal / The Westhorn Group

Marcus began his career as a real estate analyst at Goldman Sachs in Dallas, Texas. His team was responsible for the investment of Goldman’s capital into real estate portfolios.

Marcus has since then established himself as a Realtor® & Broker in the western areas of Austin, specializing in high-end new construction, boutique listings, staging & design, and a seamless client experience.

Marcus enjoys viewing and playing live music, exercising on Town Lake, and playing golf at Barton Creek & Austin County Clubs.