Kid-friendly things to do in Central Texas this summer

CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — It doesn’t *technically* need to be the summer season yet for Central Texas to feel positively tropical, with high temperatures and humidity to match.

With schools out for the summer, you might be looking for ways to keep your kids occupied the next couple of months. We’ve got you covered: Here’s a list of kid-friendly activities to beat the heat and make some summer memories this year.

Take a dip in a local pool, splash pad

The City of Austin is home to 45 public aquatic facilities, comprising regional, community and neighborhood pools, one wading pool, Barton Springs Pool and 11 splash pads.


ICYMI: With enough lifeguards, all public pools now open in City of Austin

And there’s welcomed news for residents this summer: With enough lifeguards hired, all operational pools — 32 of them, to be exact — are now open in Austin for the first time since 2019.

On June 16, Parque Zaragoza Pool was temporarily closed due to mechanical issues. City staff are working to fix it as soon as possible, the city said.

To find the closest pool or splashpad near you, click here.

Hit up a local park

If you’re looking to beat the extreme midday heat and get an early start to your day, what better way to spend it than with a trip to the park?

The City of Austin is home to dozens of greenbelts as well as metropolitan, neighborhood and pocket parks. A complete list of those can be found online.


Austin brings back free Zilker Park shuttle services this summer

For those Austinites looking to make a slightly further trek up north, the City of Round Rock’s Play For All Park is an inclusively-constructed park designed to entertain kids of all abilities. Park attractions include a sensory pod-sand box, an all abilities playscape and swing set and some retreat pods, among others.

Visit a kid-friendly movie screening

Some days, it’s just too dang hot to do anything outside. That’s when an ice cold movie theater — and accompanying soda and popcorn — can be your best friend.

Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse locations offer Kids Camp movie screenings during summer and winter breaks, with $5 tickets for all attendees. The camps feature a blend of more recent animated favorites along with classic kids films.

Titles planned this summer include “The Land Before Time,” “DC League of Super-Pets,” “Paddington 2,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Free Willy,” among others.

Elsewhere, Evo Entertainment offers a handful of Texas locations, including entertainment complexes in Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels and Kyle.

This summer, EVO Entertainment will host its Kidflix Summer Movies Series, with 10 weeks’ worth of $1 movie screenings. Films on the roster include “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Shrek 2” and “Paw Patrol: The Movie,” among others.

Check out a local musuem

Who says summer can’t be a time for learning? Escape the heat and expand your horizons with a visit to one of many museums and educational centers in the greater Austin area.

Some options include:

Austin Nature & Science Center

Thinkery

The Bullock Texas State History Museum

Museum of Ice Cream

Plan a day trip to the zoo, animal attractions

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Nothing thrills quite like seeing wild animals up close.

You can go the more traditional zoo experience with the Austin Zoo, or check out area animal sanctuaries like the Austin Farm Sanctuary and the Safe In Austin Rescue Ranch.


FYI: Water access at Hamilton Pool Preserve currently not allowed

Looking for something where the animals are a highlight but not the full attraction? The Jester King Brewery Farm is located on 165 acres of Texas Hill Country land and features beer for the parents, live-in goats to delight the kids and pizza and sandwiches for all to enjoy.

Venture to an area waterpark

You request a pool, we raise you a waterpark. Thankfully, several waterparks have set up shop in Central Texas for Texans to rev up the adventures while putting a pin in that unforgiving summer heat.

Some area attractions include Kalahari Indoor Water Park in Round Rock, Typhoon Texas Waterpark Austin in Pflugerville, Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark in Leander, Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures in Leander and the Rock’N River Water Park in Round Rock.

 

FILE: A lifeguard overlooks the pool in Austin
FILE: A lifeguard overlooks the pool in Austin

CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — It doesn’t *technically* need to be the summer season yet for Central Texas to feel positively tropical, with high temperatures and humidity to match.

With schools out for the summer, you might be looking for ways to keep your kids occupied the next couple of months. We’ve got you covered: Here’s a list of kid-friendly activities to beat the heat and make some summer memories this year.

Take a dip in a local pool, splash pad

The City of Austin is home to 45 public aquatic facilities, comprising regional, community and neighborhood pools, one wading pool, Barton Springs Pool and 11 splash pads.


ICYMI: With enough lifeguards, all public pools now open in City of Austin

And there’s welcomed news for residents this summer: With enough lifeguards hired, all operational pools — 32 of them, to be exact — are now open in Austin for the first time since 2019.

On June 16, Parque Zaragoza Pool was temporarily closed due to mechanical issues. City staff are working to fix it as soon as possible, the city said.

To find the closest pool or splashpad near you, click here.

Hit up a local park

If you’re looking to beat the extreme midday heat and get an early start to your day, what better way to spend it than with a trip to the park?

The City of Austin is home to dozens of greenbelts as well as metropolitan, neighborhood and pocket parks. A complete list of those can be found online.


Austin brings back free Zilker Park shuttle services this summer

For those Austinites looking to make a slightly further trek up north, the City of Round Rock’s Play For All Park is an inclusively-constructed park designed to entertain kids of all abilities. Park attractions include a sensory pod-sand box, an all abilities playscape and swing set and some retreat pods, among others.

Visit a kid-friendly movie screening

Some days, it’s just too dang hot to do anything outside. That’s when an ice cold movie theater — and accompanying soda and popcorn — can be your best friend.

Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse locations offer Kids Camp movie screenings during summer and winter breaks, with $5 tickets for all attendees. The camps feature a blend of more recent animated favorites along with classic kids films.

Titles planned this summer include “The Land Before Time,” “DC League of Super-Pets,” “Paddington 2,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Free Willy,” among others.

Elsewhere, Evo Entertainment offers a handful of Texas locations, including entertainment complexes in Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels and Kyle.

This summer, EVO Entertainment will host its Kidflix Summer Movies Series, with 10 weeks’ worth of $1 movie screenings. Films on the roster include “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Shrek 2” and “Paw Patrol: The Movie,” among others.

Check out a local musuem

Who says summer can’t be a time for learning? Escape the heat and expand your horizons with a visit to one of many museums and educational centers in the greater Austin area.

Some options include:

Austin Nature & Science Center
Thinkery
The Bullock Texas State History Museum
Museum of Ice Cream

Plan a day trip to the zoo, animal attractions

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Nothing thrills quite like seeing wild animals up close.

You can go the more traditional zoo experience with the Austin Zoo, or check out area animal sanctuaries like the Austin Farm Sanctuary and the Safe In Austin Rescue Ranch.


FYI: Water access at Hamilton Pool Preserve currently not allowed

Looking for something where the animals are a highlight but not the full attraction? The Jester King Brewery Farm is located on 165 acres of Texas Hill Country land and features beer for the parents, live-in goats to delight the kids and pizza and sandwiches for all to enjoy.

Venture to an area waterpark

You request a pool, we raise you a waterpark. Thankfully, several waterparks have set up shop in Central Texas for Texans to rev up the adventures while putting a pin in that unforgiving summer heat.

Some area attractions include Kalahari Indoor Water Park in Round Rock, Typhoon Texas Waterpark Austin in Pflugerville, Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark in Leander, Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures in Leander and the Rock’N River Water Park in Round Rock.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

<article class="article-list__article article-list__article–has-thumb article-list__article–is-media-type" data-article-id="1796823" data-context="headline_list_one_col_image_branded" data-index="0" data-collection="article-list1" data-anvato-params=""pauseOnTabInactive":false
// –>

Austin Weather

Current

89°

Sunny

Tonight

78°

Partly Cloudy

Precip: 20&percnt;

Tomorrow

103°

Isolated Thunderstorms

Precip: 20&percnt;

Trending Stories


Abbott vetoes more bills on final weekend


2 Texas suburbs make 2023 list for safest suburbs


I-35 near Round Rock reopened following fatal crash


A rare event north and northwest of Austin


Portion of I-35 shut down after semi hits bridge


BestReviews.com – Top gifts to make everyone happy this summer


The trendiest Father’s Day gifts that will still …

/ 5 days ago


Treat your dad with these great Father’s Day gifts

/ 1 week ago


90+ of the best gifts for Dad

/ 1 week ago


Best Father’s Day gifts for dads who golf

/ 1 week ago


Cool Father’s Day gifts for Dad that’ll arrive on …

/ 1 week ago


Last-minute Father’s Day gifts that will still impress …

/ 1 week ago


View All BestReviews Picks

Don’t Miss


Hidden dangers revealed at Lake Travis


How long will the total eclipse last in Texas?


WATCH: Everything we found investigating TxTag Troubles


How to keep mosquitoes away: Tips from Texans, experts


KXAN launches new news podcasts



Latest weather conditions from the KXAN First Warning Weather team