Summer is upon us, and so are those soaring 100-degree-plus days. While you may be tempted to hunker down for these blistering weeks in home air conditioning, your kids will soon go stir-crazy.
Check out these seven ways to keep the kids cool in an Austin summer.
Splash Pads
They’re all over the city, and they’re free! The City of Austin maintains eleven splash pads from Bailey Park to the Triangle, so slather on the sunscreen and let your kids get good and wet. Be sure to check the Austin Parks & Recreation Closures website to make sure your chosen splash pad is open and operating before you go.
Barton Springs Pool
Fed by cold (really cold!) underground springs, the Barton Springs Pool is about three acres in size so there’s plenty of room to laze. Residents of Austin only pay a few bucks to get in. Note that it’s closed on Thursdays. There’s an educational exhibit next to the pool house where kids can learn about the ecology of the area, including the endangered Barton Springs salamander.
The Thinkery
The Thinkery, a hands-on, interactive children’s science museum, will keep your kids cool for a long afternoon. It’ll also get them thinking, as they play with lights, build gliders, and just tinker.
Jumpoline
Have the kids been cooped up for too long? Do they need to work off a little energy but you don’t want to risk heat stroke at the height of an Austin, Texas summer? Check out Jumpoline, a family fun center that features innovative trampolines.
Austin Public Library
Libraries aren’t just for kids who love to read. The Austin Public Library holds child-friendly events all summer, including puppet shows by the library’s own puppetry and storytelling troupe, story time, Saturday crafts, and Lego labs. Check out their events calendar here.
Eat Ice Cream
A trip to Austin Scoops, where the ice cream is made on-site from milk and cream from a Texas dairy that raises its cows free of antibiotics and hormones. Check out the dark chocolate and sweet cream cotton candy flavors.
Volente Beach Water Park
Forty minutes outside of Austin, this boutique water park in Leander on the shore of Lake Travis offers a refreshing afternoon without being overwhelming. Young kids and older ones will stay cool on the four water slides, two swimming pools and a sandy beach area. There’s also a marina for boat rentals, sand lots for volleyball, and you can even feed the parrots.
