Finally made it back down to Austin after 13 years, this time with my husband and kids. The last time I was in Austin was in 2006 and 2007 for SXSW – before John and I were married, and before we had kids. A lot has changed but the rolling hills and trees I remember seeing were just as beautiful. Since both kids were on spring break the same week, we headed out for a fun weekend of outdoor adventures, kid-friendly attractions, and lots of yummy eats in between.
Our weekend itinerary:
Travel Day
Picked Up Provisions at H-E-B
We always pick up snacks, beer and wine at H-E-B when we travel through Texas. I love it. Every H-E-B in each city has its own unique vibe and offerings and I just feel at home buying food for where we’re traveling to and staying at.
Checked in to our Airbnb– a beautiful 36 acre waterfront property in Volente on Lake Travis. The place was beautiful, secluded, comfortable, and had everything we needed. The water views from the home were amazing and the backyard was a dream. We loved being able to walk down to the dock to go fishing.
Day 1
Morning and Midday
Fueled up for the day with coffee and breakfast we made and went for a morning hike around the property’s trails and spent the rest of the day fishing with the kids on the dock.
Outfit Details: Shirt Jacket, Bike Shorts, Chunky Sneakers
Evening
Ended the evening quesadillas for dinner and s’mores by the fire.
Day 2
Morning
Headed out for brunch at Hillside Farmacy. A historical landmark, with beautiful architecture and interiors, the food is just as beautiful as it is delicious. The building reminded me of a lot of the Victorian-era architecture homes in Capitol Hill and the Central District in Seattle. Reminiscent of the pharmacy it once was, but in a warm, friend’s-house sort of way. Small copper-topped and marble bistro tables surrounded by vintage pharmacy cabinetry – so much great design inspo!
Midday
Took a family stroll down South Congress Avenue, for unique shops, bustling eateries, and the lively vibe. Obligatory photos at the ‘Greetings From Austin’ mural, let the kids pick out penny candies at the circus-themed Big Top Candy Shop, and got our sweet fix at Amy’s Ice Creams . The Vietnamese Coffee flavor was my favorite.
Kendra Scott Flagship Store
Since it’s opening in 2018, I’ve been dying to check out the Kendra Scott Flagship Store on South Congress, and finally made it out here since we were here for the weekend. Even more design inspiration here! More than a retail shop, the Kendra Scott Flagship store is a total experience. I love when brands integrate consumer experiences in their retail strategy. You can find home design and decor inspiration here, shop her latest jewelry collections with custom creations, and even enjoy a frosé and baked goods at the Sips and Sweets cafe featuring pastries from Austin-based bakeries. The building used to be the old Hill Country Weavers, and the new architectural design preserves some of the historic, quaint charm.
Outfit details: Mock Neck Sweater. Wide leg pants Teva sandals
Evening
As the sun went down, we returned to our default outdoor venue/market/kids playground for live music at one of Austin’s kid-friendly outdoor concert venues at Central Market North Lamar . We frequent Central Market often because our kids love choosing what they want to eat from the market, while John and I get to grab our bottle of wine, beer, and charcuterie plate stuff, and enjoy the outdoor patio with live music while the kids play the playground. Why aren’t there more establishments like this?
Day 3
Meal Highlight – La Tunitas 512
John and I will travel for food, real good food, especially good tacos. We’ve had our fair share of authentic Mexican food and street style tacos, and most recently babacoa. One thing I have not tried is birria and after eating this, I believe I’ve reached taco nirvana. Traditionally the meat is cooked in an earthen oven and served with a Chile broth. In Austin, the birria is done with brisket!
Photo by Sara Marie D’Eugenio
The only thing to order at La Tunita 512 is the birria de res tacos and most definitely that consommé. Also worth considering are the gringa tacos with melted cheese – omg!
So we ordered two platters full for take out and headed out to the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake for a picnic with the kids and our birria tacos.
Tip: La Tunita sells out fast. Following their IG feed, they’ll let you know what’s available. They only make a certain amount each day and once they’re out, they are out! The wait varies depending on the day, but we went on a Saturday and the wait time was about 20 minutes.
Other family-friendly food places:
- The Picnic, just one block from Zilker Park with 8-9 Austin food trailers including The Mighty Cone, Hey Cupcake!, Trudy’s, Acai Hut, Kebabalicious, Coat & Thai, Cannone Cucina Italiana, and Steel City Pops!
- Salt Lick for bomb bbq and the large playscape for kids
- Stubb’s (my favorite bbq sauce since 2006), love the venue too. Traveling with kids do the Gospel Brunch featuring family-style bbq, without kids plan to see a concert, and stay of beer, and bbq.
Other attractions with kids:
- Multilevel part-tree fort, part-modern sculpture Cathedral of Junk, which features jungle-like foliage intertwined with an estimated 60 tons of unusual items and tchotchkes (call ahead for availability).
- Zilker Botanical Garden, where kids can run free
- Mt Bonnell for the beautiful views of Austin
- Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller and Lakeline
- Ann an drop Butler Hike & Bike Trail and Boardwalk
That’s it for my shortlist for an Austin weekend with kids. John and I are already planning a quick weekend trip back here without the kids. There are so many other spots I’d love to check out that are more date friendly for just us. What are your favorite Austin recommendations for food, culture and nature? Tell me in the comments!