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We kicked off winter break with our second visit to the annual 12 Days of Drover at Hotel Drover . This festive event has become a family holiday tradition I look forward to each year and will cherish with my boys for as long as they’ll join us!

My favorite hotel in Fort Worth where luxury meets the untamed spirit of the Wild West—Hotel Drover. As the holiday season descends upon us, Hotel Drover unveils a celebration like no other with the “12 Days of Drover.” It’s a festive experience exclusive to hotel guests through the enchanting traditions and special moments that make this cowboy Christmas a truly unforgettable experience.

Arrival: Cowboy Welcome The 12 Days of Drover kick off with a warm Cowboy Welcome, where guests are greeted by the scent of pine, the twinkle of holiday lights, and the unmistakable ambiance of Western hospitality. The lobby transforms into a festive haven, setting the stage for the magical days ahead.

Room

This year, our room had the best view of the Christmas tree, what a delightful sight to arrive to and wake up to!

The Backyard

Where the Christmas magic happens. The cornerstone of the hotel The Backyard, is a beautiful outdoor oasis situated along Marine Creek surrounded by towering oak, magnolia, cypress and crepe myrtle trees from farms throughout East Texas contrasted with classic Texas cacti. During the 12 Day of Drover, all the trees are lit up and dripping with hundreds of Christmas lights with Hotel Drover’s signature Christmas tree as the centerpiece of the courtyard.

This year’s weather was perfect for sitting outside and enjoying all the holiday festivities and activations taking place in the Backyard of the Hotel Drover.  Hotel guests enjoyed a gourmet hot cocoa bar and s’mores station with all the fixings (my kids LOVED the full-sized candy bars for their s’mores), pictures with Cowboy Santa and live reindeer, and fire pits to roast their marshmallows.

The setup this year looked a little different from past events to make room for a few new features:

  • Discover The Mark – Guests are provided the opportunity to make their own mark with the help of the hotel’s blacksmith by branding a personalized initial into a leather luggage tag keepsake, using the same technique Drovers used to mark livestock. How cool is that?

  • Letters To Santa – an adorable station for kids to write and mail their letters to Santa

  • Also new this year were printed and branded photos by Motus Booth while you visited with Santa and posted for pictures in his sleigh with his reindeer which provided a great keepsake of this event.

Hotel Drover’s 12 Days of Drover encapsulate the true spirit of a cowboy Christmas, blending Western charm with holiday magic. For those seeking an extraordinary festive escape, saddle up and experience the warmth, tradition, and joy that define the holiday season at Hotel Drover in Fort Worth.

What are your favorite or new holiday traditions?

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School’s out for summer! We’re kicked off the kids’ summer break and hit the road on the last day of school to embark on our first ever camping trip in Texas.

We were avid campers when we lived in the Pacific Northwest, but have not had the opportunity to explore any Texas campsites since we’ve moved here until now.

Huntsville State Park, nestled in the Sam Houston National Forest, offers an idyllic setting for an unforgettable outdoor adventure. With its diverse range of activities, including fishing, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife, this state park is a perfect destination for families seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this blog post, we will delve into the exciting activities and attractions that make Huntsville State Park a great getaway for families with kids.

 

Fishing Fun

Huntsville State Park boasts a great fishing dock accessible from the campsites via a short trail to tranquil lake that’s teeming with fish, making it an ideal spot for a family fishing expedition. Pack your fishing gear and enjoy some quality time with your kids on the water’s edge. Common catches include largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. Don’t forget to obtain a fishing license, available at the park office, and familiarize yourself with any size or bag limits. Engaging in this classic outdoor pastime is a fantastic way to teach your kids patience, the art of angling, and the importance of conservation.

 

Hiking Trails Galore

Exploring the beauty of nature through hiking is a must-do activity at Huntsville State Park. The park offers a variety of well-marked trails that cater to different skill levels, ensuring there’s something for everyone in the family. The Prairie Branch Loop Trail, for instance, is a beginner-friendly trail that winds through the park’s diverse ecosystems, offering glimpses of towering pine trees, peaceful meadows, and serene lake views. The Chinquapin Trail, a moderate-level hike, presents a slightly more challenging terrain and rewards hikers with breathtaking vistas along the way. Encourage your kids to become nature detectives as you discover unique plants, animal tracks, and hidden treasures during your hike.

Wildlife Encounters: Huntsville State Park is a sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife, presenting countless opportunities for your kids to marvel at nature’s wonders up close. Keep your eyes peeled for the park’s resident white-tailed deer, squirrels, and rabbits as they meander through the forest. Birdwatching enthusiasts will be delighted to spot an array of feathered friends, including woodpeckers, warblers, and even the elusive bald eagle. Remind your kids to observe these creatures from a respectful distance and to refrain from feeding them, as maintaining their natural behaviors is vital for their well-being.  We did see a couple of alligators in the lake so be sure to watch out and take precaution while in and on the lake!

 

Fun On The Lake

Huntsville State Park Boathouse rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboats by the hour, all day or overnight.

Huntsville State Park Boathouse rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboats by the hour, all day or overnight.

 

Our Campsite

We got lucky booking our campsite so late in the season as we got a really good site facing the lake with lots of trees.

Camping Delights: After an eventful day of fishing, hiking, and wildlife encounters, unwinding at one of Huntsville State Park’s campsites is the perfect way to cap off your adventure. The park offers a variety of camping options, from tent sites nestled in the shade of towering trees to RV sites with modern amenities. Gather around the campfire to share stories, roast marshmallows, and bask in the tranquility of the outdoors. Our kids enjoyed the simplicity of nature, stargazing, and simply enjoying the peaceful ambiance of our campsite.

Conclusion: Huntsville State Park is a family-friendly haven that offers an abundance of activities for kids and adults alike. From fishing escapades to invigorating hikes and memorable wildlife encounters, this Texas gem has it all. So, pack your camping gear, don your hiking boots, and embark on an adventure that will create cherished memories for the whole family. A trip to Huntsville State Park is a gateway to reconnecting with nature, fostering a sense of exploration, and creating a bond that will last a lifetime.

What are your favorite state parks and campsite in Texas?

 

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My family and I enjoyed a holiday staycation to celebrate the start of the kids’ winter break and my husband’s milestone birthday.  Now in its second holiday season offered, the 12 Days of Drover is a unique, elevated holiday experience exclusive to all overnight Hotel Drover guests to enjoy holiday activations featuring live reindeer, photos with Cowboy Santa, a festive hot cocoa station, boozy hot cocoa for grownups, and fire roasted s’mores tucked away in The Backyard.

Opened in March 2021, Hotel Drover is a new(ish) luxury Autograph Collection hotel by Marriott in downtown Fort Worth. This stunning hotel is built in the middle of the revamped Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards and Marine Creek. Mule Alley is now filled with shops, upscale saloons, new breweries and restaurants, the beautiful Hotel Drover, and Tannahills Music Hall. The area sparkles with lights at night, and the Hotel Drover neon pop cowboy lassos you into its modern Fort Worth ambiance and design.

In December, The Backyard at Hotel Drover transforms into an intimate, rustic-luxe, Western winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights and elegant family holiday experiences during the 12 Days of Drover. As you wander through the stunning patio dripping with Christmas lights, a charming courtyard with a massive Christmas tree welcomes you. Past the lit oak trees, the outdoor covered bar and heated pool, you’ll make your way to The Backyard where the holiday magic awaits.

 

 

Highlights from our holiday experience at the 12 Days Of Drover:

Decadent Hot Cocoa

A beautiful hot cocoa station with all the festive fixings made with real hot chocolate, real rich whipped cream, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, and marshmallows.

 

 

Deluxe S’Mores and Fire Pits

An elevated s’mores station serving up bags filled with all the goodies and supplies you’d need to roast s’mores at the fire pits, followed by a self-serve candy bar tower if s’mores aren’t your thing. For adults, there is a coffee truck serving up boozy hot cocoa.

Take your s’mores kit and grab a seat and gather around the cozy fire pits to roast your marshmallows, enjoy your cup of cocoa and take it all in.

Photos with Cowboy Santa

Cowboy Santa makes an appearance each night during the 12 Days of Drover for complimentary photos and a chance to visit and pet real reindeer. Cowboy Santa did a great job of posing for photos in a stylish branded sleigh while interacting with kids.

Traveller Tip: Be sure to scan the QR code immediately after your photo is taken so you can access and download your photos for a keepsake souvenir of your visit!

 

Christmas carolers provided fun, lively musical entertainment throughout the night.

 

Dining at 97 West Kitchen & Bar

We celebrated my husband’s milestone birthday with a dinner reservation at the hotel’s on-site restaurant 97 West Kitchen and Bar. We dined outside on the patio overlooking the lushly lit backyard and the creek where we could still hear the carlors singing just steps away from our table. I ordered the pecan smoked salmon served with a purple potato puree, while John had the grilled ribeye with fingerling potato hash and we all shared a family fixin’ of fried brussels sprouts with pork belly burnt ends cooked in Round Rock Honey and an apple cider vinaigrette. Our dishes paired well with the Pinot Noir. The kids were easy and ordered the kids Mac & Cheese and the 97 Texas Burger.

We finished with John’s birthday dessert, a 97 West chocolate ganache cake sent from the kitchen. Thank you chef!

Chocolate Ganache birthday cake from 97 West

 

 

 

Christmas Moments Throughout the Property

As stunning as the Hotel Drover already is, they take it up a notch with their Christmas installations and holiday moments (aka instagrammable moments) throughout the property. The installations are modern and witty, rustic and luxe, and subtly branded with the hotel’s stylish logo design. The best time to enjoy the grounds and explore the property and amenities is early in the mornings before guests show up and go about their day.

Front Courtyard

 

Lobby Library Display

 

An assortment of children’s Christmas books are available in lobby areas

 

Lobby Fireplace

 

Elevator Moment

 

 

Back Patio

 

Bar Patio

 

Extras

I love hotels that go the extra mile and offer extras to make your stay memorable and inspiring. Hotel Drover was designed with the whole family in mind. The Lil Ropers package add-on makes your child’s stay at Hotel Drover in the Fort Worth Stockyards extra legendary.

LIL ROPERS*

– Traveling with a Lil Roper Includes –
Child size robe & stool in-room (Upon Request)
Plush Horse Companion
Drover Style Wild Rag
Library of books and games
Family concierge with local recommendations for kids of all ages
Children’s menu at 97 West Kitchen & Bar

*Contact concierge for package pricing.

 

In conclusion, the service, staff, well-appointed rooms and amenities, and overall experience at Hotel Drover was superb. Staying during the 12 Days of Drover made it even more festive and memorable. I look forward to making this an annual holiday staycation tradition with my family. If you’re looking for a special, intimate, and unique experience to celebrate the holidays, this is it!

I enjoyed our stay at this hotel so much that I will have to write an entirely separate post on the amenities itself.

 

There are still several dates of 12 Days Of Drover packages available!  To book your stay:

Photo: Hotel Drover website

Stay between Tuesday, December 13 and Saturday, December 24 to enjoy 12 Days of Drover, open only to overnight Hotel Drover guests and patrons of 97 West Kitchen & Bar. Book the 12 Days of Drover special package to enjoy rooms starting at $399 on select dates plus four tickets to first annual Stockyards Rodeo Rink AND $100 resort credit (USD) redeemable in the New Year.

Featured dates for rooms starting at $399 include Tuesday, December 13 and Sunday, December 18 – Wednesday, December 21. Blackout dates apply and rates subject to change at any time. Book HERE

 

Merry Christmas!

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Where we went: Legoland Florida |  What we wore: Lego face family t-shirts

A few months ago, we travelled to Legoland Florida for a few days of fun during the kids’ spring break. Now that it’s summer break, if a theme park or adventurous rides are on the horizon,  LEGOLAND® Florida could be your ultimate multi-day fun destination. This Florida theme park is about LEGO®, lively colors, fun, and education in an interactive environment. Designed for families with young kids, I’ve outlined everything we loved about the Legoland Florida Pirate Island resort  and our stay there, and our two full days at the theme park so you will have everything you need to know before booking a trip.

 

WHO IS LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT FOR?

Legoland is ideally designed for children ages 2-12 and any lego-lover at heart. Children under the age of 2 do not require a ticket. Ages 3 and over will require a ticket for entry. Most all the rides and other activities are designed for younger kids. LEGOLAND is a theme park specifically for the pre-teen crowd.

 

WHY STAY AT LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT?

If you have kids, or you are a Lego-lover, Legoland Florida is the place for you to stay during a vacation to central Florida.

1. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! (AND LEGO-THEMED!) 

2. PROXIMITY TO LEGOLAND FLORIDA THEME PARKS

Its close proximity to the Legoland Florida Theme Park & Water Park is also a great reason to stay right inside the Legoland Florida Resort.

For a fun-filled day spent at the Legoland Florida parks, all one has to do is exit the main entrance of the Legoland hotels, walk about 100 steps along the dedicated sidewalk for resort guests and then enter the Legoland Florida theme park entrance. It’s so convenient!

  • I liked the ability to leave things in our hotel room and be able to run back if needed.
  • My youngest is six years old and way past the nap stage, but it was still helpful to be able to have the hotel a stones throw away in case either kid just wanted a break from the park. If you do have young ones, staying right on property is a benefit.

3. LEGOLAND HOTELS ARE BEAUTIFUL & FUN!

When deciding to stay on property, you will have two hotel options to choose from: The Legoland Hotel, which is the original hotel for the property built in 2011, and the new Legoland Pirate Island Hotel, opened to the public in the summer of 2020.

  • Both enjoy the same main entrance right at the original Legoland Hotel.
  • Both hotels are a nice size but not overwhelming to navigate.
  • Hotel amenities and activities at both hotels are available to guests, regardless of which hotel you decide to stay in.
  • Each room is Lego-themed and set up for families, with a separate bunk area for children.
  • Legoland Pirate Island Hotel is nearly brand new! (at the time of this post) I felt it was super clean and the rooms are very quiet.

 

 LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT – ALL THE EXTRA PERKS!

  • Heated resort-style pools, a super fun mini-golf course, s’mores and bonfires and a beautiful boardwalk area to enjoy a gorgeous central-Florida sunset over Lake Eloise.
  • Master builder workshops are included with your hotel stay! You even get to keep your amazing Lego creations!
  • Complimentary breakfast with the hotel stay is PLENTIFUL and delicious each morning. The hearty breakfast definitely set us up for a day of fun at the parks. Even the waffles are shaped like Lego bricks! The restaurants will also accommodate food allergies to the best of their abilities, which many families will greatly appreciate.
  • Free parking on-site if you drive your own car to the resort.

  

LEGOLAND PIRATE ISLAND HOTEL 

 

Top Reasons To Stay at LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel

  • Free breakfast daily
  • Complimentary self-parking for ye pirate crew
  • Located 130 pirate steps away from LEGOLAND Park
  • In-room treasure hunt with daily LEGO® treasures
  • Separate sleeping space (with bunk beds!) for young bucks
  • Nightly kid’s pirate entertainment
  • Free LEGO Master Model Builder Workshops
  • Heated resort-style pool
  • All ye-can-feast family-style dining
  • We could still use all of the amenities at the original Legoland Hotel while staying at the newer hotel. The original Legoland Hotel boasts Bricks Family Restaurant, the Lego building stations in the hotel lobby entrance, the Skyline Lounge, the Lego Castle play area and the amazing pool and slide area located directly outside the original hotel.

LEGOLAND PIRATE ISLAND GUEST ROOMS

The property is well-themed with thoughtful Lego creations placed throughout the guest rooms.

 

KIDS BUNK AREAS

A separate bunk area to host two kids is always a bonus in any hotel guest room.

Each bunk area also includes a television where my kids watched a few Lego movies at the end of our very busy days at the park.

LEGO BUILDING AREA INSIDE THE ROOM

Inside the kids bunk area, right along the wall under the television, each room has a Lego building area all set up for the kiddos to produce their exciting creations!

 

THE FOOD

  • Upon booking your stay at the Legoland Florida Resort Hotel, make sure to book your on-site dining reservation asap for breakfast and dinner. Due to social distancing, time slots do fill up quickly.
  • The dinner at Pirate Island Hotel Restaurant features an all you can eat family style meal. The menu includes three types of family style meals to select from and also includes dessert.
  • The dinner at the Skyline Lounge is a-la-carte but guests are able to reserve a table directly next the main play space. I highly recommend this for parents looking to unwind after a fun day at the parks. The kids will have a blast. It is a win-win!
  • Take advantage of the site play spaces while staying at the Legoland Hotel.
  • The first play space includes a fun interactive area as well as lego tables for creating awesome works of art. This is is located inside the Pirate Island Hotel, just past the restaurant on the left.

 

SHIPWRECK RESTAURANT

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is enjoy great food. Just because we’re staying at a family-themed resort and theme park doesn’t mean that we should have to sacrifice good food either.

COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST

Large platters of food served family-style for breakfast at Shipwrecks Restaurant

 

Menu and table all set for breakfast at Shipwrecks Restaurant

There are three family-style platter options available (at the time of this post).

  • Pirate Platter: Slow-cooked beef brisket, BBQ ribs, spare ribs, smoked sausage, slow-roasted chicken served with all sorts of side dishes! We chose this platter and I assure you, you will find it amazing!
  • Seadog Skillet: Flank steak, pork tenderloin, blackened fish, citrus shrimp, rotisserie chicken and all the sides. When we go back to Legoland Florida, we will certainly have to try out this family-style platter as it looked amazing as well!

Each family-style dinner is capped off with a perfect ending: a delicious, warm and gooey chocolate chip cookie in a small cast-iron skillet served al a mode! DELICIOUS!

 

LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT AMENITIES

We spent three full days at the Legoland Florida Theme Park and Water Park with one additional day built in just to enjoy the hotel amenities.

I am so glad we did this! While we had a fun time enjoying the parks and all that they have to offer, we needed a “flex day” just to relax, swim at the resort pools, play mini golf, enjoy an evening bonfire with s’mores and partake in a beautiful central-Florida sunset.

PONTOON BOAT RIDE

Highly recommended! The Legoland Hotel offers pontoon boat rides for a relaxing family adventure around beautiful Lake Eloise and Lake Summit. We enjoyed a guided historical wildlife tour of the “Famous Chain of Lakes.”   Our captain cruised by the pirate ship, the Esther Williams Florida Pool, the LEGOLAND Water Park while pointing out the abundant wildlife such as; alligators, turtles, anhinga, ospreys, egrets, bald eagles, great blue herons and more. The boat ride lasts approximately 25 minutes. We chose a timeslot before sunset and it was the perfect way to end the day.

MINI GOLF

We ended our evening with a game of mini golf at sunset.

Mini Golf at the Legoland Florida Resort complex

The mini golf course is very fun and complete with several Lego creatures beautifully-staged throughout the course.

 

 

HEATED POOLS + SLIDES

 

The Legoland Resort Properties has two pools; a smaller pool adjacent to the Pirate hotel and larger main pool with water slide at the Legoland Hotel side.

This is where we spent the bulk of our resort day.

 

My kids loved the heated pool at the Legoland Florida Resort!

The pools opened at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. This made for a full day of water fun.

 

BONFIRE + S’MORES

The Legoland Florida Resort complex hosts a huge outdoor bonfire area with chairs for seating, near the boardwalk area down by Lake Eloise.

Grab a s’mores kit at the front desk and make your way down by the lake. Enjoy delicious sweet s’mores along with a fantastic sunset with your loved ones!

 

Legoland Park – Attractions & Fun Rides 

LEGOLAND rides are built for kids. Along with fifty fun rides, the park offers interactive shows, brick-tastic attractions inspired by the LEGO® brand, and a LEGOLAND water park. The activities are divided into three sections based on age:

  • Duplo Valley for the kids under 5
  • Thrill rides that younger kids can’t tackle
  • Rides for everyone

Some of our favorite rides and attractions:

  1. The Great Lego Race Roller Coaster: An action-packed road rally thrilling roller coaster where the laws of physics and aerodynamics only loosely apply.
  2. Coastersaurus: Let your kid experience the wild ride through the jungles and dip into an animated pre-historic wilderness while witnessing life-sized LEGO®-brick dinosaurs.
  3. Build Your Art Gallery: LEGOLAND offers interactive and educational fun. Build Your Art Gallery allows your kid to experience creativity through LEGO® tiles to create masterpieces.
  4. Flying School: The suspended coaster will take you for a ride up in the sky, soar through the clouds then bring you back to land!
  5. LEGO® Ninjago World: The Ninjago World gives your kids a golden opportunity to blast the villains with fireballs and lightning to defeat a powerful foe.
  6. Miniland Reopens: Miniland reopened with its new shade structure to provide a more enjoyable and comfortable experience at this super cool iconic attraction of the park.
  7. Ford Driving School: Get your kid a personalized LEGOLAND driving license.  Let them hit the road by pretending to be a policeman, firefighter, and more.

 

THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD

My personal favorite attraction was The Lego Movie World for its colorful and playful aesthetic. You can capture some great instaworthy photos here. THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD has three rides (Unikitty’s Disco Drop, Masters Of Flights, and Battle of Bricksburg) and features a recreated downtown Bricksburg with its lovable characters, creative eating spaces and authentic city scape. Guests can experience Emmet’s Super Suite and many other surprises!

 

Closing Thoughts

Although many theme parks are available in Orlando, this child-dedicated theme park is a fantastic adventure for families with young kids.

 

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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:

 

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!