Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in austin, TX

Other Great Savvy Source Things to Do

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Fun for the Littlest Ones

Making Music at Heartsong

June 15, 2009

It's hard to believe it's not even "officially" summer yet. Outdoor playdates which don't involve being submerged in water suddenly lose their appeal, and activities involving air conditioning sound incredibly appealing. With this in mind, I took my three year old son to Heartsong Music last week to attend one of their preview classes.

Kids and Austin's Food Trailers

by Nicole Basham

June 01, 2009

Having lived in Austin on and off for most of my thirty-plus years, I have seen a number of trends come and go: bagel shops, brewpubs, and now, the trailer eatery.

I was skeptical at first about whether this concept would be kid-friendly. Generally speaking, menus are limited, waits can be long and seating is not a given.

But the trailers we have visited thus far have exceeded our expectations.

Austin Landmarks, Courtesy of My Preschooler

by Nicole Basham

May 12, 2009

Isn't it funny what preschoolers will remember about a place? You take them someplace new, and they will remember the strangest and least expected details! Also, my son will rattle off names of parks, but he is still not able to recall actual names for many other places (although he's got Costco and Red Robin down!)

Since Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, for today's List, here are my son's favorite Austin landmarks (in his own words):

The Gorilla - Featured on the home page of the Keep Austin Weird website, this statue just HAPPENS to be on the way to his grandparents' house in Clarksville. From time to time, the Gorilla is adorned in garb fitting of the season (there was even a run with a yellow jersey when Lance Armstrong was competing in the Tour de France).

The Museum - Located near "the big buildings" aka downtown, the Children's Museum was a regular stop for us, until we let our membership lapse and my husband stopped working downtown, so no possibilities for lunch afterwards. Although we have been to other museums, this is considered by him to be "the" museum.

The Bat Bridge - On Sundays, my husband and son (and sometimes I) run on Ladybird Lake, and our turnaround point is often the Ann Richards Bridge on Congress. As you probably know, underneath the bridge is the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. Even during the morning, you can see and hear them. We have yet to try seeing them come out at night with my son, but we are planning to this summer.

The Dog Park - Also in Clarksville, West Austin Park has two great features: 1) a nice park for kids with a playscape, swings, kickball field and basketball court; and 2) a fenced in dog park. Our pup is not quite ready for Auditorium Shores, so this is a nice compromise when we want an outing for the entire family. There is even a tiny veggie garden I assume was set up by the neighborhood or the nearby elementary (Mathews).

Central Market North - This used to be called "restaurant park" when we had a repertoire of only a few places to go for dinner and playing. Now, we seem to go less often, but it's a nice standby. Now my son remembers to ask for a balloon at Customer Service and gleefully holds onto it for two minutes until he remembers again about the playground.

Pump It Up - This warehouse full of bouncy houses, slides, etc. has become a favorite for my son and one of his best buds. Hidden north of the intersection of Burnet & 183, it's is open Mondays and Thursdays for Pop In Playtime from 9:30-11 for $6.

What are your preschoolers' favorite Austin landmarks?

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Beat the Heat at Hamilton Pool

by Nicole Basham

May 11, 2009

Remember those amazing Spring days we had? Unfortunately, it appears those are gone and we are starting our LONG summer. Luckily, there are plenty of ways in Austin to beat the heat, and we visited one of them last week: Hamilton Pool.

I hadn't been in ages, and certainly not since my son was born, and I wasn't sure if we'd see any impact from the construction runoff that polluted the Pool. I'm glad we made it out, as it was a great morning. Do call ahead before you go, especially after a rainfall, to make sure high bacteria levels haven't closed the Pool.

We made the trip on a Friday morning, and it was about an hour's drive from our house in North Central Austin. We arrived at 10:00, and we were the third car there (it is an $8 charge per vehicle). There is a compost toilet by the parking lot, but it does not have running water, so you need to bring your own. The trail down to the Pool is 1/4 mile and suitable for a preschooler (and downhill). We did pass another set of portable toilets closer to the Pool.

The pool has a large shallow area where kids can wade and see the bottom. There are fish, shells, and the ground is pretty rocky (my son didn't mind, but adults might want to bring water shoes). There is some shade provided by the limestone outcropping, but not a lot. We had a great time splashing, "swimming", and pretending we were various water animals.

There is also a trail which goes underneath the outcroppings which is short and easy for a preschooler to take. My son pointed to several spots on this walk which he said were "caves" and he suggested that maybe bears lived inside. There is certainly a lot of opportunities to talk about earth science here!

We weren't prepared to picnic, but it would be a great place to bring a lunch. Instead, we headed to the Salt Lick (we had an out of town guest in tow, so great excuse!), ate our fill, and were home at 2:00, in time for nap!

Hidden Gem: Reed Park

by Nicole Basham

May 04, 2009

Today I bring you another Hidden Gem: Reed Park in Central Austin. Basically hidden from the road, you might have trouble finding it, even if you are looking. When we were checking out library storytimes, we headed to Reed after visiting the Howson branch.

East Side Finds

by Nicole Basham

April 27, 2009

Austin's "Upper East Side" (I had never heard of the name until I saw it on a bumper sticker) has garnered a lot of attention, particularly since folks started moving into the Mueller development. But don't forget, there is a lot more to East Austin than Lake Park! Here are just a few things you should check out:
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Where Mamas of Two Get Four Thumbs Up

by Nicole Basham

April 21, 2009

Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and for today I compiled a list of places to go where two kiddos can be entertained. That said, as you might have gathered, I only have one child, so I relied on my awesome mama friends for suggestions. Thanks to Lori, Heidi and you others (you know who you are!) for sharing these great tips! Here goes...

Hidden Gem: Brushy Creek Lake Park

by Nicole Basham

April 20, 2009

It's time for another Hidden Gem. Last time I reviewed Mayfield Park, an urban oasis with something for everyone in the family. This time, I'm heading north to Cedar Park's Brushy Creek Lake Park.

The park is 90 acres, only five years old and very picturesque. I actually discovered it trying to find a place to jog sans kid, although I had heard about the sprinkler park, which is open 10-8 from May until September (hence, no children in my photo). I have heard the sprinkler park gets a little nutso in the summer, but I guess that's par for the course. There is also a playground, covered pavilions, picnic tables, BBQ grills and a sand volleyball court.

What makes the park a hidden gem is that in addition to the sprinkler park and usual amenities, there is a fishing pier, a canoe/kayak launch and what appears to be a place to rent some, a hike and bike trail in great condition, and down the trail, Champion Park, with a host of fun possibilities for preschoolers. I love finding places that I think we will "grow into", if that makes sense - just lots of stuff that my son will appreciate more and more as he grows older.

The Lake is a Community Fishing Lake, meaning it's periodically stocked with catfish and/or rainbow trout. Many times I have visited, I've seen families heading out with poles. We still haven't tried fishing with our three year old, but I keep thinking about it, so this might be the first place we try!

A mile and a half down the trail from the main entrance of Brushy Creek is Champion Park, which I discovered will be the venue for the First Annual Dinosaur Day on May 9th. You can access the park from Brushy Creek Road, where there is a ton of parking. Unlike the Dino Pit at the Nature Center, which we also enjoy, Champion Park has a covered area to dig, which makes it MUCH more amenable to the Texas heat. There is also a whale which sprays water and specially designed boulders intended for climbing. Another fishing area is located closeby, and the Trail continues to the Avery Ranch subdivision. You can continue on the trail down to Olsen Meadow Park, which has fields for soccer and baseball and a playscape.

Now that I've reviewed a north and central Hidden Gem, I need ideas on a place to explore that's south! Southie mamas, please send your ideas to beingsavvyaustin@savvysource.com!

Savvy Austin Welcomes Andria Stanley for Taking Photos of Children Outside

by Nicole Basham

April 12, 2009

Wildflowers in bloom, Easter dresses and delightful Springtime weather present a bevy of opportunities for the perfect photo op. Yet another mama I met at the Austin Bloggin' Mamas Social was Andria Stanley, who started a forum for parents "taking pics & talking life", Studio Parents. Andria attempts to stay sane on a daily basis in Austin, where she writes about her two children, love of fashion, (sometimes) perfect husband, and more, on her personal website Andria and Co.

I'm excited to have Andria guest blogging today to share tips on where and how to get the best outdoor shots of your children.

Head Outside for Austin's Kid-Friendly Works of Art

by Nicole Basham

March 31, 2009

Maybe your child doesn't notice paintings on your wall - but how about the large bat sculpture on the little triangle where Barton Springs meets Congress? How about the cows at the Arboreteum? Art is all over Austin; you just have to know where to look. For today's List, here is just a sample of outdoor art to get you and your budding artiste out in this wonderful Spring weather! And best of all, these are all free!
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A moo moo here...and a moo moo there at Crowe's Nest Farms

by Nicole Basham

March 30, 2009

If there is one thing cuter than a (human) baby, it might be a baby farm animal. We got to check out lots of baby, mommy and daddy animals last week at Crowe's Nest Farm.

Crowe's Nest is located in Manor, about thirty minutes east of Austin. The 100-acre working farm is a non-profit with the mission of fostering public appreciation, knowledge, and wise stewardship of both the agricultural and wildlife resources of Texas. Tours are available by appointment only (M-F at 10 and 11:30) and the farm is also open on weekends for parties and group tours of 20 or more.

Spring Into Spring With These Outdoor Games

by Nicole Basham

March 24, 2009

Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and in recognition of the first week of Spring, I'm sharing a list of fun outdoor games to play with your preschooler/s. These games get you and your kid/s moving (and possibly napping?!), get you out of the house, require little money or time, and can be done with just you or a group.
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Savvy Austin Welcomes Kami Wilt for Get Your Mess On 101

by Nicole Basham

March 23, 2009

Kami Wilt is a mama I found out about through a friend who I was lucky to meet at the Austin Bloggin' Mamas Social. Since then, I have been addicted to reading her blog, Get Your Mess On, which inspired me to get my son outside, playing and getting messy - and most importantly, having a blast. Kami is a mama to three, teaching classes for children from age 1 on up about art, nature, science, field trips, tinkering, and more. For this month's guest post, she gives us some great ideas on how to get outside and enjoy this amazing Spring weather with our little ones!

Where's the good in allowing your children to get their mess on every now and then?

Twice the Fun!

by Nicole Basham

March 17, 2009

Wow, talk about a 180 in terms of the weather, huh? Hope you are enjoying your Spring Break so far! For ideas of things to do around town this week, you can check my Monday post.

Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and today I'm bringing you some ideas for "two-fers": two places relatively closeby you can visit in the course of a morning or afternoon. Read more...

Hidden Gem: Mayfield Park

by Nicole Basham

March 09, 2009

Although Central Market may be Austin's WORST kept secret for family-friendly fun, there are many places off the beaten path where you can enjoy a pleasant outing with your preschooler/s. For this reason, I decided to start an occasional series on this blog called Hidden Gems. Today's Hidden Gem is actually quite close to Central Market North, although it seems worlds away.

Any guesses yet? I'm referring to the urban oasis that is Mayfield Park,

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

by Nicole Basham

February 24, 2009

What beautiful weather we've been having! I always consider signing up for a class in January since I expect we'll be homebound or limited to indoor playing, but every year we have been lucky to enjoy nice, sunny days in these "winter" months. As my friend pointed out, we need to imprint this weather on our brains to help us get through July and August!

One of our family's favorite outdoor Austin events is coming up this weekend - the Zilker Kite Festival. Read more...

Austin's Best Family-Friendly Live Music Venues

by Nicole Basham

February 22, 2009

South by Southwest is just around the corner. What better way to show your preschooler what makes Austin special than by going together? In the coming weeks, free day shows will be announced. Although times haven't been confirmed, the schedule for Auditorium Shores on Saturday, March 21 features several kids' favorites, like the Biscuit Brothers and Joe McDermott.

If you haven't taken your preschooler to see live music before, or want a "practice run" before braving the Festival, here are some places you should head first:
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Do, Re, Mi: Exploring Links Between Music and Math

by Nicole Basham

February 16, 2009

Music. It is what we use to soothe a baby, teach a growing child his ABCs, and a creative outlet to express ourselves as kids and adults.

This month's theme here at Savvy Source is early math skills. I have always heard that children who were exposed to music fared better in math later on, so I thought I would take this opportunity to speak to an expert in the field of music education for this month's guest post. Students at the Austin Lyric Opera's Armstrong School of Music

Petra Soltis is the Early Childhood Coordinator at the Austin Lyric Opera's Armstrong School of Music,

One, Two, Three: What In Austin Can I See?

by Nicole Basham

February 03, 2009

During the month of February, we here at Savvy Source will be highlighting pre-math skills. As someone who relies heavily on Excel and stopped balancing my checkbook ages ago, I am going to pay particular attention to the national blog and posts by my fellow City Guides this month for ideas on introducing all things numbers to my son.

Today, being Tuesday, is List Day, and I am to draw your attention to fun things to count around town. Here goes....