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

Splashing Your Way to Fun

by Nicole Basham

June 08, 2009

So...have you made it to any pools yet? [See last week's List for great swimming spots.]

While pools are great fun and I'm sure we'll spend quite a good deal of time in them this summer, there is something to be said for sprinkler parks and greenbelts. On those days you are tired or otherwise not feeling 100%, finding a place to splash can be a great alternative to pools. The kids have a great time, moms don't have to be quite as anxious and you don't have to pack quite the amount of stuff. Sprinkler parks and greenbelts are also usually open longer hours and don't have an admission fee. Lastly, if you have more than one child, it's a little less intimidating to take multiple kids.

Ready, Set, Swim!

by Nicole

June 02, 2009

Although mornings have still been pleasant, it's getting hot out there. And with school getting out on Wednesday, that means neighborhood and public pools will be opening up next week! For today's List, I'll be suggesting places to swim, and next Tuesday, I'll offer some splashing locales. So don't forget your sunscreen, get out the pool bag, and enjoy!

It's Not Just the Fire Truck: Five Things About Zilker Park

by Nicole Basham

May 19, 2009

Hope you are having a great week so far! Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and for today's post, I'll be taking a relatively well-known spot, Zilker Park, and pointing out five things you (hopefully) don't already know about this destination.  Read more...

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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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! 

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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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...

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...

Who's That I See? Why, It's Me!

by Jonathon Morgan

January 13, 2009

It's List Day again here at Savvy Source. Since this month's theme is Resolutions and Reflections, my assignment is to suggest places your preschooler can see his or her reflection. Here are some of our favorites: Just south of Lou Neff Point on Ladybird Lake.  The quintessential duck feeding spot in Austin, and in walking distance from the tunes of Trail fixture Woode Wood . Mayfield Park in  Read more...

Free Fun Every Day of the Week in Austin

by Jonathon Morgan

January 08, 2009

Everyone is watching their wallets these days, and if you stay at home with your little ones, it's easy for a $5 admission "every once in a while" to add up. Also, if you are like me, credit card bills are now arriving, documenting how much you REALLY spent this holiday season. But we are lucky here in Austin, as there are lots of free family-friendly options right in our own backyard.  Read more...

What Matters & What Doesn't to My Little Austinite

by Jonathon Morgan

January 06, 2009

This month's theme at Savvy Source is Resolutions and Reflections, and Tuesday is List Day. Today's list is about what really matters to preschoolers - and what doesn't. For a local spin, I've chosen to reflect on the Austin sights that my preschooler really digs (sometimes literally!) and what I've been surprised he hasn't taken to...at least not yet. Top 5 Austin Institutions My  Read more...

O Radijazz, how we loved thee....

by Jonathon Morgan

December 01, 2008

The economic downturn has led to the demise of our favorite locally-owned place to run Will ragged on those (perhaps rare, at least in Austin) days when it's too cold or rainy to go outside. Radijazz , the indoor "playnasium" in Lincoln Village near Highland Mall, closed its doors on November 10. One of the nicest parts about Radijazz was that it was limited to younger kids, so you weren't  Read more...

Mama-match dot com: how to meet people

by Julie Holden

September 09, 2008

As is known all too well, being a stay-at-home mom can be a very isolated life. It's ironic that in this ber-connected global community, our lives seem more insular than ever. I get lonely sometimes, and I know Johanna longs for the company of other kids. I don't pretend to have this all-too-common problem beat, but I've managed to keep myself sane by hooking up with other parents and  Read more...

5 ways to beat the heat in austin

by Julie Holden

September 02, 2008

Summer is almost over, right? We're less than a month away from the equinox, the official First Day of Autumn, so...ugh. This is Texas -- who am I kidding? Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;  Read more...

Three Days in and Around Austin: Day 1

by Nicole Basham

July 08, 2008

Welcome to Austin. If you were expecting someplace, well, a little more Texan, don't be surprised. This is a city that prides itself on being different -- in fact, the town's unofficial motto is "keep Austin weird." So while you're here, plan on having an experience that's unique -- both for you, and for the Lone Star State. First step is to get some food. Steer clear of big national chains  Read more...

Wednesdays at the park with the austin symphony

by Nicole Basham

July 07, 2008

At first glance, Austin doesn't really seem like a symphony kind of town. The cowboy-hippie charm of the city isn't what you'd normally couple with classical fare -- but the people of Austin have a surprising affection for traditional music. Our symphony orchestra has been one of the cultural foundations of Central Texas for almost a century, performing for a full 98 seasons -- all of which now  Read more...

Where to make friends

by Nicole Basham

June 18, 2008

One of the most challenging things about being the parent of a preschool-aged child is that there's no built-in network for meeting other parents, and little (if any) organized opportunities for my daughter to make friends outside of daycare. Half the time when we're out and about I feel like I'm back on the playground at elementary school, staring at the other moms and dads, totally unsure of  Read more...

A day at the beach, but better

by Nicole Basham

June 09, 2008

Here in Austin we're a long way from the beach. Sure there's a few rivers and lakes that are worth your while, but for good 'ol fashioned saltwater action with sand, waves and all, you're looking at a three-hour drive to the coast (and given most children's car-seat dispositions, the mere thought probably sends chills down your spine). But fortunately Austinites aren't too far from a place  Read more...

Getting to know Austin

by Nicole Basham

June 05, 2008

One of my favorite things about Austin is how much people love living here. Not only does it make the city an incredibly positive place to be, but it's led both everyday citizens and local government to cram the place full of interesting and engaging information to enhance your civic pride. Check out a few fun ways you and your child can learn more about the capital of the Lone Star State:  Read more...

Best birthday party venues

by Nicole Basham

June 03, 2008

Birthdays -- like any other gift-receiving or sugar-filled holiday -- are one of the few, major events on a childhood calendar . I'm fairly certain my daughter believes that the year is comprised of these four or five exceptionally awesome days with lots of frustrating and slow-moving space in between. However, while it'd certainly be understandable if you got swept up in the excitement (and  Read more...

Room to run: places to tire our your preschooler

by Nicole Basham

May 28, 2008

Let's not beat around the bush with fancy-shmancy suggestions -- if you need to wear your kid out, just take 'em to the park. But before you head out the door, remember that not all parks are created equal. Here's a few that make our regular rotation: 1. Clarksville : the playscapes are small-ish, but there's one catered to younger kids and another for older ones, so no matter how old  Read more...

Top 5 Things to do on a Rainy Day

by Nicole Basham

May 27, 2008

1. Radijazz : It's big, it's padded, and it's designed for children to run around like screaming lunatics without injuring themselves or driving anyone nuts. Hooray! My daughter begs me to take her every time she feels a rain drop. 2. Blanton Museum of Art : This is the complete opposite of Radijazz. No running, no screaming, and far fewer children. But it has a nice mix of  Read more...

5 Best Ways to Enjoy Butler Park

by Nicole Basham

May 23, 2008

Smack dab in the middle of town, Butler Park is one of the city's best green spaces, and a great way to spend an afternoon. Here's 5 ideas for your next visit: 1. Get drenched in the fountains : this is a fun way to cool down when it's ridiculously hot outside, and a fun way to meet other kids. 2. Have a picnic at the top of the hill : there's a nice breeze, and a gorgeous view of downtown. 3.  Read more...

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Discovering the wilderness of the urban jungle

by Nicole Basham

May 21, 2008

As far as I can tell, animals are far more interesting to toddlers than people could ever hope to be. Whether it's because they're novel, they're cute, or that the possibility they might start talking like cartoons is totally engrossing, we'll never know. Regardless, here's a few places to spot wildlife around town. 1. Mayfield park : this small nature reserve in west Austin is the perfect  Read more...