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

Wild-Connections Butterfly Farm & Nature Center

by Nicole Basham

May 24, 2009

It seems as though our weekends fill up quickly with birthday parties, spending time with my parents and errands, so it seems a rare weekend that we take advantage of the events I write up for Thursdays' Out and About feature. This three-day weekend finally afforded us a chance to visit a place I had been curious about for a while: Wild-Connections Butterfly Farm & Nature Center.

Wild-Connections was created in 2004 to reconnect children with their natural environment, in hopes of instilling a love and interest in protecting it. The property has a nice shady area with ponds and native plants for picnicking, an education center, hiking trails, a gift shop, and of course, the Butterfly House. Until the end of May, Wild-Connections is open 10-4 Tuesday-Saturdays. Then it will re-open in late September. Admission is $4 (plus tax) per person for everyone over 2. Group tours for 15 or more are available by reservation.

 

We headed out on Saturday, hoping to get there around the time they opened. The farm is located a few minutes from the Nutty Brown Cafe (not too far past the turnoff for the Austin Zoo), off 290 heading towards Johnson City. It took us about 20 minutes to get there from North Central Austin.

You check in at the gift shop, and the Butterfly House is only a few minutes walk away. Cut up cantaloupe is near the door to entice the butterflies to feed, but we didn't have any luck (doubt that my son stood still long enough for that, anyways!) The House is pretty amazing and teeming with all sorts of butterflies. The flora is impressive and we also spotted some caterpillars. I have been to some hot/humid indoor butterfly exhibits, so this was nice in comparison, although it is not shaded, so I can see why they close during the summer.

 

 

 

There are also a few turtles in the House, and while we were there, one laid eggs and spent a long time painstakingly covering them up!

 

 

 

We then checked out one of the hiking trails, but by then it was pretty warm and my son had no interest in walking, so we headed back to the Education Center. One room had some wildlife samples out for viewing and some stamps and crayons out for crafts. It might have been an age thing, but my son was most interested in trying to play with the toy insects in the gift shop. And after hearing the owner stress the importance of kids being out in nature, I felt just a little sheepish!

Had we been more prepared, a picnic on the grounds would have been pleasant, or even a stop at the Nutty Brown (we haven't been) or another eatery on the way back in town. But we headed home, and will look forward to visiting again next year, when my son will be another year older and more interested in all that Wild-Connections has to offer.

 

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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!

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On the Road Again: Staying Sane During Your Next Road Trip

by Nicole Basham

April 28, 2009

Summer will be here before we know it, and if you are like our family, you'll do at least one road trip before Labor Day. We'll actually be heading to Port Aransas in a few weeks so we can take advantage of off-peak rates and smaller crowds to enjoy the Texas coast. With that in mind, we've already started thinking about our four-hour car ride and how to make it as painless as possible. So, for today's List, here are some tips from our family to yours on making your next road trip a success:
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Great Excuses for a (Short) Road Trip

by Nicole Basham

April 07, 2009

Now that my son is a bit more amenable to car rides (and I fear naps won't last too much longer), I have been thinking about all the fun stuff I did growing up that was just an hour or two from Austin. So for today's List, I bring you Great Excuses for a (Short) Road Trip:

• Bastrop - You can enjoy the "Lost Pines", fishing and hiking at Bastrop State Park.
• Burnet - A beautiful State Park with Highland Lake views is Inks Lake Park and you can explore one of the few river-formed caverns in the state at the Longhorn Cavern.
• Fredericksburg - There is plenty for adults and family in the city, and Enchanted Rock has some kid-friendly hikes, although it's quite popular, so get there early!
• Georgetown - Lauded by Texas Monthly as one of the best places for kids to play IN THE STATE, the Creative Playscape evokes memories of my childhood, before the wooden play structures were replaced by the 5 or so plastic models we have become accustomed to at our local parks. Plenty of room for imaginary play here! If you need to escape from the heat, try the Innerspace Cavern.
• Lake Travis - Volente Beach opens in mid-April and has an array of water-related activities for kids.
• New Braunfels - I am grateful to have a child interested in all things nature and animal-related, so I think a trip to the Animal World & Snake Farm is in order. You can also bring friends and family to Schlitterbahn on weekends starting in late April (in late May the Park opens during the week).

• San Antonio - There is a lot for preschoolers to do and see at Sea World (including a sprinkler area and bounce house for when your little one's eyes glaze over at the sea life), and if you miss having a traditional zoo here in Austin, the San Antonio Zoo (and Aquarium) is impressive.
• San Marcos - Texas State purchased Aquarena Springs in 1994 and changed the focus from an amusement park to education and conservation. Kids enjoy the Glass Bottom Boat tours and older preschoolers can learn about the role of water on the planet in the aquarium and wetlands boardwalk. Preschool tours are also available.
• Waco - If you are looking for a zoo north of Austin, head to the Cameron Park Zoo.

What else would you recommend?  Read more...

How Sweet It Is: Strawberry Picking at Sweet Berry Farm

by Nicole Basham

April 06, 2009

Now that I'm a parent, I find I am discovering some of the coolest places in Austin. One of these places is Sweet Berry Farm, billed on its website as a "Pick Your Own Berry Patch". If you have any free days coming up and time to drive to Marble Falls, you and your preschooler/s are bound to have a great time!

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99 Things To Do With Your Little One in Austin Before Kindergarten

by Nicole Basham

January 27, 2009

As you may be noticing, Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source.  In keeping with the month's theme of Resolutions and Reflections, here are 99 Things To Do with Your Preschooler before Kindergarten (in no particular order): Hike to the top of Enchanted Rock Pick strawberries at Sweet Berry Farm Go to a UT game (try soccer, basketball, or baseball if you don't want to shell out the dough  Read more...

Holiday traditions: Choose-and-cut your own Christmas tree farms

by Jonathon Morgan

December 02, 2008

The music in stores in October, the "late holiday" catalogs before Thanksgiving....these things seem to stress me out during the holiday season rather than make me excited. The thing that really gets me in the holiday spirit is the scent of a Christmas tree in the house. I read an article last week about the decline in purchases of Christmas trees from farms and charity groups, as  Read more...

Summer music playlist

by Nicole Basham

July 15, 2008

Ah, summer. Nice weather, lazy afternoons, and car trips from hell. It's the time of year when families traditionally trek across the country to spend time with friends, grandparents, and annoying Uncle Roy who's always trying to get you to buy into his real estate scheme. But never fear -- the drive can be tolerable, or even downright pleasant, with a few tunes to quiet the frustrated  Read more...

Three Days in and Around Austin: Day 3

by Nicole Basham

July 10, 2008

Now that you've spent some time getting to know Austin and the surrounding landscape, it's time to make sure you get your fill of all things Texan before you head back home. Fortunately, while the capital city does pride itself on being a little different from the rest of the state, there's still a few pockets of good-ol'-fashioned, horse-ridin', armadillo-lovin', country-music-listenin'  Read more...

Three Days in and Around Austin: Day 2

by Nicole Basham

July 09, 2008

Now that you've covered the basics, it's time to branch out and explore a little more of Central Texas. Just beyond Austin's city limits is the Hill Country -- one of the most beautiful parts of the Southwest -- and, while you could spend weeks exploring the adorable towns tucked amidst the stunning scenery, a day is plenty of time to do the drive-by tour. A good place to start is Marble Falls  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...

Get out of the house this weekend!

by Nicole Basham

June 27, 2008

It's really, really hot -- so I can understand the temptation to stay cooped-up inside with the air conditioning. But chances are, by the end of Saturday morning cartoons the cabin fever will set in and you'll be looking for ways to escape the madness. Fortunately there's plenty going on this weekend -- something, I think, for every disposition. Here's a few of the highlights: The Watermelon  Read more...

Discover inner space

by Nicole Basham

June 26, 2008

No, not that movie where Martin Short was accidentally injected into Dennis Quaid (though you should definitely discover that Inner Space , if you haven't already) -- I'm talking about the totally awesome prehistoric caverns in Georgetown. If your kid is at all into lands before time (or the Land Before Time ), this is a great way to take them exploring while barely leaving Austin. Inner  Read more...

Take the train!

by Nicole Basham

June 12, 2008

While the seemingly endless debate over Austin's proposed light rail system will most likely make it impossible for your children -- and potentially even their children -- to ride around town on a real-live railroad, there are plenty of equally exciting options throughout the city (though unfortunately less useful to commuters). In the event you're raising a train enthusiast, here's where you  Read more...

Father's day ideas in and around austin

by Nicole Basham

June 10, 2008

We're quickly approaching what is -- ahem -- quite possibly the most important holiday on the calendar: Father's Day. And no matter what your husband says, I promise he'll appreciate it if you and the kids do something nice. While the traditional tie and/or power tool will certainly be appreciated (I could, incidentally, use a larger tool box -- if anyone happens to bump into my daughter or  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...

45 Things to do With Your Child in Austin Before They Grow Up

by Nicole Basham

May 29, 2008

1. Visit the Botanical Gardens 2. Visit the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens 3. See the Asylum Street Spankers perform 4. Get drenched in the shooting fountains at Butler Park 5. Have a picnic on top of the big hill at Butler Park 6. Fly a kite in the Zilker Kite Festival 7. Check out the Pecan Street Art Festival 8. Have an afternoon snack at Mozart's 9. Drive out to the Dinosaur Park 10. Visit  Read more...

5 Best Day Trips Within an Hour

by Nicole Basham

May 26, 2008

Sure, getting your toddler in and out of the car can sometimes be a seemingly unsurmountable battle of wills -- and for most Austinites there's plenty to keep you busy in and around your neighborhood. That said, it doesn't hurt to get out of town every once in awhile. Here's the top 5 destinations in central Texas that you can drive to in less than an hour. 1. The Dinosaur Park : the  Read more...