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

Beat the Heat and the Crowds at the Texas Memorial Museum

by Nicole Basham

July 13, 2009

If the thought of another day running after your preschooler/s drenched in sweat does not appeal to you, I wanted to introduce you to (or perhaps reminder you about) an indoor option: the Texas Memorial Museum.

Other than having AC, here are some reasons to visit:

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.

You've Got Mail: A Trip to the Post Office

by Nicole Basham

June 07, 2009

I think it's fair to say I've been bitten by the field trip bug. Field trips are chances to see new places (or learn new things about familiar places), hang out with a group of friends, take a break from the routine and give our little ones practice with observing rules, listening, paying attention and asking questions.
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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...

What's On the Big Screen This Summer

by Nicole Basham

May 17, 2009

The mercury is rising, and summer will be here before we know it! Thinking about summer got me thinking about summer movies, and how my three year old just MIGHT be old enough this year to try one (several of his friends have already been to a few). There are indoor and outdoor options, and many are relatively inexpensive, in case your outing doesn't go as planned. There is considerable overlap between the movies shown at the bigger theaters, so check the links to see the complete schedules. Here is what I have heard about:
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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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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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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,

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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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...

Calling all bookworms-in-training

by Nicole Basham

January 22, 2009

We LOVE the library. Although, much to my chagrin, my son has no interest in actually sitting through a storytime , library books are like gold. Seriously, it's like Christmas around here when I come home with new books. We have a decent selection of books at our house, but nothing beats a constant stream of new books to liven up our regular rotation. Other mamas had told me that  Read more...

Wildflower Center Free in January

by Nicole Basham

January 20, 2009

If you are looking for a post on the inauguration, you can find mine here . Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and today's list is *supposed* to be about places to play inside during this midwinter day.  But in light of this week's sunny and warmer weather, I bring you a recommendation of an outdoor place to play:  the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center .  Did you realize that  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...

Keeping Austin Weird one Light at a Time on 37th Street

by Jonathon Morgan

December 23, 2008

Tuesday is list day here at Savvy Source, and today my charge is to suggest the best decorated neighborhoods. Being an Austin native, and having seen my fair share of displays, I'd have to say West 37th Street wins hands down as the best place to take your preschooler. It's centrally-located and is the embodiment of our fair city's now-famous tag line, Keep Austin Weird. The street  Read more...

Skating and Singing and Lights...Oh My!

by Jonathon Morgan

December 04, 2008

My email is being flooded with all kinds of fun things to do with the little ones, so I thought I'd quickly list some of the events we're considering on our social calendar for the coming weekend. Have a wonderful weekend! Gingerbread House Workshops at the Austin Children's Museum downtown $28/$33 Member/Non-Member per gingerbread house (3 people per house; includes  Read more...

Thank you, Austin!

by Jonathon Morgan

November 27, 2008

You are in town, eager to gorge on yummy food, but looking for a way to escape the kitchen or the TV. Why not venture out to enjoy some of the wonderful things that we have to be thankful for about Austin, and possibly get that heart rate up in the process?? We'll be spending part of the morning jogging on Town Lake (for a native, somehow I just.can't.remember to call it Lady Bird Lake),  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...

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...

Just moved to town?

by Nicole Basham

June 23, 2008

For a while there, it seemed like I was living in a new city every 2-3 years. I know the upheaval, the travel, and all the new faces can be disconcerting at first -- but on the bright side, Austinites are the friendliest group of people on the planet, and will usually go out of your way to make you feel at home. That said, the city is still small enough that finding information on family  Read more...

Eat well, eat local, eat sustainable food!

by Nicole Basham

June 19, 2008

Eating right keeps getting more and more complicated. First you only had to avoid processed food, then you were supposed to start keeping an eye on your fruits and veggies -- just to make sure they weren't modified, going bad or worse -- and now there's talk about eating "sustainable" food (which, believe it or not, is different than produce that's merely "organic"). And if we can't keep it  Read more...

Beyond preschool: community classes that supplement your child's education

by Nicole Basham

June 17, 2008

Some preschools focus on academics, others on play, and still others on gardening, arts, languages, and just about any other niche interest that might make for a solid foundation to your child's education. No matter which preschool you choose, there's almost certainly something that either you or your child is interested in that you'll have to find elsewhere. Here's a few options from around the  Read more...

What to do when grandma and grandpa come to town

by Nicole Basham

June 16, 2008

Chances are, if your kids are still in preschool, your parents haven't reached an age when they need to opt out of the more physically demanding parts of chasing tireless toddlers. However, if they're coming in from out of town, instead of heading to the pool or running around the park, use their visit as an excuse to help them (and your kids) get to know the city. The Congress Avenue bats  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...

The great outdoors: austin's greenbelt

by Nicole Basham

June 04, 2008

One of the biggest draws of Austin is that, in spite of the its (ever increasing) size, there's still a number of easy ways to immerse yourself in the great outdoors. Throughout the city you'll find " greenbelts " -- enormous stretches of lush, natural landscape that would take weeks, if not months to fully explore. Some sections of the greenbelt are more highly-trafficked than others, but  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 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...

How to cultivate the tiniest green thumb

by Nicole Basham

May 20, 2008

I'll be honest, I have no idea how to make things grow. Plants die under my care. So, because I'm (at best) a novice when it comes to gardening, I do my best to expose Edan to more capable teachers. Whether you're an experienced gardener, or in the same leaky horticultural boat as I am, you might find the following places inspiring as you try to cultivate your child's green thumb. 1. Natural  Read more...

History Lessons: Texas

by Nicole Basham

May 16, 2008

I'm not a native Texan. But after a few years of living in the Lone Star Republic , I can safely say that people here are serious about their state. Most adults took Texas history at least once in grade school, and nearly anyone worthy of wearing cowboy boots will tell you that this is the only state legally allowed to succeed from the Union -- you know, if push really comes to shove.  Read more...