I have been compensated for this post by Oros. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Does your family ever do “family date night” or “family day?” We love to plan family-friendly outings, and with the three-day weekend and lots of long summer days coming up, we are looking for new things to do in Austin with kids. Now that I’ve got the new Oros messaging app (you can download it for free for iOS or Android here: http://bit.ly/fab-everyday), I knew that it was my go-to for planning a full day of things to do with the family.
Oros puts real recommendations from real people in the palm of your hands, saving you a lot of time Googling and checking review sites. Its simple question and answer function allows me to target users in a local area (Austin, in this case) for their recommendations. It connects me with local experts in minutes! You can read my full review of the Oros app here (I was fortunate to be in the beta test group and got early access before Oros launched last month).
We wanted to plan a day that included a fun indoor activity, a hip but family-friendly lunch spot, and an outdoor activity since the weather was nice. We wanted things that both our kids and us adults would enjoy. As usual, the local recommendations on Oros were spot on! Here’s our full itinerary and reviews from our epic family day out in Austin, Texas.
First stop: The Thinkery Austin. If you live in Austin, or are visiting Austin with kids, a trip to Thinkery in the Mueller area needs to be on your list of things to do with kids in Austin. It’s a children’s museum of sorts, with all sorts of hands-on STEM activities that could keep the whole family entertained for hours. It’s also a great spot for birthday parties.
Thinkery has a splash section that could entertain my kids for literally hours. Though they offer aprons and slip-resistant shoes, you may want to bring a change of clothes if your littles are anything like mine (finding a way to get soaked from head to toe in record time).
My husband and I also had a blast playing with the kids. The Thinkery is a good time for kids and adults alike.
Lunch: Hank’s Austin. I hadn’t even heard of Hank’s before I found the recommendation on the Oros app. This new eatery had everything we wanted – it was close to Mueller (for easy proximity from the Thinkery), it was hip, it offered indoor and outdoor seating, families and kids feel very welcome, and the food was delicious.
I had to try a cup of their cold brew coffee, and was not disappointed. Strong and flavorful – it gave me the jolt I needed to keep up with my active kids for the rest of our family date day in Austin.
My husband, being the burger connoisseur that he is, judges a place by their burgers. The burger at Hank’s surpassed his expectations as one of the better burgers he’s had in a long while. The fries with aioli were also A+.
You have the option for seasonal fruits and veggies for your side dish as well. My youngest is an avocado fiend (I mean, can you blame him?), and was in heaven that he could choose a half avocado on the side of his grilled cheese sandwich. Look at his face!
We all loved our meal at Hank’s Austin, and are grateful to have discovered it, thanks to Oros.
Final stop: Swimming at Bull Creek. Because Austin is all about outdoor fun, and has a lot of great natural swimming holes in the vicinity, we wanted to find a great swimming hole that wasn’t too far from town. Our wish was granted with a recommendation for Bull Creek. Located just off of highway 360, the swimming holes are easily accessible with a short walk from the free parking area. The water is mostly shallow, which is perfect for young kids like mine. There is also a decent amount of shade from the trees in the greenbelt, which kept us from getting sunburnt during our hours splashing around.
The swimming holes at Bull Creek include a few spots deep enough to jump into from the rocks. Our oldest was brave enough to attempt his first jump when we were there!
He did it!! He had so much fun doing it that he did it a few more times, too. We were so proud of him!
We had a truly fun day together, and the kids have been talking about it all ever since. What are your favorite things to do on a family date day in Austin or Central Texas? If you haven’t yet, go download Oros for free here, and follow Oros on Facebook, Twitter (@OrosText), LinkedIn, and Instagram (@OrosText) to stay informed on app updates.
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