7 Best Family-Friendly Spots
Places Where Fun & Family Collide
Words Deven Wilson
Rock climbing, catching live music, improv, and even hanging out at a brewery around East Austin are businesses and programs that shatter all expectations for what kids can do in this town. These places think of the youngsters and offer exciting reasons to get them to put their screens down and look forward to leaving the house this summer.
Austin Bouldering Project
PARENTS NIGHT OUT & ADVENTURE DAYS
Help kids burn off some energy by taking them to wall climbing. ABP’s Adventure Days instructor-led program teaches 5-12 year olds how to safely scale climbing walls. With ABP’s Parents’ Night Out program, parents can grab a bite or drink offsite while their kids practice their skills and enjoy pizza and a movie when they tire from defying gravity. 979 Springdale Rd. | boulderingproject.com
Cherrywood Coffeehouse
SUNDAY CHILDREN’S SHOWS
One of Austin’s beloved local spots for slow mornings with a latte and taco in hand also curates a fun children’s show every Sunday with a rotating cast of musical acts. No show is the same; parents can expect to roll up on any given Sunday morning from 10 to 11 for an entertaining hour of live music. Enjoy a kid-approved hour to start a Sunday at no extra cost. 1400 E 38th 1/2 St. | cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com
Coldtowne Theatre
EXCUSED ABSENCE COMEDY
Kids say the darndest things and deserve a chance to improve that skill. Coldtowne Theatre’s Excused Absence Comedy program offers kids and teens access to camps, classes, workshops, and shows to deepen their love of laughter. Summer camps come in a wide range of skill levels and age groups, including kindergarteners, while their family classes invite the parents to participate in the practice. They even offer improv shows exclusively catering to a family-friendly audience for those looking for a funny night out. However Austin families wish to connect to comedy, the programming at Coldtowne is no joke. 1700 E 2nd St. | coldtownetheater.com
Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches
KOLACHES & BOCCE
While not directly programming for kids, Batch on Manor Road offers both beers to satisfy the adults and a huge yard with bocce balls to placate the kids (and adults). Kids can enjoy the various flavors of house-made kolaches while the adults sample flights of craft beers. Even in the mornings, the coffee program at Batch offers plenty of espresso to perk up before schooling kids at bocce ball. 3220 Manor Rd. | batchatx.com
Cap Metro
KIDS RIDE FREE
Cap Metro makes getting precious cargo across town a breeze by offering free rides for anyone under 18. Kids under 10 must be accompanied by someone over 12, meaning anyone who trusts their older children or babysitters can save on gas and send their kids to experience Austin’s public transit. Even the red line is included in the Cap Metros program, increasing accessibility to games, the library, and events downtown from the Eastside, all without the hassle of traffic. various station locations | capmetro.org
Windsor Park Library
AFTER-SCHOOL DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLUB
While most kid-friendly programming is meant for kids, the teens tend to get the short end of the events stick. At Windsor Park Library, teens and tweens are invited to a monthly Dungeons & Dragons meet-up for an evening of fantasy table-top gaming. All skill levels, from first-timers to seasoned dungeon masters, are welcome to sign up or come by on the first Tuesday of the month. With one-shot adventures to full campaigns, Windsor Park Library offers a fantastic escape from reality, and no reading is required. 5833 Westminster Dr. | library.austintexas.gov
Cherrywood Treehouse
ART CAMP FOR THE KIDS
Cherrywood Treehouse Art Camps offer a fun, hands-on experience where kids explore painting, sculpture, mixed media, and more in a small-group setting. Our camps spark imagination, build confidence, and encourage creativity through daily projects and guided prompts—all in a relaxed, inspiring studio tucked in the heart of East Austin, with an art show at the end for friends and family to showcase all they created!
Camp 3 July 21st – 25th
– Full Day Camp, 9am – 4pm
– Monday – Friday
– Price: $525
2802 Lafayette Ave, Austin, TX 78722 | cherrywoodtreehouse.com/artcamps
