So you’re getting ready to pack up and head down I-35 to Austin for the 11th annual Austin City Limits music festival. And this time, the kids are coming along for the ride. Even if you and your brood spend all three days at Zilker Park from dawn to dusk (or at least mid-morning to dusk), you’ll be plenty satisfied with what the legendary festival has to offer. But if you want to step out on the town, we have a few suggestions.
As you already know by now, Austin Kiddie Limits has cool activities and performances for pint-sized music aficionados, and the kids even have their very own snack shack. The not-to-be-missed activities include: Hip Hop Workshop where the kids can learn to scratch, beatbox and rhyme; Action Painting where they can throw and splatter paint with Abrakadoodle; and the H-E-B Zilker Beach where they can build sandcastles while you take refuge in the shade.
Although there isn’t really a reason to leave the festival hungry (there are some amazing food options available, like Fort Worth’s own The Woodshed and Love Shack by Tim Love), if the kids are getting restless and need to call it a day, try out Austin’s famous food trucks, many of which have been featured on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel. To narrow down your choices, download the AustinFoodCarts app, which lists the city’s gourmet trucks any way you like: alphabetically (for those who already know which ones to hit up), by cuisine, or on a map. It’s a good tool to help you spend less time deciding on dinner and more time eating.
But for those who want to be waited on, try Lucy’s Fried Chicken off South Congress. The atmosphere is uber-casual and kid-friendly, with a great outdoor patio. It’s good southern cooking, so we couldn’t possibly recommend anything other than the namesake fried chicken. If southern fried goodness isn’t doing anything for you, tacos just might. Austin has two “rival” taco spots that are cult favorites: Torchy’s Tacos and Tacodeli. You pick which side you’re on – we’re not playing favorites.
If you manage to leave before dusk, camp out (not literally) below Congress Bridge to watch Austin’s famous bats spread their wings and fly out from the bridge. It’s hit or miss, but worth the wait if you see them. If you want a closer vantage point, go on a Congress Bridge Bat Tour with Live Love Paddle, via kayaks. Kids must be at least 30 pounds to participate.
See you down in Austin!
