Whether you’re looking to play tourist in your own city, or are visiting Austin and looking for the best museums to check out with kids, this list has our top favorites of can’t-miss exhibits from art to animals and history in between. Engage those minds (and little hands) and don’t forget to also check out When to Visit Austin Museums for Free.
Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford Dr.
Austin Nature & Science Center has been providing hands-on learning for all ages since 1960. Learn about wildlife in a zoo-like setting that cares for animals in need and gives them a permanent home. You can also check out their many exhibits, especially the kid-favorite Dino Pit. Austin Nature & Science Center is located in Zilker Park and is located next to the Zilker Nature Preserve where you can walk, hike, and explore. Parking for the Nature & Science Center is super convenient and easy, located directly across the street and there’s always space. Check here for hours and more info.
Blanton Museum of Art
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
What kid doesn’t love touching all the pennies in the Cildo Meireles’s Missão/Missões installation or seeing the rainbow-colored glass in Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin? The Blanton Museum of Art not only offers impressive art collections but it’s also a place where families have the chance to get hands-on with lots of events and activities. Also, check out their Moody Patio where they have a DJ every second Saturday, and welcome patrons to pack a picnic or purchase local food and drinks for sale.
Bullock Museum
1800 Congress Ave.
Last year more than a quarter of a million visitors were welcome at the Bullock Museum. At the Bullock, you can learn all about Texas history through artifacts, exhibits, IMAX films, and more. There are family programs on the H-E-B Free First Sunday of every month, which includes free admission.
Elisabet Ney Museum
304 E 44th St
This Hyde Park museum looks like a castle from the outside, and the grounds are fun to run around and play. Inside you’ll find many sculptures, but the most fun for kids is climbing up into the tower and looking for the secret door. You can also check here for upcoming events at the museum like Family Day!
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center *Physical location temporarily closed*
600 River St. | *Please note: events are currently being held offsite. More info here.
While the museum itself is currently undergoing renovations and is closed to the public, its events are happening at other locations in Austin. They have an awesome, all-ages holistic wellness program as well as signature and featured events like summer concerts and more. Check out the schedule here.
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms
10621 Pioneer Farms Dr.
This historic “living history” museum has all kinds of nature workshops, badge workshops, and camp-outs. Your kids will have a blast in the great outdoors in this farm setting. Check here for their full lineup of shows (think The Three Musketeers, An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe, and The Ghost of Christmas Past) and classes that will transport you back to 1800 like blacksmithing, an 1800s dinner, and apron-making.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave.
Kids of all ages have had a blast exploring and playing in the Luci and Ian Family Garden. Go for nature walks, swing in giant swings, and look for butterflies and all sorts of native plants. Also, check out the Wildflower Center’s special events and programming.
Texas Science and Natural History Museum
2400 Trinity St. | Located on UT Campus
The Texas Science and Natural History Museum reopened this year, freshly remodeled and full of hands-on learning and adventure for all ages. They have special events, free fourth Sundays, and tons of info on the history of Texas, from the birth of our planet, through the age of dinosaurs, to the present day.
Thinkery
1830 Simond Ave.
The name says it all. The whole family is guaranteed to have a blast at this Mueller Austin children’s museum, featuring cool events and hands-on exhibits year-round that inspire the imagination of your little thinkers. Thinkery has free community hours on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 7 pm, and you can get more info on their hours, exhibits, and special events here.
The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th St.
In addition to the art displays and exhibitions, the Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria hosts a family-friendly art-making workshop every second Saturday of the month. It’s also a favorite picnic spot for us, and the lush grounds of Laguna Gloria will make you feel like you’ve been whisked away to Tuscany. Here you’ll enjoy the views of Lake Austin, the Italian-style Driscoll Villa, and beautiful sculptures and gardens at this home to the Contemporary Austin Museum and Art School. Laguna Gloria is also home to Spread & Co where you can get salads, sandwiches, wine, and more. Tip: they also have a kid’s menu!
For a list of all area museums, you can check out the Austin Museum Partnership website for lots of information.
More To Explore Nearby:
- Science Mill, Johnson City
- DoSeum, San Antonio
- Mayborn Museum, Waco
- McKenna Children’s Museum, New Braunfels
Also, check out:
