*Above photo: Baby music class at Mi Casa Es Tu Casa by Inked Fingers

If you have a baby to entertain, Austin is a great place to be.  Fantastic parks, trails for picturesque stroller rides, exceptional story times, and lots of class offerings  — Austin babies have it made!

Check out upcoming events in the city that are great for little ones here.  

Awesome Places for Parents & Babies in Austin

— Alliance Children’s Garden
1000 Barton Springs Rd.
Located by Lady Bird Lake in Butler Park, you’ll find a beautiful playground known as the Alliance Children’s Garden that sits on 2-acres of land with gorgeous skyline views and lots of exciting play structures for all ages. Secure the babies in the stroller and enjoy walking along the Hike & Bike Trail and end your visit at this super fun park where there is plenty to keep them engaged and having fun.

---

— Almost Grown Play Cafe (Dripping Springs)
18901 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs
Almost Grown Play Café & Ice Cream Shop is a place where both parents and kids can learn, play, and have fun together.  The kids can play in large open spaces with five key areas of imagination.  You can also enjoy coffee, breakfast, lunch, and ice cream, too.

---

— Austin Nature and Science Center
2389 Stratford Dr.
The Austin Nature and Science Center is a wonderful, free resource in the heart of the city.  It’s also a great place to go (take the stroller) for a leisurely walk through the grounds, pass by and wave hello to the rescued animals, watch the fish and turtles swim around their tanks, and listen to the owls hoot.  If you’re up for the little ones getting sandy, they can play in the giant dino-digging pit. This is a lovely spot for kids of all ages. Read more about our experience at the ANSC.

---

— Central Market North Lamar
4001 N Lamar Blvd.
Yes, it’s a grocery store. But how great is it that you can knock out some grocery shopping while entertaining baby? First, there are balloons. Perfect!  Second, the playground is tons of fun for little ones who can toddle around the mini playscape and go down the tiny slides.  And finally, the adjacent pond adds even more entertainment.  You can head to the water and point out the ducks and turtles.  Of course, Central Market also offers tons of family-friendly events and live music.  So keep up with their event calendar to make the most of what this grocery store has to offer.

---

— Crowe’s Nest Farm
10300 Taylor Ln, Manor
We just love this charming 100-acre working farm and animal sanctuary located just a short drive to Manor, Texas. At Crowe’s Nest, you will meet plenty of adorable domestic farm animals including bison, llamas, cows, donkeys, longhorns, ostrich, pigs, goats, and much more.  You can opt to take a short hay ride and watch a cow-milking demo while you’re there, too.  You can also pack along a picnic and enjoy your lunch on the farm!  Read more about the farm.

Also, check out:

• Family Fun at Local Farms
• Drive Through Zoos and Safari Parks Near Austin

---

— Indigo Play
13530 Research Blvd.
Indigo Play invites kids (designed for babies through age 10) to unleash their imaginations on a little journey around the world via hidden passages through the tombs of Egypt, areal glides through the Amazon rainforest, mazes between Aztec temples, and a 25-foot, 4-lane wavy slide.  Even the adults are sure to learn a thing or two! The space includes a: Baby & Toddler Area; Sensory Room; Role Play Area; Three-level Mega Structure; and sports court.  Visit their website for more info and read about our visit here.

---

— Kiddie Kanyon Room at Mt. Playmore
13609 N Interstate Hwy 35
Mt. Playmore might be a fun spot for adventurous preschool and elementary-age kids, but the baby and toddler-only area of this indoor playland is great for the little ones, too.  This enclosed, socks-only area features more than 1,400 square feet of space filled with age-appropriate toys, activities, and play elements.  There is also a private nursing room in this area.

---

— Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave.
This is a great spot for a nature walk and a lovely place to find other parents of young children.  The Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center includes many opportunities for creative play with natural materials including giant birds’ nests made of grape vines for kids to climb in, a grotto with caves and a waterfall, a maze made of native shrubs, giant tree stumps and limbs for kids to climb on and more.

---

— Splash Shack
1801 Clover Lane Cedar Park
This adorable indoor water park is best for kids up to age 10.  It’s a great half-day activity to let your little ones burn off some energy.  Aptly called a micro-water park, inside this 10,000-square-foot building you’ll find interactive water play, some water slides, and a dump-bucket.  Plus, you get a free adult ticket with every child ticket ($19.99) and it’s just $4.99 for any additional adults.  More details here.

---

— Library storytimes
Austin Public Library has a huge variety of programming for little ones offered at its many branches. From dual language to toddler time, to pajama storytime, check out their upcoming events and enjoy!

---

— Pikopye’s Town
2919 Menchaca Rd Suite 205
Have you been to this indoor play destination in South Austin?  Pikopye’s Town offers a place to play, a co-working lounge, a private event space, and a toy boutique.  According to their website, “It’s a place where families can play, imagine, learn, celebrate, meet, work, unwind, interact and shop”.

Also, check out our roundup of ATX Indoor Play Places

---

— Play Street Museum
5601 Brodie Ln, Sunset Valley
This interactive children’s museum in Sunset Valley is a space for kids to explore an imaginary town and for parents to relax.  You can make a playtime reservation for $14 per child here, and Pay Street is also available for events, parties, and field trips.

---

— Splash Pads
Splash pads are perfect for keeping everyone cool and Austin’s are open from May through October. We especially love how easy they are for our littlest ones to enjoy…and they’re free!   Check here for a list of Austin area splash pads.

---

— Play for All Park (Round Rock)
151 N A W Grimes Blvd, Round Rock
Play for All Park features some of the coolest play spaces you can imagine.  In addition to fun climbing structures, it has a “pretend town” with buildings and working traffic lights that you can travel through and make stops in the grocery store, fire station, hospital, etc.  Great fun for all ages!

---

— Thinkery
1830 Simond Ave.
The Thinkery offers an exciting environment focused on early learners.  There is so much to see and do in this fun children’s museum, and it’s a great place to meet up with other families.  Keep an eye on their website for the latest updates on their hours and special programs.  During their Baby Bloomers time on Monday and Saturday mornings from 8 am to 10 am, young ones get to explore the museum during special hours reserved for kids ages zero to three.

---

— Toybrary Austin
2001 Justin Ln
Toybrary Austin is a toy lending library and also a play space with drop-in “stay & play” for the little ones for $12 admission.  They also hold lots of special events for young children as well as special events for parents while they watch your child.  Check their calendar to see what fun things are coming up.

---

— Zilker Park Playground
Near Barton Springs Pool
Centrally located, the Zilker Park Playground is such a great place to take babies and toddlers.  There are plenty of swings, areas to run, and places for varying abilities to climb.  Babies and toddlers won’t want to miss the antique fire truck to climb into and play on.  The Zilker Eagle Mini Train is currently in testing phases and sounds like it’s opening soon!  Check out this list of 100 Things to Do in Zilker Park.

---

 — Baby & Parent/Caregiver Classes
We all know baby classes are just as beneficial to parents as they are to the little ones.  Classes get you out of the house, give you a chance to socialize with other grown-ups, and help you make great connections with other families who are going through the same milestones and challenges as you and your babe.  There are SO many great classes offered around Austin. Here are just a few you can check out:

• Aqua-Tots
• Austin YMCA
• Austin Yoga Lounge | Prenatal and postnatal yoga and doula services
• Center for Creative Action
• Champions Gymnastics
• Emler Swim School
• Fit4Mom Austin
• Heartsong Music
• Hello Dancer Austin
• Hike It, Baby
• Jump Gymnastics
• Little Land Play Gym
• Mi Casa Es Tu Casa
• Saplings Art and Yoga
• The Little Gym
• Tinkergarten
• TuneBugz!
  

  ---

— Best Places to Meet Up with Other Parents
When you want to get out of the house for a cup of coffee or a meal with friends, there are quite a few places in Austin where you can let the little ones hang out while you catch up on conversation.  Check out this roundup of Top Places for Coffee Playdates and this list of Family-Friendly Breweries or Restaurants with Playgrounds for some ideas on where to go.  Or maybe you’d rather put the babies in strollers and go for a nice long walk with a friend?  Get the details on Exploring the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail.

Have fun exploring Austin with those sweet little cuties!