We’re on a quest to share suggestions of safe, socially distanced activities that can get you and the kids out of the house for some fun time together, and one such spot for a nice family field trip is Pioneer Farms. Located in North Austin, Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms is an outdoor living history museum, giving visitors a chance to experience life in the 1800s.
What makes this a great spot for an outing? Below we’re sharing 5 reasons why we think it’s worth a visit.
1. History Lessons: Obviously, the main attraction is learning about how Texans experienced life in the nineteenth century. There are six historic areas to look for on your self-guided walking tour: an 1841 Tonkawa Encampment, an 1853 Walnut Creek Greenbelt, an 1868 German Emigrant Farm, an 1873 Texian Farm, an 1887 Cotton Planter’s Farm, and the 1899 Sprinkle Corner rural village. In each area, you can get a glimpse of what life was like in the past. Kids will enjoy looking into a blacksmith shop and an old general store, peeking into bedrooms and kitchens of homes, noticing artifacts and historical decor of the day and differences between types of Texas dwellings. You can take a self-guided tour during museum hours from Thursdays – Sundays, or if you have a group of 15 or more, you can schedule a tour led by a costumed interpreter to make your experience even more exciting. Before you go, be sure to look through the map and tour guide that provides wonderfully interesting historical details. Click here for a printable version in English or click here for the guide in Spanish.
2. The Animals: We’re big animal lovers, so we truly get a kick out of petting donkeys, seeing longhorn cattle in close view, saying “hi” to the horses in the big red barn. (In fact, our the animals made such an impression on our oldest child that he still remembers the names of the old barn cats from his first visit to the farm over 12 years ago.) As you walk through Pioneer Farms, ask the kids to keep count of how many chickens, longhorns, etc. they see along the way.
3. Plenty of Room to Roam: Six feet apart? No problem here! Pioneer Farms offers over 90 acres of land to explore and spread out from others during social distancing requirements. You won’t find any over-crowded trails. There is plenty of room to walk freely at your own pace. Even the historic homes are built with breezeways, so as you walk through to peek into bedrooms and living quarters, you’re never enclosed in a stuffy indoor space. As noted on the Pioneer Farms website, “There’s no cabin fever at Pioneer Farms, just cabins.”
4. Great for All Ages: We recently visited Pioneer Farms with grandparents, and it provided a great place to connect with family members as we enjoyed walking and talking at a safe distance while still spending time together. Because the self-guided tour isn’t a high energy experience, it really is a lovely place to stroll with family members of any age, at any pace. Younger kiddos can run off some energy and engage in basic historical concepts, while older kids and adults can explore artifacts & architecture while diving into some interesting details of central Texas history.
5. Exploring the Outdoors: Nothing beats an afternoon outside enjoying some fresh air — especially during the pandemic when so much of our day is glued to screens within our own homes. In addition to simply walking the grounds of the historic sites, you can also enjoy a nice peaceful moment appreciating nature along the Walnut Creek Greenbelt on the property. (This historic creek got its name for the Black Walnut trees that line it and was once a spot that early settlers rode through in search of campsites.)
More To Know Before You Go:
Pioneer Farms is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for visitors ages 13 and over, and $6 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are free. You can simply pay admission at the General Store upon arrival.
They currently offer a variety of special events such as nighttime ghost tours, drive-in moonlight movies, and plenty of interesting workshops and classes centered around the skills of a pioneer with such topics as basket weaving, candle making, banjo lessons, quilting and so much more! Pioneer Farms will also be home to Austin Film Society’s drive-in movie series from Jan. 28-Feb. 3 as part of the Sundance Film Festival.
Visit the Pioneer Farms website for more info.
