What are the very best places in Austin for families? We asked and you’ve answered! Recently with our friends at Yelp, we conducted a series of polls to gather your opinions about the Austin metro area’s best kid-friendly restaurants, museums, parks, and more!

Check out all of the results below, and then dive into each page to see even more of your picks and some of our personal favorites, too!

Readers’ Pick for Best Museums: Bullock Museum
“Fantastic! I went here specifically to look at the recovered LaSalle ship from the Texas coast. It did not disappoint! The additional Texas history was icing on the cake.” – Elite Yelper Guy H

Runners Up:

• Thinkery: “Tons of hands-on fun for kids in every corner or every floor. Even outside is great fun, good learning and active play for all kids.” – Elite Yelper Amanda P
• Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms: “I believe that looking at the past allows us to appreciate what we have now. This location is what you make of it. Depending upon the time of the year you visit, there are various classes and interactive holiday festivals.” – Elite Yelper Courtney B
• Read more top museums!

Readers’ Pick for Best Playgrounds: Alliance Children’s Garden
“Fun way to spend the afternoon. Lots of shade, plenty to keep little ones busy.” — Yelper Alisa D

Runners Up:

• Play for All Park : “Lots for kids to do. Bring their bikes or scooters and run them on the raceway, or through the miniature town. They also have wheelchair accessible places and activities, which is wonderful. Lots for kids to do and burn off some energy, all contained within a fenced area.” – Elite Yelper James W
• Walnut Creek Metro Park: “We used it as our introduction to the kids for their first walking trail and it did a great amount of good. Teaching the kids to go single file in a line when bikers or other people would come through. Also taught my kids to always ask before petting any dogs.” – Elite Yelper Bobbie U
• Read more playground picks!

Reader’s Picks for Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants:
This was a TIE between Hat Creek & Waterloo Ice House

• Hat Creek: Awesome place for a family with kids!  Great selection of food for everybody and even adult drinks!  Great playground for kids and outdoor area rocks! – Yelper Cora R.
• Waterloo Ice House: Very good neighborhood restaurant with an active bar on one end, while having an outdoor space with a playground at the other. Excellent breakfasts and good lunch/dinner menu. – Yelper Ken L.

Runners Up:

• Home Slice Pizza: Super friendly little neighborhood business. The food is excellent and the employees are even more excellent. They are very kind to children which means a lot to my family and I’m sure to many others. We always enjoy our time at home slice. Really just the most wonderful little neighborhood gem. – Yelper Sheila F.
• Phil’s Ice House: Great burgers. A lot of different options and toppings. Love the soft sourdough buns. There is an outdoor playing area for kids and the restaurant is also attached to Amy’s ice cream for dessert! – Yelper Maryanne I.
• More picks for great restaurants!

Readers’ Pick for Best Picnic Spots: Zilker Park
Quote: “Zilker Park is a massive plot of land with a big open grassy area that is usually packed around sunset… The view of downtown from Zilker is quite nice and unobstructed since it is a huge open field.” – Elite Yelper Oak Z

Runners Up:

• Waterloo Park: “ Take a slow walk around and you’ll start to see the details and features that the designers have incorporated, like play areas, ramps, walkways, and water features, thanks to the creek and its tunnel inlet. There is more greenery at the south end of the park than in the north.” – Yelper Alan R
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: “There are numerous benches, shaded areas, and picnic tables. There are adorable play areas for the young and young at heart.” – Yelper Karen E
• More picnic picks!

Readers’ Pick for Best Local Resorts: Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa
“The longhorns,, alpacas and s’mores by the fire pit at night made both the little kids and big kids like myself warm and fuzzy inside.” – Elite Yelper Amy P

Runners Up:

• Kalahari Resort: “We went to the water park today and it was worth every dime… I can’t rave enough about that 223,000 sq feet of family fun we had.” – Elite Yelper Jeff U
• JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Resort & Spa: Overall, this was a really great staycation for my family to get away from our usual grind, and it seems like they always have different promotions or discounts on their nightly rates so said staycation would not break the bank.” – Elite Yelper Victoria C
• More great resorts!

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