Going to a museum or art gallery is a terrific opportunity to spend quality time with your family during the holidays while still being informative and mind-expanding!
There are numerous family-friendly options in Austin, here are our top 10 favorites. We hope you and your family enjoy them just as much as we do.
Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford Dr
Austin, TX 78746
Austin Nature and Science Center, located on 80 acres on the western edge of Zilker Park, provides hands-on nature displays, recreational activities, and educational programs for children of all ages. This is a fantastic way to spend time outside with your family while learning something new! austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-science-center
Wonderspaces
1205 Sheldon Cove #2A
Austin, TX 78753
Wonderspaces is an interactive and immersive art show with 14 different installations that vary regularly. Wonderspaces partners with artists to present experiential art shows for all audiences. austin.wonderspaces.com
Blanton Museum of Art
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Austin, TX 78712
The Blanton is one of the largest university art museums in the United States, which is a fun fact. Browse their lovely assortment of modern and contemporary paintings. Your children can participate in the many educational activities, including guided group tours that cover a wide range of curricular issues, from reading to social justice. Every Thursday, the Blanton provides free admission. blantonmuseum.org
Thinkery
1830 Simond Ave
Austin, TX 78723
The Thinkery is an exciting, hands-on, play-based experience for children aged 5 to 11. The Thinkery has 40,000 square feet of interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) displays and events indoors and out. Every Sunday from 3-5 pm, they host a free community night; tickets can be reserved. thinkeryaustin.org
Ice Cream Museum
11506 Century Oaks Terrace #128
Austin, TX 78758
Prepare to uncover your inner child! Learn everything there is to know about ice cream while bonding with loved ones, taking in limitless photo opportunities, and eating unlimited ice cream. This location is ideal for a special event or when visiting family, and a fun experience for the big and tiny kids! museumoficecream.com
Pioneer Farms
10621 Pioneer Farms Dr
Austin, TX 78754
A one-of-a-kind “living history” experience on a farm. This museum provides enjoyable activities such as history tours, archery lessons, archeology, and live animals, to name a few. They have an excellent Christmas-themed event for the next two months, get more information by visiting them online. pioneerfarms.org
The Science Mill
101 S Lady Bird Ln
Johnson City, TX 78636
The Science Mill, located in Johnson City, encourages kids to learn about science and how they encounter it in their daily lives through displays, games, and programs. They include more than 50 exhibits, including deep sea robotics, a fossil dig, an aquaponics greenhouse, and a butterfly garden! sciencemill.org
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave
Austin, TX 78739
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center offers almost 900 native plant species and miles of trails to inspire native plant conservation. They host various events and activities, such as the Field of Light project on display through December. wildflower.org
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton Rd
Austin, TX 78704
A unique sculpture garden and museum with a fascinating history! Charles Umlauf donated this outdoor display to Austin in 1985, which features 168 of his sculptures and changing exhibitions by other artists. Every second Sunday of the month, they host a free family day, and every third Saturday of the month, at 12:30 pm, they host a sculpture garden storytime. umlaufsculpture.org
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
Dive deep into the history of Texas via exhibitions, documentaries, symposiums, community events, field trips, and family-friendly programming. There is always something fresh to see or do at the Bullock Museum. Every month, they have a free first Sunday! thestoryoftexas.com
