The kids are home all summer. It’s hot. Money is tight. Patience is wearing thin. What is a parent to do?
Check out our list of summertime fun activities. We bet you will find something on the list that gets you out of the house and spending a fun day – or evening – with the kiddos.
These activities are organized by price to make it easy to see which types of adventures are in your budget.
Free activities for kids:
• Community libraries for reading and activities
• Lake Kyle for fishing
• Play “Ultimate Frisbee” in Steeplechase in east Kyle
• Swim at the Kyle pool
• Bird watching – inexpensive or homemade feeders attract all kinds of native Texas birds
• Landa Park in New Braunfels
Free or cheap movies:
• Alamo Draft House movie camps
• $1 movies at theaters in Austin (Westgate and Tinsel Town)
Hays County History:
• Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Library and Museum (at the San Marcos airport)
• Claiborne-Kyle Log House
• Hays County Courthouse
Area Farmers Markets
Head out early to beat the heat and find the best local produce, foods and artisan offerings.
Boerne - Every Saturday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 33 Herff Rd. (March-October). Market Days 2nd weekend every month 10-5 on the main plaza
Wimberley Market Days - First Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m., 601 FM 2325
Wimberley Farmers Market - Every Wednesday 3-6, RR 12 and River Road in front of the Community Thrift Shop
Kyle - Third Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Sustainacycle 409 West Center Street
Buda - Every Saturday 9 a.m.-noon, Main Street, Buda (March - October)
San Marcos - Every Tuesday 3-6, 312 E. Hopkins St. Every Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., San Antonio St.
New Braunfels - Every Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 186 Castell Ave.
Fredericksburg - Every Thursday 4-7 p.m., Downtown Marktplatz (May-August)
Fredericksburg Trade Days - Third weekend 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 355 Sunday Farms Lane
Dripping Springs - Every Wednesday 3-7 p.m., At the intersection of Hwy 290 and RR12
Swimming holes:
• Jacob’s Well in Wimberley
• Blue Hole in Wimberley
• Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs
• Krause Springs in Spicewood
Museums:
• New Braunfels Museum of Art
• Childrens’ Museum New Braunfels
• The Thinkery in Austin
• Austin Aquarium
Theatres and movies:
• The Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley
• The Wimberley Playhouse
• The Corral Theater (outdoors on select weekends)
Tour every Saturday:
Learn all there is to know about the native wildlife that lives above the Edwards Aquifer on the guided tour of Jacob’s Well natural area in Wimberley. Texas Master Naturalists give fun and informative presentations to all visitors free of charge, but donations are gladly accepted. End your educational journey with a dip in one of Central Texas’ most beautiful and mysterious natural wonders – Jacob’s Well. The guided tour begins at 10 a.m. every Saturday at the nature center at 221 Woodacre Drive in Wimberley and is given by a Texas Master Naturalist.
Jumping, moving, shaking and fast cars:
• The Jumpy Place in Kyle
• Jumpoline in Austin
• Austin Skate in Manchaca
• Bowling (Sunset Lanes in San Marcos or Westgate Lanes in Austin)
• Peter Pan putt-putt in Austin (coolers allowed)
• Horseback riding at Bear Creek Stables in Manchaca or Milestone Riding Academy in Driftwood
• Central Texas Speedway
Zoos:
• Austin Zoo (with three new bear cubs)
• San Antonio Zoo
• Capital of Texas Zoo in Bastrop
Theme & water park adventures:
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels
• Splashtown in San Antonio
• ZDTs Adventure Park in Seguin
• Sea World San Antonio
• Fiesta Texas San Antonio
• Wimberley Zipline
Caves, caverns and natural formations:
• Wonder World in San Marcos
• Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown
• Natural Bridge Caverns and Safari in New Braunfels (be sure to check out the twin baby giraffes)
Tubing and other aquatic adventures:
• Several tube rental companies operate in San Marcos, New Braunfels and Gruene
• The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, formerly Aquarena Springs
• Join the Y Hays branch and swim all day
