Complete Guide to Hawaiian Fall Pflugerville ~ Pflugerville, TX

Ok, let me be completely honest with you.  I did not visit Hawaiian Falls all summer long because I am not a waterpark gal. But being that Austin's newest place to play in the water is less than 15 minutes away from our house AND the fact that the kids have been wanting to go all summer, I planned a day to check out the new Hawaiian Falls in Pflugerville.  And I'm glad I did.

Despite the rush to open and hearing all the complaints that came out earlier in the summer about it, I wanted to go with an open mind.  I was lucky enough to get a tour of the park and meet with the General Manager.  Truthfully, I was overwhelmed with how much there was to do at Hawaiian Falls.  Not only do they have a lazy river, one of the biggest wave pools in Texas, and several different types of water slides, they recently opened their Adventure Park with a 7-story ropes course and zip lines that zig-zag all over the park.

We had a great day and I would recommend Hawaiian Falls as a fun place for the big kids to cool down & have fun.  It is convenient for those that live in the Austin area and a fairly inexpensive day.  There is more to do for the big kids than there is for the little ones (see below).  My 11 & 13 year old loved it and can't wait to go back.  My 5 year old is a beginning swimmer and was not tall enough to do most of the slides, so it wasn't as full of a day for him.  Next year, he'll be ready for it.

If you are planning to go to Hawaiian Falls, here is your complete guide to know before you go:

Tickets - The best prices I have found are at HEB or if you bring in a Coke can to the park. Both of these deals offer you $7 off the Big Kahuna ticket.  Also, there are some coupons on the Hawaiian Falls website that offer great deals:

• MauiMoms Mondays - Free Kids Admission with a full price Big Kahuna ticket on Mondays before noon.
• MauiMoms Meal Deal - Free Kids meal with the purchase of a meal on Mondays.
• Tuesdays 2Fer - Buy One, Get One Free Big Kahuna ticket on Tuesdays.

If none of these work, check out the Ohana Combo Pack, that includes admission to the park, one combo meal and all-day drinks for $29.99.

If it rains continuously for 15 minutes or if the attractions are closed due to bad weather, all paid guests will receive a complimentary ticket good for any normal operating day through this Labor Day. You receive the free return ticket even if the park stays open.

*Make sure to keep your receipt or ticket stub. YOU MUST PRESENT YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE TO RECEIVE THE FREE TICKET. (Guarantee excludes season passes and rain or bad weather starting after 4 p.m.)

Parking - Parking at Hawaiian Falls is $5 or you can buy a season pass for $20.

Cooler Policy - If you would like to bring in a cooler with food, snacks, & drinks, you will pay a $10 cooler fee ($30 season pass).  Don't bring with you outside fast food or pizza, alcohol, or glass bottles. If you don't want to pay the cooler fee, you can leave it in your car.  There are shaded (with umbrellas) picnic tables in the parking lot. Also, unopened, clear water bottles are allowed.

Food - Food is available for purchase. As of last week, the Surf Side BBQ sells brisket sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, sausage on a stick, and corn dogs. I think the prices are reasonable too - the 4 of us ate for under $25 and it was pretty good. They also offer large Hawaiian Ices.  Another restaurant is planned to be built for next summer.

Cabanas - Hawaiian Falls has around 15 cabanas for rent for the day.  A cabana can fit up to 8 people and it includes a locker rental, free drinks all day and a server to wait on you.  We had a cabana for the day and it was great to have our own shady spot to hang out in.  Make sure to reserve the cabana in advance, as your admission tickets are discounted too. ($125 weekday/$150 weekend)

Lockers - There are lockers available for rent for $10 ($2 refunded when you return a key).  It is such a small park, that I felt completely comfortable leaving my bags on the chair.

Where is the Shade? - For obvious reasons, get there right when it opens.  While there are many umbrellas for shade over the tables and chairs, you need to get to the park early to claim them.  When we arrived at 11:30, they were all taken.

Is the park good for Little Kids? - Most of the slides require a height of 48" or taller.  There is the lazy river, wave pool and a kiddie splash pool for the little guys.  I would have liked to have seen the inner tubes for the wave pool and lazy river have a bottom, as my 5 year old kept slipping out of them.  Unless you have some strong & brave swimmers, I think this park is geared more toward the big kids.  And that is GREAT - think about the multitude of splash pads and kiddie pools we have in the Austin area, the big kids need a place to play in the water too.

Lifejackets - Lifejackets are available all over the park to use for free.  You are not allowed to bring in your own personal floatation devices and floaties, so it is nice to have these available.

Adventure Park - The Adventure Park at Hawaiian Falls features a 7-story Big Island Adventure Trail for the little kids, a 3-level ropes Challenge Course, and 3 zip lines that fly over the water park (Pineapple Zip Tour).  Everything within the Adventure Park is included with the waterpark admission with the exception of the Pineapple Zip Tour.

Is the Ropes Course Safe? - The 3-tiered, 7-story Challenge course is for 48" and above.  A full body harness and Smart Belay System is used.  There are 2 lobster-claws that attach to the ropes.  When one is off the rope (as when you move from one rope to another), the other is locked in the "clipped in" state.  In other words, you will always have at least one claw attached to the rope at all times.  This gives a mom a great peace of mind when it comes to seeing you 11 year old seven stories high in the sky!

What do I Wear in the Adventure Park? - You are not allowed in the Adventure Park when sopping wet, but you don't have to wear completely dry clothes.  Shirts & shorts are required as well as closed toed shoes (no flip flops).  My son wore his bathing suit with a shirt.

Pineapple Express Zip Tour - The Challenge Course has 2 zip lines, but the really big zip line is the Pineapple Express Zip Tour.  You need to sign a waiver to go on it and pay an additional cost.  The price is less expensive if you buy it online before getting to the park.  My 11 year old did it and said it was AWESOME!

When will the Adventure Park be open? - The Adventure Park will be open year round on weekends after the water park closes.  It was very hot to climb the Challenge course, which took about a half hour to 45 minutes, so I can imagine it will be an awesome winter and spring activity.  The Adventure Park will also be open for team building during the week.

I love the size of Hawaiian Falls.  I felt very comfortable allowing my kids to go off and do a slide or the lazy river and check in with me. I also felt fine leaving my bag on the table of the cabana and getting in the water. As big and exciting as it is for the big kids, as a mom, I felt like this was a small, hometown park.  We ran into several people we knew throughout the day.  And I really like how close Hawaiian Falls is to home.  I could see us buying a season pass next summer and really getting good use out of it.

I think Hawaiian Falls rushed to open and in that time received a really bad rap.  I think the company did the best they could to rush to provide a fun, family option this summer.  The organization is family-owned based on Christian principles. They strive to bring families closer together in a fun way.  I think they succeed with the Pflugerville location.  Now that the summer season is coming to a close,  they will have ample time to finish construction and make improvements before next summer.

Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville Water Park will be open daily through Sunday, Aug. 24, and also Labor Day weekend Aug. 30-Sept. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Water Park will also be open 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7.

This Friday, August 22, 2014 - Hawaiian Falls presents a Luau with Live Music, Hula Dancers, 
Fire Dancer Performance, Special Menu items and more. Luau activities are FREE for all guests to enjoy.  Delicious Luau Meals will be available for only $10. Luau begins a 6 pm. 

Disclosure - My family & I were invited to visit Hawaiian Falls Water Park & Adventure Park.  I was not compensated to write this article.  All opinions are my own. 

The Little Gym ~ Austin, TX

The Little Gym Round Rock and The Little Gym Austin Lakeline are sponsors of the I ♥ Austin Summer Fun Checklist. When the kids complete 5 items on the list, they can bring the checklist in to either of the two locations to spin the prize wheel and participate in a FREE class! The prize and free class can be redeemed through the month of August. To find more fun activities to do this summer in Austin, be sure to download the Summer Fun Checklist, and check out AustinSummerFun.com for an insider's guide to exploring Austin. Below, read a review from a local Austin mama who sums up why The Little Gym is so great.

 

If you’re looking to have some “serious fun” this summer, look no further than The Little Gym of Round Rock and The Little Gym of Austin at Lakeline. From gymnastics, dance and sport skills classes, birthday bashes, summer camps and more, they’re your go-to place for keeping the kids happy in the summer heat – while keeping boredom at bay!

  My 4.5-year-old daughter has been attending The Little Gym of Round Rock for two years this fall, starting off in the “Super Beasts” parent-child class, and making her way shortly after into the Funny Bugs/Giggle Worms class that she’s still in today. I’ve seen her grow from a toddler in need of reassurance on the bars and beam while a coach assisted her, to a budding gymnast, doing front flips around the high bars and forward rolls across the beam without help! Aside from attending weekly classes at The Little Gym, one of the benefits they offer to members is a weekly “practice time”, allowing coach-led time to focus on new skills and exploring the gym. During those two hours per week, I’ve watched my four-year-old exceed any preconceived notions I held about what preschoolers were physically capable of, but more than that, been pleasantly surprised at her emerging social skills, confidence, and ability to be a contributing member of a team. In fact, my preschooler has enjoyed her time at The Little Gym of Round Rock so much that when I had my son this past fall, it was never a question that he would start his own classes at The Little Gym as soon as he was old enough to participate! Here he is on his first day of “Bugs” class, all smiles, excited to finally get his own chance to crawl around and explore all of the fun equipment he’d been watching his sister enjoy.

Though I initially expected the Bugs class to be more of a social experience for me and the other moms, I quickly realized how much Jack was growing and learning each week as well. From tracking and touching bubbles, to learning new physical skills and strengthening his core, to interacting with other babies in different developmental stages, Bugs class is the highlight of Jack’s week!
 Aside from weekly classes, The Little Gym offers summer camps at both locations, with a new theme offered weekly, and a new mission each day. The camps, held Monday and Wednesday from 9am – 12pm and Tuesday afternoons from 1pm - 4pm, are a perfect way to occupy your 3- to 8-year-old child for a few hours, allowing you some much needed time to run errands, while keeping your little one engaged and active during these triple digit days!



Another new offering at The Little Gym is the WonderKids Club, a preschool-style offering for three- to four-year-olds that provides your child the chance to experience a full morning of fun at the gym, enjoying both gymnastics and other themed learning experiences aimed at enhancing their social, emotional, and cognitive development through play. On the morning that we tried it out, Ava had an absolute blast playing with Lego blocks and other manipulatives, completing a craft, listening to a story in circle time, and, of course, spending time on the big red mat!

 Last but not least, The Little Gym has been rated by Parents Magazine as the #1 place to host a child’s birthday party! Their awesome party packages are available to both members and non-members alike, and can be a great way to introduce your friends to some serious fun! Practically all inclusive, standard birthday party packages include a team member and assistant to lead the fun, set-up and clean up, all the paper goods (napkins, plates, etc.), 16 guests (with the option to add up to 9 additional), drinks for each guest, an opportunity for a gift registry, a TLG shirt for the birthday child, and a TLG evite upon request! There are also theme options and goody bags available at an additional charge. A bonus: Take $25 off any party package when you mention this Birthday Party Discount Guide. The Little Gym Round Rock 3203 S. IH-35, Round Rock The Little Gym Austin Lakeline 14010 N. US Hwy 183, Suite 440, Austin

Briana is the mother of two young children, a freelance writer, and blogs about her journey into motherhood at Unexpectedly Expecting. 

Mt. Playmore ~ Austin, TX

August in Austin means one thing.  It's HOT outside so we spend the majority of time indoors this time of year.  Lucky for Austinites, Mt. Playmore opened up last week.

Mt. Playmore is an indoor play area in North Austin that features a gigantic playscape, arcade, and snack bar.  It's a great place for playdates for kiddos 4 and up - they do have a toddler area for young ones.  We visited this week to get the scoop on this new place.  Here is what we thought:

What I Loved About Mt. Playmore:

It's Big & Unique: The multi-level playscape is HUGE & complex with lots of fun things to do - slides, zip lines, swings, bungees, rope ladders, and more.  I took with me an 11, 9, and 5 year old and all of them had a great time entertaining themselves for over an hour.

It's cold: I like the fact that Mt. Playmore keeps the thermostat on cold - I may have froze but with all those kids running around indoors, it was nice to keep them cool.

Lots of places to sit: There are big comfy chairs in the center of the large playscape to sit on, and tons of tables & booths near the snack bar.  It was fairly busy when I was there and I still saw a few open tables.   That said, parents are invited to climb and play with the kids in the playscape.

Free WiFi: I was very happy to brings friends for my kids and get some work done. Yay for FREE WiFi!

Magazine Rack: I know, it doesn't take much to make this momma happy.  For those that didn't bring a friend to talk to or a book to read,  there is a magazine rack was full of new magazines to read.

Lots of Employees: I was impressed by the number of employees that were monitoring the playscape - both inside of it and walking around.  It gave me a great peace of mind to know that the children had help nearby if they needed it. The playscape is so large, that it would be difficult to quickly get to a child who needs help.

Secure Entrance & Exit: Both upon entrance & exit, my kids had to match up to the ultraviolet stamp on my arm. I love that Mt. Playmore is serious about making sure kids are leaving with who they came with.

Mt. Playmore does have some room for improvement, but knowing that they just opened up last week, I am sure they are working out all the kinks. And because school is out for the summer, it is really crowded. Being that it is housed in a large warehouse, it is a very loud space, so if you have children who are sensitive to noise, this would not be the place to go while school is out - maybe wait until a fall weekday to try it out.

They do have an area for toddlers - it seems a bit sparse, but I didn't ask if they would be adding more to this area or not.

And it would be nice to be able to bring in small snacks and drinks for the kids.  I understand the policy to not bring outside food in as they have their own snack bar.  I glanced at their menu and it was full of kid-friendly food and salads and sandwiches for adults.  We visited after lunch, so I didn't notice anyone eating to see how the food looked.

Lastly, they have a full-sized arcade with skee-ball, kiddie rides, and video games.  These cost additional money (i.e. tokens) and you can earn tickets to redeem for prizes before you leave.  I suspect that is for older kids who might get bored with the playscape.

I think the cost is reasonable - $9.95 for 4 and up on "non-school days" and $7.95 for "school days".

Overall, my kids enjoyed the time that was spent there, but were ready to leave after an hour and a half.  They were really excited to play on the playscape and ran through it the entire time we were there.  I think they would have liked it more had they brought friends to play with.  That said, this is a great place to set up a playdate.

But don't take my word for it, here's what my crew liked best about Mt. Playmore:
Mt. Playmore is located at 13609 N Ih 35, Austin, TX 78753 Click here for their website.

5 Things to Love about Georgetown's New Creative Playscape ~ #101PreschoolDates

I have 6 weeks left with my 5 year old until he goes to kindergarten.  So in an effort to make some memories with him, I am instituting #101PreschoolDates  Follow along as we count down this list and find some really cool places in the Austin area to take your preschoolers! 

This week, my guy and I tried out the newly re-did park, Creative Playscape in Georgetown, TX. The wooden structured playscape was our favorite and we were sad to hear of it's demise.  But, I can say in full confidence that the one that replaced it is just as good.  Here's why:

1. Everything is new - the previously wooden structure is completely gone and the new area is all brand new. And it's massive! My 5 year old walked into the park wide-eyed and didn't know where to start.

2. Lots to climb on - the variety of climbing structures is awesome. There are stairs, ladders, rock walls, etc. and multiple fun slides to come down! There is even a big rock to play "king of the mountain" on!

3. Completely fenced in - there is one entrance in & out of Creative Playscape. With the benches situated close to the entrance, you can have a better peace of mind letting your child explore the area.

4. Lots of shade to sit in - trees, shaded patio with benches, and lots of grass to plop down on. That said, the entire playscape is in full sun, so go in the cooler parts of the day.

5. Preschool Structure - if your little ones are overwhelmed with the size of the playscape, there is a separate, small-scale play ground for them.

There are only 2 sets of swings but barely anyone was on them.  The playscape is that enticing that your children will want to spend all their time on that!

It's a great park for a playdate!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
101 Things to Do with a Preschooler in Austin 
Pet Sounds at Laguna Gloria & Mayfield Park
Special Events at Safari Champ
5 Tips for Your Next Trip to Thinkery
Blanton Art Museum & Whole Foods Picnic
A Free Fun in Austin Day

Skating in Austin ~ Austin, TX

This is a guest post that goes hand-in-hand with the Austin Summer Fun Checklist I am participating in this summer.  Do you enjoy skating? My kids love it - we can't wait to work through this list!

Have you printed your Summer Fun Checklist yet? There are 10 items on the checklist each month- June, July and August- with recommendations for activities to keep your kids active and engaged in the Austin community this summer. It's FREE, printable, and the kids can earn rewards all summer long when they complete 5 of the 10 items on the checklist each month!

You can also win giveaways throughout the entire summer just by uploading and tagging (#AustinSummerFun) a photo of your child(ren) doing something from the Summer Fun Checklist. You won't want to miss out with prizes that include a $25 gift card that can be used at Galaxy Cafe, Zocalo Cafe or Top Notch Burgers, tickets to a Round Rock Express game, $50 Terra Toys gift certificate, free hair cuts from Birds Barbershop, and more! A winner will be chosen each Friday morning so be sure to get those Summer Fun photos tagged by midnight each Thursday. For complete rules, click here.

Going roller skating with friends and ice skating at Chaparral Ice are a couple of items on the checklist in June and July so we thought we would round up all of the indoor and outdoor skating options in the Austin area.

 

"Roller Skates" by Chad Kainz is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Whether you prefer indoors or out, close to the rail or out on the ice, Austin has plenty of places to get your skate on. Head to these spots for the most fun on four wheels:  

INDOORS  

Austin Roller Rink - This rink located behind Cafe 1626 offers skating and arcade games during the summer from noon until 4pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 1-5pm on Sundays. Thursdays from 3-8pm is Family Night with $5 skate rental. Older kids might enjoy spending Fridays and Saturdays at the Rink from 7-11pm. Adult skate night (which is BYOB) is on Wednesdays from 7-10pm and skate rental is $5.

 Austin Sports Arena - This multi-sport facility offers roller skating on Wednesdays from noon until 3pm, Fridays from 6-10pm, Saturdays from noon until 4pm and 5-9pm and Sundays from 4-6pm. Fridays from 5-6pm and Saturdays from noon until 1pm, ASA also offers skating lessons.

 Chaparral Ice - If you prefer your skating on ice, head on over to this rink during public skating hours. On Mondays until Thursdays, public skating lasts from 10am until 5pm. On Fridays, you can skate from 10-11:30am and then from 1-5pm and on Saturdays and Sundays, public skating hours go from noon until 4pm. On a few Friday nights later in the summer, you can skate from 6:30 until 9:30pm. Chaparral Ice also offers skating lessons and camps. Admission costs $6 and skate rental is $4 (kids 5 and under skate for $5 on Saturday and Sundays, including skate rental, and free in the afternoons during the week with paid admission). Free skating lessons are available on Saturdays at noon for beginners ages 6 and up (you still need to pay admission and skate rental). Group rates are also available.  

Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex - The MYEC offers roller skating on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-6pm, Fridays from 10-11am and Saturdays from 11:30am until 10:30pm. Adults are $4, kids are $3, skate rental is 50¢ and the fee for observers is 99¢. Fridays are Family Fun Days, with $3 for adults, children and observers (including skate rental). For groups of 10 or more, admission plus skate rental is $3.50 and for groups of 75 or more, the fee is $3 per person. The MYEC also offers adults only nights. The Complex also offers bowling, an arcade, movies and a food court. Call (512) 472-6932 to confirm skating times and for more information.  

Playland Skate Center - Open since 1973, this 27,500 square foot facility has been a crowd pleaser for Austinites for generations. Open from noon until 6pm Monday through Friday during the summer, Playland also offers Family SK8 Night on Thursdays in June and July from 7-9:30pm for $5 admission and skate rental (regular price is $8). Playland is also hosting a Lock-In on June 20th with fun, games and prizes. Playland offers "Skate Mate" rentals (which look like a walker and help new skaters with balance) and admission to a large playscape in the back for an additional fee. Lastly, Tuesday nights are adult only hours, starting at 7:30pm (MNO, anyone?) Playland also has arcade games and a snack bar.

 OUTDOORS  

Austin BMX & Skate Park - It's rare to drive by this skate park, close to Shoal Creek and House Park, without seeing it bustling with activity. The park is open from dawn until dusk, and during the summer it's great to get there as early as possible to avoid the heat. The bowl and various ramps are designed for all skill levels. FREE.

Benbrook Ranch Park - This park, which opened in 2008, offers soccer and softball fields, trails, a disc golf course, a playscape and a skate park. FREE.

Mabel Davis District Park - Opened in 2005, this popular 12,000-square foot skate park was the first to open in Austin. There is a playground, trails, basketball courts, picnic areas and a pool nearby. FREE.

 Northeast Metro Park - Located in Pflugerville, this park has soccer and baseball fields, multiple playgrounds and a skate/BMX park which opened in 2012. The skate/BMX park is located the furthest back from the road, and is open from 8am until 10pm. There is a water play area closeby. FREE.  

Patterson Park Miniramp - Patterson Park has a miniramp right next to one of the parking lots. There is also a shady playground and neighborhood pool nearby. FREE.  

Shayla Dame Skate Park - This 14,000-square foot skate park is located behind the Clay Madsen Rec Center in Round Rock. The park is open from 6am until 11pm daily. FREE.  

Veloway - The Veloway is 3.1-mile paved concrete loop exclusively for bicycles and rollerblading. There is also a secondary one-mile loop available by taking a right next to the entrance. No foot traffic is allowed. The loop is open from dawn to dusk. FREE.  

What's your favorite place to skate in Austin?

About the author: Nicole Basham is a native Austinite and soccer-playing mom, Nicole uses her 8-year-old son as an excuse to rediscover her hometown through his eyes. In Thoreau's words, her mission is to "suck out all the marrow of life", or in her son's words, to cultivate in him a love of "advenchers".

5 Tips for Your Next Trip to Thinkery ~ #101PreschoolDates

I have 10 weeks left with my 4 year old until the big kids come home for the summer.  And you know what happened next fall? My baby goes to kindergarten.  So in an effort to make some memories with him, I am instituting #101PreschoolDates  Follow along as we count down this list and find some really cool places in the Austin area to take your preschoolers! 

5 Tips for Your Next Trip to Thinkery

1. Afternoons are the Best!  If you can, go to Thinkery on a weekday, just after lunch time.  Why??  Because it's NAP time!  And if your little dude or dudette is past the napping stage, this is a great time to be there.  We didn't have to wait for anything and at times, felt like we had the museum to ourselves. 

2. Bring Extra Clothes! The upstairs water room and outside garden stream are SO much fun.  And no matter if you put the rain gear the museum provide you on, there is a strong chance your child's clothing will get wet.  Just be prepared for it and let them enjoy it. Where else can you play London Bridge with water?

3. Let them decide how long they want to play. We arrived at Thinkery at 11 am, among 3 - 4 field trips and lots of little ones.  We ping-ponged around until lunchtime, never really staying in one area due to the crowds. After lunch, we headed straight to the Dark Room and proceeded to remain there for the next hour.  You see, the boys thought the Shadow Room was the BOMB.  And they wanted to play over and over and over - you could hear their giggles all the way to the front of the museum. Who am I to stop that fun?  Nope.  I watched and giggled along myself. 

4. Bring a Sack Lunch.  Thinkery has an indoor lunch spot with tables and chairs to eat a lunch at.  And they just brought in a Food Truck - Snap! - for you to get lunch at!!  If the weather is nice, you can eat at the park across the street.  Make sure to talk to the check in folks before leaving so they can rather give you a stamp to come back in after lunch.

5. Talk to the Employees.  My son is not shy.  And doesn't hesitate to ask for help.  So when Mom could;t help building in the main room, he asked the nearest employee, Charles.  Not only did Charles help him build a track on the wall, he continue to hale them build and play for another 20.  Yet another perk of being there in the afternoon - time to play with the "pros". 

My son loves Thinkery - I imagine we will try to get another visit in before school is out for the summer.  

Follow along all our dates on our social media channels with the #101Preschool Dates.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
101 Things to Do with a Preschooler in Austin
Pet Sounds at Laguna Gloria & Mayfield Park

Fun Events at Safari Champ
Blanton Art Museum & Whole Foods Picnic
A Free Fun in Austin Day
Katherine Fleischer Park

Safari Champ Special Events ~ #101PreschoolDates

I have 10 weeks left with my 4 year old until the big kids come home for the summer.  And you know what happened next fall? My baby goes to kindergarten.  So in an effort to make some memories with him, I am instituting #101PreschoolDates  Follow along as we count down this list and find some really cool places in the Austin area to take your preschoolers! 

Safari Champ in Round Rock

Being that I blog about Round Rock (www.roundtherocktx.com), I tend to stay up here a lot - truthfully, there is really a lot to do with kids in Round Rock. And one of my favorite places to go - especially on bad weather days, is Safari Champ.

Safari Champ is an indoor play ground that also has great seating, snacks, coffee and FREE WiFi.  (Do you know how awesome that is?) My 4 year old loves to come here because the playscape is massive - like adults can get lost massive.  It's clean, reasonable and a great place for a playdate.

But what's even cooler?  Safari Champ bring in a ton of outside people that bring art, food, and great shows!

Once a month, Austin Reptile visits Safari Champ and brings in the most fun critters.  Well, fun for boys. Brave boys.  Not necessarily my boy.

Anyways, Mike with Austin Reptile is passionate and knowledgeable and you could tell, he really liked his job.  Most of the reptiles he brought, he would walk around and let the kids touch them, while teaching them so pretty amazing facts.  I found him fascinating, and so did my 4 year old. He would be GREAT for a birthday party!

Each week, Safari Champ hosts special events - from concerts with Stacy Grey to kids yoga classes to petting zoos.  They do a great job of finding what interests little ones.  Going to Safari Champ just to play is enough for my guy, but it's also really cool to try another activity while you are there.  

Check out all their weekly and upcoming activities here.

Follow along all our dates on our social media channels with the #101Preschool Dates.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
101 Things to Do with a Preschooler in Austin
Pet Sounds at Laguna Gloria & Mayfield Park
5 Tips for Your Next Trip to Thinkery
Blanton Art Museum & Whole Foods Picnic
A Free Fun in Austin Day

Katherine Fleischer Park

10 NEW Things to Love at Austin's Park n' Pizza ~ Austin, TX

Austin's Park n' Pizza turns 10 this year and have spent the last year upgrading & renovating the park.  My family & I were recently invited to see all the changes & improvements, so I thought it would be fun to show you as well.

Here are 10 NEW Things to LOVE at Austin's Park n' Pizza

1.  3 New rides especially tailored to little ones.  Indoors, they have added Swings in the Park.  And outdoors it's the Crazy Fire Chief & Samba Balloons.

2. Tie Die Party.  How adorable is this?? Kids can create their own tie-died shirt at the party to take home!

3. All new Prize &Video Games inside - including game card systems to keep track of your points.

4. New Slick Track Go Carts.

5. Amazing Salad Bar.  Look at this gorgeous salad bar that they offer - YUM!

6. The Fiesta Roller Coaster.  Yes!!  They have a roller coaster now for little ones!

7. Laser Tag for all Ages.  Even my 4 year old can play laser tag now!

8. Gluten-free Pizza. Not only has Austin's Park n' Pizza worked hard to improve their pizza, with every ingredient made in house, they now offer gluten-free pizza for those who ask.

9. Fresh, new feel to the whole place.  With new carpeting, revamped audio/visual systems and more, the whole park feels new - not 10 years old!

10. Austin's Park n' Pizza was recently named the Top Family Entertainment Center in the World/North America at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo Brass  Ring Awards in November 2013.

Austin's Park n' Pizza is a fun place to take your family for the day.  The food is great, the entertainment is reasonably priced- with the unlimited pass, you can try almost everything - and there is a great, family atmosphere. I love that we have this fun entertainment center available to us here in the Austin area.

Texas Travel Facts for Austin's Park n' Pizza:

Location: 1623 IH-35 Pflugerville, Texas

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

             Friday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm                            

             Saturday: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

             Sunday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm   

Admission: Various prices depending on the activities           

Recommended Time: 2-4 hours 

Good to know: Admission is good for all day; busy weekends; bring sunblock for outdoor activities; stroller friendly

Website:http://austinspark.com

Austin's Park n' Pizza invited my family to see all the attractions and improvements.  All opinions are my own. 

The Thinkery ~ Austin, TX {Grand Opening December 7 & 8, 2013}

I am a BIG fan of Children's Museums and was thrilled to have a preview of the Thinkery, Austin's Children's Museum in a new location recently.

Opening December 7 & 8 at Mueller, the new museum is really well-done.  The thing that they have done best at the new location is providing more hands-on activities for older kids.  My youngest is 4 and loved to spend time at the downtown location, but the older kids were easily bored.  Not here.  We could have spent hours.

As you walk in, there is a huge room filled with activities for all ages.  From construction, to light-board switches, to flying pigs and painting on windows - it is visually stimulating and draws you immediately in.  I really enjoyed sitting down on the bench and watching them play.  But it wasn't long before Mom & Dad got in the on action too.

We found so many cool & new things to play with here.  My children really enjoyed making all sorts of figures out of hot wax (don't worry - it cools before you get to touch it). And my oldest son had a blast making all types of aircraft and then watching them take flight!

I really don't want to give the whole museum away by posting too much info here - but let's just say there was more than enough to play with.  Make sure you check out the water room upstairs - you can make sore pretty cool music there!

I love that the baby area was expanded with lots of fun crawling spaces. I really enjoyed that area of the old museum, so I wad happy to see they kept the concept here.  This would have been a favorite of mine if I still had an infant.

And they have a gorgeous new story time area as well.  Can't wait to see what fun programs are performed up here. Right down the hall is there Kitchen area where they will have fun experiments going on.  We made ice tunnels out of big blocks of ice and salt while we were visiting.

And I am so in love with this amazing climbing structure. My youngest wanted to spend all day playing on this one.  They also have a fun water area out here as well.  I can imagine all the sunny day smiles that will fill this area over the years!

Well done Thinkery!  It's a fantastic addition for the Central Texas area.  Check out all they offer online as well - they have sleepovers, camps, and upcoming Gingerbread House Workshops!

Texas Travel Facts for Thinkery:

Location: 1830 Simond Ave, Austin, Texas

Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

             Community Night Wednesdays: 5:00 - 8:00 pm             

              Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Sunday 5-6 pm free admission)

Admission: Adults & Children (2 & up): $9.00

                    Children (10-24 months): Free

Recommended Time: 2 -3 hours 

Good to know: Admission is good for all day; Children must be accompanied with an adult and supervised at all times; stroller friendly; school groups visit during the Spring & Fall; all exhibits are routinely cleaned; amazing playground across the street - perfect for a picnic

Website:http://thinkeryaustin.org

My family and I were invited to visit the museum and were provided admission. I was not financially compensated for this post.  All opinions of Thinkery are strictly my own based on my experience.