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Splash Shack Indoor Water Park Provides Refreshing Spot for Families All Year

August 14, 2020 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Splash Shack Water Park Play Structure
Splash Shack in Cedar Park is an indoor oasis of watery fun

Whenever people talk about summer in Austin, water activities are always recommended. Dipping in Barton Springs, a trip to Hamilton Pool, floating the river. All fantastic ways to beat three straight months of 100-degree heat.

But what if you don’t even want to be outside? Regardless of your water activity of choice, the blazing sun can turn the coolest of pools into bath water, and fry skin to a crisp. And forget it if you have little ones. Spending any amount of time in broiling temperatures can be downright dangerous. What’s a parent to do?

Cedar Park’s micro indoor water park may be the perfect solution. Allow me to introduce you to Splash Shack, a family-focused waterscape and play area, designed with big and little kids in mind. All without reliance on greasy sunscreen or suffering through triple-digit temps.

And, more good news: Splash Shack is open year-round. So when the heat has passed and it’s actually a bit cool to swim outside, you can find swimming fun right here, every month of the year.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Activities, Discoveries Tagged With: cedar park, family friendly

Rosedale Kitchen and Bar Designs Menu to Satisfy Your Whole Group

September 2, 2019 by Krista Hager Leave a Comment

Happy Hour Dishes at Rosedale Kitchen and Bar in Austin
Feast for the tastebuds at Rosedale Kitchen and Bar (Credit: Elizabeth Van Huffel) 

It can take hours for everyone in a group text to agree on where to eat. Diverse tastes, allergies, lifestyles, and ages are all factors. You need a place chic enough for young professionals, but relaxed enough for squiggly families; healthy enough for fit friends, but tasty enough for the foodie in the group. Friends, you are in luck. I’ve found your next hangout and it is just right: Rosedale Kitchen and Bar.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: family friendly, happy hour, north austin

The Adderley School for the Performing Arts Guides Youth to Find Their Voice

June 25, 2019 by Krista Hager Leave a Comment

Students of The Adderley School
Students of The Adderley School (Credit: Roberto Liera)

Founded in 1993, The Adderley School for the Performing Arts operates in both Texas and California. Janet Adderley, founder and veteran of Broadway and television, calls Austin her home.

Since the school’s inception, thousands of children across all age groups have found a passion for musical theater. On stage, they gain confidence in their voice and movement.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Et Cetera, Non-Profits, Theatre Tagged With: family friendly

Kite-flying, Music, Food, Philanthropy to Soar at 90th ABC Kite Fest

March 25, 2019 by Krista Hager Leave a Comment

ABC Kite Fest photo credit Ben Porter Photography
ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Park (Credit: Ben Porter Photography)

Let’s go fly a kite at the 90th ABC Kite Fest on March 31, 2019! Whimsical freedom whooshes through the air as tangled colors dance in the wind. Heads are cocked up at the splendiferous Austin skyline, while live music pumps throughout the friendly ambiance.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events Tagged With: family friendly, zilker park

Heartsong Music Bridges Generational Gap With the Joy of Song

February 13, 2019 by Krista Hager Leave a Comment

Heartsong Generations Class in Austin

Bridging generational gaps and sharing joy through music

In the Live Music Capital, I found a treasure trove of serendipitous music with poetic purpose unlike anything I had heard before. The note I heard struck a chord so unique, tears brimmed in my eyes as I clapped, danced, and sang along. Where did this beautiful sound come from? It emerged from a place appropriately named Heartsong Music, which brings not just families together, but our oldest and youngest generations.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Activities, Discoveries Tagged With: family friendly

Newbie’s Guide to Westlake Area Restaurants for Families

January 11, 2019 by Guest Blogger 1 Comment

Family-friendly Restaurants in Westlake Austin

Jack Allen’s Kitchen is one of the best family-friendly restaurants in the Westlake area of Austin (Credit: Kenny Braun)

Guest article by Mandy Heintzelman Smith

When my husband and I visited Austin from Los Angeles to look at homes before our move, we searched for a neighborhood close to downtown. At the same time, we wanted a big back yard and an amazing school district. When we found our beautiful, old home in Westlake, we knew we were in the right neighborhood for our young family. The bonus surprise is how much we enjoy Westlake’s local restaurants. Here’s a newbie’s guide to our favorite Austin-based restaurants for families in the Westlake area. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: family friendly

Support Austin’s Youngest Entrepreneurs on Lemonade Day Austin

May 6, 2016 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments

Lemonade Day Austin

Credit: Chelsea Wilmot Photography

Guest article by Kyle Rea

If there’s a greater feeling than drinking cold lemonade on a hot day, maybe it’s drinking cold lemonade that has been crafted by the tiny hands we all love.

Picture this. You’re walking through Pease Park, reminiscing about last weekend’s birthday bash for Eeyore, when you spot three children behind a lemonade stand. One in a Spider-Man costume, one in a Wonder Woman costume and one in a Hulk costume. As you order a glass of their homemade lemonade, you realize you’ve just met three of Austin’s youngest entrepreneurs.

Get ready to find yourself in this situation on May 7, 2016: Lemonade Day Austin. Anywhere you go, you may see a lemonade stand run by a child or group of young friends who are not only looking to make some money for themselves, but also to donate to the charity of their choosing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events Tagged With: family friendly

Dads Do Playgroups, Too

February 28, 2012 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

SAHD's Do Playgroups Too

By Austin Guest Blogger, Momma’s Bacon

“Kids spell love T-I-M-E.”
-John Crudele

If you follow my Momma’s Bacon blog you will know we are one of the many Austin families with a Stay At Home Dad (SAHD). What you might not know is that Austin has an active SAHD community through the Austin SAHD Yahoo Group with lots of supportive play dates and a monthly dad’s night out for its 200 (and growing!) members.

In fact, I am the proud spouse of the current Duke of Dad’s Night Out who currently spends a portion of his limited free time carefully selecting a monthly fantastic local watering hole with equally yummy food for their Austin SAHDs meet-ups.  My husband meticulously plans these monthly locales alternating between north, south and central Austin locations with this month’s location held at Red’s Porch in south.  How I love living in a city that takes such an important role of any parent who chooses to play an active role as primary caregiver seriously!  All stay at home parents deserve a monthly, heck weekly, night out with their buddies regardless of [Read more…]

Filed Under: Activities Tagged With: family friendly, guest blog

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