Birthday parties are fun; chaotic; and exhausting.
For my son’s fifth birthday, we threw our first “real,” non-family party with six of his friends at a mini-golf course. So much planning and purchasing went into that 1.5-hour event that for next time, I’m considering a day trip to a nearby town instead of a party.
With so many options to explore close to Austin, a day trip is a great alternative to a birthday party that is still a fun celebration minus all the stress of planning.
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A day trip also keeps the emphasis on the experience and the memories, rather than the gifts and material items. When my kids are older, they probably won’t remember any of the presents they received on their birthdays, but they might remember that we planned a whole day for them, and they got to go somewhere extra special and spend quality time with their family.
Here are nine day trips you can take around Austin to celebrate your kid’s birthday without a party.
Wimberley Day Trips
- Start the day by hiking up 218 stairs at Old Baldy (also known as Prayer Mountain) to take in some Hill Country views.
- Cool off at the picturesque Blue Hole swimming hole (advance reservations required), Jacob’s Well Natural Area, or Cypress Falls Swimming Hole.
- For meals, my personal favorite is Community Pizza, which has a large patio, fun playscape, and delicious pizza. Other options: The Shady Llama, a family-friendly bar with an on-site food truck and friendly llamas and donkeys that may greet you, and The Leaning Pear.
- For dessert, stroll through the charming town square to the Wooden Spoon for some birthday frozen yogurt that you can eat on the banks of Cypress Creek.
New Braunfels Day Trips
- Get a sweet treat to start the day at the oldest bakery in Texas, Naegelin’s German Bakery.
- Fischer Park offers hours of fun, with playgrounds, a splash pad, fishing ponds, and the Nature Education Center. Or check out Landa Park and ride the miniature train, take out a paddle boat, or play mini golf.
- Visit the McKenna Children’s Museum, where kids can engage in creative and imaginative play; there’s also an outdoor water area.
- End the day with a birthday meal at the Gristmill, which overlooks the Guadalupe River, or catch a show at the Stars and Stripes Drive-In Theater.
San Marcos Day Trips
- Get a legendary (and enormous) Manske Roll, a twist on a cinnamon roll, at the Manske Roll Bakery.
- The Children’s Park, a unique, inclusive playground that looks like an enormous wooden castle, is full of places to climb, hide, swing, and explore.
- Check out the ancient earthquake cave at Wonder World, a natural theme park.
- Take a glass-bottom boat tour on Spring Lake with the Meadows Center.
- Hungry birthday kids will have fun at the Red Bus Food Park, which has an actual 40-foot bus you can eat in, as well as an outdoor dining area.
Waco Day Trips
- Book a private tour to meet the animals at the beautiful Blue Hills Ranch, a 150-acre animal sanctuary.
- The Cameron Park Zoo is another fun place to see animals, and there’s also a playground and splash pad.
- The Mayborn Museum Complex has natural history and science exhibits, 17 themed kids discovery rooms for hands-on fun, and an outdoor historic village.
- Make your own soda at the Dr. Pepper Museum.
- End the day with a birthday cupcake from Silos Baking Co. and some lawn games on the turf at Magnolia Silos. (FYI, it’s closed on Sundays.)
Georgetown Day Trips
- Garey Park is my favorite park in Georgetown; it has an amazing playground and splash pad, as well 525 acres of nature to explore.
- Go wading or swimming at scenic Blue Hole Park.
- Sweet Eats Fruit Farm has a long list of activities like fruit picking, zip lines, a petting zoo, jump pads, pony rides, and slingshots.
- Venture out to the Inner Space Cavern, one of the best preserved caves in Texas.
Dripping Springs Day Trips
- Reserve the “Walk Through the Grotto” experience at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center to see a stunning 40-foot waterfall and beautiful grotto pool area.
- At Reimers Ranch, go for a hike, do some rock climbing, or soak up the sun on the beach next to the Pedernales River.
- Play mini-golf, enjoy the playscape, or cool off at the splash pad at Dreamland, a huge outdoor entertainment venue that also serves food and drinks.
- Head to a kid-friendly brewery like Fitzhugh Brewing, 12 Fox Beer Co., Ghost Note Brewing, or Family Business Beer Co., which all have playscapes.
San Antonio Day Trips
- The DoSeum has 68,000 square feet of interactive fun, including a large outdoor area. Learn about science and art, tinker and build, and engage in pretend play. There’s a traveling exhibit for all ages on display now called “Uniquely Us: Understanding Race and Building Unity.”
- The San Antonio Zoo is home to over 750 species; there’s also a carousel and train. On the grounds of the zoo is the Kiddie Park, the oldest children’s amusement park in the country.
- Take a cavern tour 180 feet below the ground at Natural Bridge Caverns, or check out thrills on the surface on their adventure ropes courses (including a course for little ones under four feet tall), climbing walls, and zip lines.
- Morgan’s Wonderland is an ultra-accessible family fun park for all ages and abilities.
- Explore the Riverwalk by boat on a Go Rio Cruise.
- Other attractions: the Botanical Garden, the Witte Museum, Hemisfair Park, and the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. And of course, we can’t forget the Alamo.
Johnson City Day Trips
- The Science Mill is an impressive science museum with hands-on fun for all ages, including a big backyard with a 30-foot robotic hand and African Spurred Tortoises.
- Go back in time to the early 1900s at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park.
- Meet some critters at the Exotic Resort Zoo, which offers a drive-through experience or a guided safari tour.
- Hike the trails or wade in the river at Pedernales Falls State Park.
Spicewood & Marble Falls Day Trips
- Take a dip in refreshing Krause Springs.
- Visit Sweet Berry Farm for flower and strawberry picking (spring/summer) and the pumpkin patch (fall).
- Pace Bend Park has shallow beaches and swimming coves perfect for kids.
- Longhorn Cavern State Park is a spectacular cave 30 minutes from Spicewood; it also has a historic lookout tower.
- Opie’s is a great spot for barbecue fans.
- Check out Frontyard Brewing, a super family-friendly spot with a great lawn, good beer, and food trucks with kid-friendly options.
