Older kids want to know whether they’ll love it here, too. Austin makes a good case: water sports in the middle of downtown, live music, a pro soccer team, great hikes and swimming holes, and some of the best food in Texas. Here’s how to spend a weekend that gives the whole family a real feel for the city, plus the neighborhoods worth touring for school-age kids.
Downtown & Lady Bird Lake
The heart of the city, with the lake, the Capitol and the University of Texas all close together.
Rent a kayak or paddleboard from one of the boathouses along the shore and paddle past the downtown skyline. Then walk or bike part of the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
Prefer to sit back? Rent a small electric boat and cruise Lady Bird Lake together. Retro Boat Rentals has restored 1950s and ’60s boats at the Waller Creek Boathouse that are as easy to drive as a golf cart. The driver must be 21 or older.
Tour the Capitol (it’s taller than the U.S. Capitol, and the tours are free), then walk up Congress Avenue to the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Walk the Forty Acres, see the UT Tower, and if there’s a home game, catch the game-day atmosphere.
From spring through fall, more than a million bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset. Watch from the bridge, the lakeside lawn, or a boat tour.
South Austin & Zilker
Austin’s favorite park, a spring-fed pool and South Congress.
Swim in the spring-fed pool, then hike or mountain-bike the Greenbelt. After rain, swimming holes like Twin Falls fill up.
Ride the little train on its loop through Zilker Park, along Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake. It’s a quick, fun way to see the park, and a nostalgic one for parents. It runs Friday through Tuesday, so check the schedule.
A classic since 1948, right on Barton Springs Road. Go in the evening when it’s cooler.
A nine-hole, par-3 course in Butler Park, a few minutes from Zilker, with holes short enough for beginners and a laid-back crowd. Rent clubs on site and book a tee time ahead on weekends.
Browse the boots, vintage shops and murals on South Congress, then grab New York–style pizza by the slice.
North Austin
Pro sports, rock climbing and The Domain.
Major League Soccer with one of the loudest crowds in the league. The season runs from late February into the fall.
Huge indoor climbing gyms with routes for beginners, and gear to rent. A great rainy-day or hot-day activity.
Shopping, restaurants and Rock Rose Avenue’s evening scene in one walkable district.
Hill Country day trip
The scenery that makes Austin special is 30 to 60 minutes away.
A short climb to one of the best views in Austin, looking over Lake Austin and the Pennybacker Bridge. Go for sunset.
Waterfalls, swimming and hiking just inside the city limits. Day passes can sell out, so reserve ahead.
A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall. Reservations are required every day of the year, and swimming depends on water quality, so check before you go.
Rent a boat for the day, or end the afternoon with sunset over the lake at The Oasis.
Neighborhoods to drive through
While you’re here, tour a few neighborhoods that are popular with families with tweens and teenagers. Each link has homes for sale, schools and a market snapshot.
- West Lake Hills: Home to Eanes ISD and Westlake High, one of the top-rated public high schools in Texas.
- Davenport Ranch: A Westlake-area community in Eanes ISD with larger homes, hill views and a neighborhood pool.
- Tarrytown: Central Austin near Lake Austin, with easy access to Downtown, UT and private schools.
- Northwest Hills: Established, hilly neighborhood in Austin ISD, near the Anderson High feeder pattern and The Domain.
- Circle C Ranch: Trails, pools and the Bowie High School feeder pattern in southwest Austin.
- Steiner Ranch: A master-planned community above Lake Travis, served by Leander ISD’s Vandegrift High.
- Avery Ranch: A golf-course community, mostly in Round Rock ISD, with newer homes and lots of activities for teens.
Tips for your visit
- If schools matter most, tour the campuses, not just the neighborhoods. High school feeder patterns are on my school district pages.
- Ask your teen to pick one activity for the weekend. It’s the best way to find out what they’d love about living here.
- Plan swimming holes and hikes for the morning, and check water levels and reservations before you go.
Questions people ask
What is there to do in Austin with teenagers?
Teens love paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, swimming at Barton Springs, watching the Congress Avenue bats, hiking the Barton Creek Greenbelt, rock climbing, and going to an Austin FC game. South Congress and The Domain are favorite places to shop and eat.
Where are the best public high schools in the Austin area?
Eanes ISD (Westlake High) is consistently among the top-rated districts in Texas. Leander ISD, Round Rock ISD and Lake Travis ISD are also highly rated, and Austin ISD has strong campuses like Austin High, Anderson and Bowie. Ratings change, so compare the latest scores for the specific campus.
Is Austin a good place to raise teenagers?
Many families think so: there’s a lot to do outdoors year-round, plenty of sports, music and arts programs, and strong school options. Traffic and housing costs are the main trade-offs, so where you live matters.
Visiting to see if Austin is right for you?
I’m happy to plan a neighborhood tour around your visit and show you homes that fit how you want to live. Call or text Chris at (512) 387-2708, or send me a message. See also Moving to Austin.
More Visit Austin guides: Austin with Young Kids · Austin for Couples
Hours, seasons and reservation rules change. Check with each place before you go. Updated November 2026.