Slaughter Creek Trail

Great hiking and biking trail for older kids, especially if they’re into dirt biking

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Features

Family-Friendly Features


Parking lot
Splash pad
Playground
Water fountain
Fenced-in play area
Benches
Restrooms
🤷
Reservable areas
Changing table
🤷
Shade/covered areas
😀
Stroller-friendly path(s)
Toddler playground
😀
Easy walks/hikes
Toddler swings
Picnic tables
Swings
Swimming pool

Park Features


😀
Walking/hiking paths
Volleyball net
😀
Paved paths
Disc golf
😀
Bike trails
Rock climbing
😀
Scenic/photo areas
Sandbox
😀
Wildflowers
Lap pool
😀
Grills
Wading pool
😀
Off-leash dog areas
Water playscape
Basketball court
On-duty lifeguard
Baseball diamond
😀
Natural water areas
Soccer field
Boat rentals
Tennis court
Fishing

Family-friendliness Score:

Our Rating

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

Community Rating

We haven’t had a chance to review Slaughter Creek Trail yet. Have you been? Please share your rating with the Family Trip Tips Community!

BABY-FRIENDLY
0
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
0
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
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OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
0
UNIQUE ASPECTS
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Average
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How We Rate

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About Slaughter Creek Trail

Summary

If you’re looking for a trail that’s great for young kids, this probably isn’t it. This is a popular biking loop so we’d only recommend carrying the kids or bringing them when they’re old enough to avoid bicyclists whizzing by or old enough to join in. With the mostly flat terrain and big (5-mile) loop, this is a nice trail away from traffic and noise and in nature.

Bottom Line, Should You Take The Kids To Slaughter Creek Trail?

Govalle Neighborhood Park

Newly built lap and shallow pools with shade, playground and fields

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Photos of Govalle Neighborhood Park coming soon

Features

Family-Friendly Features


😀
Parking lot
Splash pad
😀
Playground
😀
Water fountain
😀
Fenced-in play area
😀
Benches
😀
Restrooms
🤷
Reservable areas
😀
Changing table
😀
Shade/covered areas
😀
Stroller-friendly path(s)
😀
Toddler playground
😀
Easy walks/hikes
😀
Toddler swings
😀
Picnic tables
😀
Swings
😀
Swimming pool

Park Features


😀
Walking/hiking paths
Volleyball net
😀
Paved paths
Disc golf
😀
Bike trails
Rock climbing
😀
Scenic/photo areas
Sandbox
😀
Wildflowers
😀
Lap pool
😀
Grills
😀
Wading pool
Off-leash dog areas
🤷
Water playscape
😀
Basketball court
😀
On-duty lifeguard
😀
Baseball diamond
Natural water areas
😀
Soccer field
Boat rentals
Tennis court
🤷
Fishing

Family-friendliness Score:

Our Rating

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

Community Rating

Have you been? Please share your rating with the Family Trip Tips Community!
BABY-FRIENDLY
0
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
0
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
0
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
0
UNIQUE ASPECTS
0
Average
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How We Rate

Learn more about how we rate the family-friendliness of locations (Opens in a new tab).

About Govalle Neighborhood Park

Summary

This neighborhood park is accessible from the Southern Walnut Creek hike and bike trail, making it easy to get to from even distant parts of Austin.

The new pools are a big draw for this small park. While the playground itself is not fenced in, the pools of course are. Construction on the new restrooms was not complete when we visited but they look nice from the outside and are said to have nice places to change.

What Can Babies Do At Govalle Neighborhood Park?

For babies there are baby swings and there is plenty of nice, shady and grassy spots to spread a blanket and crawl around.

Many babies will no doubt enjoy the shallow pool as well, especially as it begins at no depth and gently slopes until it reaches a max depth of only 2 feet 6 inches. The shade at the pools will also be quite welcome by many parents.

What Can Toddlers Do At Govalle Neighborhood Park?

The playground is great for toddlers and has several slides, plenty of things to climb, a bridge and a mostly gravel surface.

There is a shallow pool for the young kiddos that begins with a gentle slope into the water until it reaches a max depth of 2 feet 6 inches. The other pool, which is next to the kid’s pool, looks like it begins at 5 feet and reaches 7 feet at the deep end.

What Can Older Kids Do At Govalle Neighborhood Park?

The playscapes themselves are pretty much catered to toddlers but older kids will likely still enjoy climbing on them.

Where the park really shines is with the pool, basketball court and the fields along with the bike trails away from cars.

Bottom Line, Should You Take The Kids To Govalle Neighborhood Park?

If you’re looking for a small playground, fields to play on, live in the area, or want to go to a nice pool, this is a hard to beat neighborhood park. The pools were not finished at the time of our initial visit but we’ll be sure to go back as the park is on the bike path we frequently ride. Even without being complete, the pools both look like they’ll be fantastic – and there will even be some shade in the pools during the hottest times of day.

Williamson Creek Greenbelt East

Explore the heavily wooded greenbelt along Williamson Creek in South Austin

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Photos

Photos of Williamson Creek Greenbelt East coming soon

Features

Family-Friendly Features


Parking lot
Splash pad
Playground
Water fountain
Fenced-in play area
🤷
Benches
Restrooms
Reservable areas
Changing table
😀
Shade/covered areas
Stroller-friendly path(s)
Toddler playground
😀
Easy walks/hikes
Toddler swings
🤷
Picnic tables
Swings
Swimming pool

Park Features


😀
Walking/hiking paths
Volleyball net
Paved paths
Disc golf
😀
Bike trails
🤷
Rock climbing
😀
Scenic/photo areas
Sandbox
😀
Wildflowers
Lap pool
Grills
Wading pool
🤷
Off-leash dog areas
Water playscape
Basketball court
On-duty lifeguard
Baseball diamond
😀
Natural water areas
Soccer field
Boat rentals
Tennis court
😀
Fishing

Family-friendliness Score:

Our Rating

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

Community Rating

We haven’t had a chance to review Williamson Creek Greenbelt East yet. Have you been? Please share your rating with the Family Trip Tips Community!

BABY-FRIENDLY
0
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
0
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
0
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
0
UNIQUE ASPECTS
0
Average
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How We Rate

Learn more about how we rate the family-friendliness of locations (Opens in a new tab).

About Williamson Creek Greenbelt East

Summary

If you like heavily wooded hiking trails along a creek bed, this is a good park to checkout. There aren’t a lot of family-friendly amenities to speak of but plenty of wide open places to run around.

Bottom Line, Should You Take The Kids To Williamson Creek Greenbelt East?

There are a lot of options when it comes to looking for great places to take the kids. While Williamson Creek Greenbelt offers a lot of natural sites and sounds, we feel there are many parks and destinations you should consider going to before heading to this location.

Mueller Lake Park & Playground

Popular, convenient, and big park in the heart of Mueller District

4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723

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Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Summary

Let’s face it, if you have kids, you probably know about the Mueller neighborhood in Central Austin. The parks and trails alone are reasons enough to visit with your kids and family. Mueller has multiple parks, open space, and trails that interconnect within the community. 

Sitting at the center of Mueller is the Mueller Lake Park. Sitting on 30 acres, the park site includes the Mueller Center information, Mueller Lake, amphitheater and stage, picnic tables, loop trails, and of course the interactive playscape. Today’s article will be focused on just the playground.

(*we’ll be publishing multiple articles to cover Mueller so please come back in the future!)

How to get there

Map

Where to Park

You do have several options for parking in close proximity to the playground: parking lot, parking garage, and street parking. However, as the Mueller community continues to grow, it’s getting more difficult to find a spot easily but also depends on when you go.

There is a dedicated parking lot right next to the playground; however, it’s relatively small and fills up quickly. While there is also street parking surrounding the playground, be aware of street signs that are either 1) paid parking spots or 2) reserved for those with a residential pass. There are a few spots through-out Mueller that is still free to park; however, you’ll most likely have to walk a further distance. And if you are in a hurry and don’t mind paying, there’s always the McBee Parking Garage located by the Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater and the Thinkery Museum.

Playground Area Amenities at Mueller Park

Depending on which direction you’re coming from, you’ll be first greeted by a lovely, mystical statue of Nessie outside the main entrance to the playground. The playground area is entirely gated and there are 3 entrances; however, be mindful that some people don’t close the gate behind them and the gates are sometimes left open – it doesn’t automatically shut. And while there isn’t a large tarp covering the playground area, you’ll find plenty of shade due to multiple trees and the flooring is a mix of mostly mulch and pavement. The playground area overall is big but small enough to keep your eyes on your kids playing even if they are on opposite sides. Other playground features include multiple picnic tables, benches, two playground structures: one built for toddlers and a second one designed for older kids, baby swings, larger swings, a merry-go-round (however, it’s not a traditional merry-go-round and was a little tough to push to get momentum), and a bathroom on-site, water fountains, and trash cans.

Toddler Playground

One of our favorite things about this playground is that it’s very toddler-friendly! Our 2 year old really enjoyed coming here. The very first thing he wanted to try was the larger, circular swings. While not completely unique to this playground, you won’t find this is every playground park. 

The toddler-size playground features 1 slide, a set of stairs with interactive activities along the walls, a small hammock-like plastic swing, and a large climbing rope structure. The park does feature 2 baby/toddler swings next to 2 larger swings. 

Larger Playground

The larger playground features 2 slides (one is metal – so I would test it before letting your kid slide down – at least if the big Texas sun is blazing while you’re there), a taller staircase with interactive walls, and lots and lots of climbing obstacles (rock wall and rope), and another hammock-like structure. Our 2-year old was a little intimidated to play on the larger playground but did enjoy climbing up and down the stairs and peeking through the holes.

As parents of a small toddler, we noted that the stairs were narrow making it less convenient for parents to follow along and the height of the platform next to the tallest slide was high and there is not much blocking a child from taking a tumble off the edge. Parents of older kids didn’t seem to blink at this but it gave us pause due to an incident where an older cousin pushed our kiddo off of a similar platform.

Restrooms at Mueller Lake Park

There is a separate men’s and women’s restroom close by the playground along with a water fountain.

Bottom Line: Is the playground at Mueller Lake Park a Good Place to Take the Kids?

Yes, yes, and yes! While it may get crowded at times, it’s another trip-worthy playground to take your kids to.

Tarka Indian Kitchen Sunset Valley

Healthy and fast Indian food options, kids menu, and vegan options!

5207 Brodie Ln, Austin, TX 78745



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Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Map

The food

We found Tarka Sunset Valley to be a solid option when we’re feeling like eating Indian food (obviously!), eating vegetarian or vegan, and wanting something fast but still relatively healthy with good ingredients. It should be noted that Tarka offers many dishes with meat like Indian food staple tikka masala (we love it with chicken) but our family happens to be shifting toward more of a vegan diet.

Our favorite vegan dishes at Tarka are the coconut curry with vegetables and the Tarka daal. Both are flavorful and filling with rice or naan.

Kids’ Menu

The kids’ menu is small at Tarka, with only four dishes offered along with the choice of apple juice, mango lemonade, or a fountain drink. We found the chicken pakoras to be similar to chicken tenders and our kiddo liked them, but we noted a particular saltiness. Overall, there are many better restaurant options if kid-friendly dishes are your main priority, but we like that other options on the menu could be decent for kiddos as well, such as kabobs.

Bottom Line: Is Tarka Indian Kitchen Sunset Valley a Good Place to Take the Kids?

Tarka Indian Kitchen probably isn’t going to be a great fit for all families but our two and a half-year-old enjoyed rice, naan, chicken pakoras, and mango lemonade. We think that if you’re looking for healthy Indian food options and/or vegetarian and vegan options, Tarka is a good and fast restaurant to try. Their Tarka Rewards program, similar to rewards programs at many other restaurants, is also helpful.

Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller

Food, drink, and fun right by Mueller Lake

Browning Hangar, 4209 Airport Blvd. Austin, Texas 78722



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Family-Friendly Features


Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

About the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller

What was once an airport, Mueller is now known as a modern, family-friendly, developed community that has something for everyone. Head over to the Browning Hangar on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings and you’ll stumble upon a local gem – the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller. 

The Texas Farmers’ Market is organized by a non-profit and is a producer-only (vendors can only sell things they produce themselves) market that helps support local farmers and businesses and a great way for local Austinites to shop for the freshest ingredients.

Texas Farmers’ Market – Mueller

Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller

Open Sundays (Rain or Shine) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Address: At the “Browning Hangar” 4209 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78722

Website: https://sustainablefoodcenter.org/programs/sfc-farmers-market/sfc-farmers-market-downtown

Parking at the Texas Farmers’ Market Mueller

The Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller has a great central Austin location with plenty of parking options. The good news is that there is FREE parking available in Mueller, the not-so-good news is that it’s limited and might not be the closest. There is a small parking lot off of Airport by the Hangar and another small parking lot closer to the Mueller Lake Playground that are both free and within walking distance to the Farmers’ Market.

There is also street parking, however, with Mueller rapidly growing, be aware of parking meters (i.e. some might require a residential permit) and when you have to pay. (Sundays are always free.)

However, if you don’t want to search for parking – there is the McBee Parking Garage located by the Thinkery and Alamo Drafthouse that charges $1 an hour and a maximum of $10 for the day.

Parking Map Photo Credit: https://texasfarmersmarket.org/

Things to Do at the Texas Farmers’ Market Mueller

As mentioned in our SFC Farmers’ Market posts, we love to shop at Farmers’ Market because not only are we supporting local farmers, but we’re able to support a sustainable process for our groceries.

What’s especially unique about the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is all the family-friendly things to do surrounding the market. You literally can spend an entire day with the family in Mueller enjoying the playground, the lake, the market, and visit the several shops and restaurants in the area. (Not to mention Mueller is home to Austin’s Children’s Museum – the Thinkery.) It’s one of our favorite ways to spend time with our kids outdoors.

Texas Farmers’ Market – Mueller – Vendors

You can find everything from groceries such as organic, grass-fed meats, organic produce, local honey to non-edible products like lavender, soaps, and candles. You can even find homemade dog treats! And let’s not forget the plethora of local eats. (With options for gluten-free and vegans!) You can find a complete list of market vendors here.

The Most Kid-Friendly Farmers’ Market in Austin

Aside from the location and the proximity to the playground, the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is (in my opinion) the most kid-friendly market in town. Not only do they have dedicated vendors that’ll attract kids, they also have a tent space in the middle of the market just for kids to play (typically large Lego blocks) and also have live music (on Sundays).

When we’ve gone, they also had a face-painting booth, Tiny Tails Petting Zoo, and pony rides.

We’ve also went to the Fermentation Festival – an annual festival they host in October all about fermented foods with workshops, panel discussions, and delicious samples! Check their events page to see what’s coming up.

Other Family Tips

Here are some other tips to consider while you’re visiting the Texas Farmers’ Market in Mueller with your family:

  • Like other farmers’ markets, the aisles are fairly narrow. You can get away with a small single stroller. Leave the big and double strollers at home.
  • There are on-site portable toilets with water to wash hands, but it’s still a good idea to bring wipes!

Bottom Line: Is the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller a Good Place to Take the Kids?

Yes! I believe it’s a great place for both toddlers and older kids. Not only is there a lot to do, there’s a lot to see, and eat!

Bartholomew District Park

Playground and splashpad along with a separate pool and sports complex near Mueller

5201 Berkman Dr, Austin, TX 78723

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bartholomew-district-park-playground
bartholomew-district-park-splash-pad

Features

Family-Friendly Features


Park Features


Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Summary

Bartholomew District Park is a large park in East Austin, just North of the Mueller area. There is a playground, splash pad, and reservable pavilion at the NW most tip of the park right off of Berkman and Greenbrook Parkway, a municipal pool on 51st just East of Berkman, and a roller derby track/disc golf park on 51st near Tilley Street. This park is spread out!

Map

Playground at Bartholomew District Park

There are two separate playscapes at Bartholomew Park, one aimed at toddlers while the other is mostly for older kids. Both sections have some shade elements and bark mulch bases.

Toddler Playground

The toddler playground includes a few slides, some climbing sections, and a few interactive noisemakers along with baby swings.

Larger Playground

The larger section of the playground includes bigger swings and slides and a playscape generally more enjoyable for the older kiddos with monkey bars, obstacles to climb and spinning seats.

Bartholomew Pool

We didn’t get to check the pool out as it was closed during the winter holidays but it appears that at least the lap pool is heated as hours have been posted for January.

From the outside, we’re able to see a lot of water features for the kids along with a wading pool for the youngsters as well as a lap pool.

Other Features

Bartholomew District Park’s Pavilion 

There is a reservable pavilion near the playground, right next to the splash pad. We had great luck reserving the space for a baby shower a few years ago. It was very convenient for us as kiddos in the group got to play nearby, within eyesight of adults at the pavilion.

Nature Trail:

While there are some trails throughout Bartholomew park, we wouldn’t state this as a strong suit. We didn’t find a trail connecting the playground to the pool, or to any other sections of the park for that matter. It appears you’d have to make your own trail or hop back in the car and get back onto streets to get to other sections of the park in a short amount of time. Trees are also relatively sparse in much of this park so it’s not quite as scenic as, say, Garrison Park.

Parking 

The parking lot at the playground is small, a little awkwardly shaped, had many potholes, standing water and is unpaved (not very stroller-friendly). It’s a popular park for parties and barbeques so it’s been generally crowded on the occasions we visited. It’s not our favorite parking lot at a park but it gets the job done for the most part.

The parking lot at the pool is much bigger, paved and striped, and well maintained and provides easy access to the pool. The sports complex and roller derby/disc golf sections have small, basic parking lots that seem to get the job done.

Restrooms at Bartholomew Park

We didn’t visit the bathrooms at this park.

Bottom Line: Is Bartholomew Park a Good Place to Take the Kids?

Our kids have had a great time at the playground and then cooling off at the splash pad, we’ve hosted a successful baby shower at the pavilion, and it’s generally less crowded than the park at Mueller Lake. For all these reasons along with all other things this park has to offer, we have to say it’s worth a visit.

The separate pool looks like a fantastic offering with a lot of fun attractions for the kiddos. We’ll visit soon!

Dick Nichols District Park and Pool

Explore the vast amenities at this SW Austin park with a pool and playground.

8011 Beckett Rd, Austin, TX 78749

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dick-nichols-park-shallow-pool
dick-nichols-park-deep-pool
dick-nichols-park-restrooms
dick-nichols-park-field
dick-nichols-park-reservalbe-covered-pavilion
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dick-nichols-park-picnic-tables
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dick-nichols-park-volleyball-court

Features

Family-Friendly Features


Park Features


Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Summary

We visited Dick Nichol’s playground on a warm Saturday morning in January when the pool was closed but the playground was hopping. The park’s many rows or parking were nearly at capacity on this beautiful day and all the park’s amenities aside from the pool were being used.

Map

Playground at Dick Nichols Park

Our 2 and a half-year-old had a blast swinging, sliding and climbing at the playground. The majority of the playground is pretty toddler-friendly with several baby swings, a fairly low-to-the-ground playscape, and a mix of slide heights.

A few things that stood out to us for the younger kiddos:

•There is one baby swing that is attached to a flat seat that a parent can sit on and swing with their little one. Our youngster loved this but it wasn’t all that comfortable for me (sitting was nice instead of standing tho) so we switched to one of the regular baby swings.

•There are quite a few interactive elements to the playscape including plastic drums to bang on, things that made noise when spun, cranked, turned, or rotated and a pretty neat interactive music board. Touch a button to change instrument sound from keyboard to guitar to trumpet, or animal sounds and there were buttons to play about 10 different notes.

Older kids seemed to be having a blast on a spinning seat, bigger swings and just generally climbing on the playscape.

The Pools

The pools were not open when we visited in January but the facilities look awesome from the outside looking in. There are several lifeguard chairs, lane markers, a deep pool, a medium depth pool, and a wading pool.

Other things to do

There’s definitely a lot to do at Dick Nichol’s Park. We were impressed when we saw the sand volleyball courts along with a paved volleyball court. In addition, there is a basketball court, several tennis courts, and plenty of open space to run and play. We happened to get to see a pretty serious Quidditch game being played when we went!

Pavilion / Reservable Space

The pavilion is large, covered, has plenty of trash cans and is very convenient to the playground and some of the other fields like for volleyball (both sand and court) and tennis courts.

We thought it was great to see another section of picnic tables in a different section of the park, closer to the parking lot, that indicated it was also reservable. This section does not have a structure covering it but it appears to be shaded most of the day due to all the nearby trees.

Parking 

The parking lot is pretty huge with some shaded spots. While those with small cars may appreciate the several rows of compact only spots, we found them slightly annoying as the majority of spots large enough for family vehicles were occupied. Overall, though, there are a lot of parking spots.

Restrooms

The restrooms were clean and bright. While there was toilet paper, there was no soap and no changing table in either restroom.

Other Tips for the Playing at Dick Nichols District Park

Nature Trail:

There are several gravel trails around the park but the main attraction that many people were taking advantage of was the paved trail going around the park. We saw everything from strollers and walkers to bikes and rollerbladers taking advantage of the wide and often shaded trail.

Bottom Line: Is Dick Nichols Park and Pool a Good Place to Take the family?

We thought this was a great park for the wide variety that it offered, plentiful parking and great trails. We can’t wait to go back in the summer to check out the deep pool (8′), shallow pool (wading up to 3′), and the splash pad.

With something for pretty much everyone, this is a great park for all ages.

Garrison Park & Municipal Pool

A popular park due to it’s swimming pool that’s not Barton Springs, not cold and (usually) not crowded.

6001 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

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our-review

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Directions

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Family-Friendly Features


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Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Summary

Garrison Park is an excellent choice for families looking to stay cool during the summer due to the large lap pool, toddler pool, lifeguard, and tons of shade. The gravel trails, large parking lot, and young-kid-friendly playground are a great bonus and help make this a park worth visiting year-round, especially if you have toddlers.

Older kids will love the pool during the summer but if the pool is closed due to seasonality (it’s only open during the warm months), they may get bored pretty quickly unless they happen to enjoy playing basketball or running/riding around on the fairly short trails.

There is a reservable pavilion that is great for hosting get-togethers and there are water fountains, benches and some BBQ grills throughout.

While we visited, we did notice several dogs off-leash but the park was big enough and the owners were attentive enough that we never felt like there could be a run-in with our babies.

Overall, we had a lot of fun at the park and think most families with young kiddos will experience the same.

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Cost

There is a charge to use the pool. At the time of this review, the price to use the pool was as follows and does not appear to change often but please check the park’s pool website before you go to make sure it is open and to check current pricing.

Resident cost:

free (11 months and younger)

$1 (ages 1-11, seniors)

$2 (ages 12-17), $3 (18 and older);

Nonresident cost:

free (11 months and younger)

$2 (ages 1-11, seniors)

$3 (age 12-17)

$4 (18 and older).

Bottom Line: Is the playground and pool at Garrison Park & Municipal Pool a Good Place to Take the Kids?

garrison-park-toddler-playscape

Yes! Garrison District Park and Municipal Pool is a great place to visit with the family. With a large pool and fields and courts for games along with the fact that the park is often less crowded than the better known Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy, this is a great destination to go with the family.

Mandola’s Italian Market – William Cannon

Kid-friendly Italian food, free kid’s gelato, playscape, and more!

4301 West William Cannon Drive, Dr E-1, Austin, TX 78749



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Features

our-review

Review

Directions

Website

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mandolas-william-cannon-interior
mandolas-william-cannon-has-a-playground

Features

Family-Friendly Features


Playground Features


Our overall family-friendliness score:

BABY-FRIENDLY
TODDLER-FRIENDLY
OLDER KID-FRIENDLY
OVERALL FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
UNIQUE ASPECTS
Average

: Not for kids

: There are better options 

: Not bad, kids had fun

: Worth the trip

: Amazing, a must-do with kids

BABY-FRIENDLY: Baby can do more than just sit in a stroller or be carried around

TODDLER-FRIENDLY: Things are toddler level; designed for toddlers

OLDER KID-FRIENDLY: Things are meant for older kids 

AMENITIES: General family-friendly features

UNIQUE ASPECTS: Wow factor

Map

The Food

The menu was fairly large and included options for various diet restrictions, including gluten-free noodles and options for the kiddos including spaghetti (including an option with butter instead of sauce), fettuccine alfredo, pizza, and even chicken fingers. There are also family style dishes and desserts which can serve large groups.

Our oldest kiddo has always been happy about ending his meal with a free scoop of gelato that comes with his children’s plate. We’ve been three times and each time have sampled different flavors and chosen different scoops – all were finished by the little guy. The setup for the gelato is like a little gelato stand with quite a few options.

There is also a nice assortment of desserts to eat there or take home.

The Playground 

Another great feature of dining at this particular location is access to a nice playground. Access to this playground appears to be shared by several restaurants and businesses in the area but at the time we visited (early lunch), it was not crowded and all five of the kids in our group had a blast running around and playing. Overall, the playset was relatively simple, with a couple of slides and tunnels and a kid’s sized picnic table.

Restrooms at Mandola’s Italian William Canon

Restrooms at restaurants aren’t typically noteworthy but we have to give a little love to Mandola’s for their baby changing station. We got a little chuckle out of the Italian themed artwork paired with the comfortable changing table, diaper genie, and a supply of diapers and wipes(!). It had everything to make changing a diaper a little less…poopy.

Extras 

We brought our baby into the restaurant in a car seat since she was asleep and we were happy when an employee brought an infant carseat carrier out so we could set the carseat on a sturdy holder rather than turning a high chair over and risking instability.

Bottom Line: Is Mandola’s Italian at William Cannon a Good Place to Take the Kids?

We had a great time and would emphatically say, “yes!” The restaurant accommodated our large family and friends, comments about the food were positive, the kids ate their food and loved the gelato (kid’s plates come with a free scoop!), and we had a great time at the playground. We appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere and will definitely visit again in the future.