- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- home style today articles
- home style today q&a
- traveling today articles
- traveling today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Austin, Texas
Family Fun in the Heart of Texas
By Donna Smith
The stars at night may be big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, but everything shines in Austin, the state's capital. This energetic city has many exciting destinations to offer families. From exploring the University of Texas campus and appreciating nature, to learning about science at the Children's Museum and eating a delicious meal, there's something for everyone is this bustling college town.
On a recent weekend trip to Austin, we decided to take in as much of this town as time allowed. We stayed at two fabulous resorts on the outskirts of the city, then explored some of the tourist attractions located in the heart of downtown.
Nestled among the trees and rolling hills less than 10 miles from downtown, the Barton Creek Resort is a spa 
and golf destination rolled into one that's not only relaxing, but kid-friendly too.
Whether you are a golfer or not, the view of the immaculately kept courses is a sight for the eyes. Fazio Canyons, one of the resort's four golf courses, was named the No. 1 course by Travel and Leisure Golf magazine, and Golfweek named it as one of the top 100 modern golf courses in America. Several times my children excitedly pointed to deer darting across the grass, which is just the tip of the iceberg where wildlife is concerned. Fazio Canyons is one of the very few courses that has attained Audubon Signature Program status, meaning is excels at maintaining the environment and surrounding wildlife.
The pool, which has a great view of the golf course, was, as expected, the first place my kids wanted to 
explore. But surprisingly, it was the indoor basketball court and jogging track that they frequented most. We also enjoyed the many poolside activities throughout the day, which included tic-tac-toe, Chinese checkers, crafts and other fun, family-friendly games. Another favorite was the nature trail. We decided to explore the half-mile trail early in the morning and saw some beautiful plants and wildlife – and enjoyed the tranquil setting.
