summer

Texas summers don’t tiptoe in—they show up early, stay late, and bring every bit of the heat. By the time spring rolls around, Austin‑area families are already gearing up for long days outside, weekend lake trips, camp drop‑offs, and every splash pad, pool, and river spot Central Texas has to offer.

To make summer easier (and a lot more fun), we’ve curated the 2026 Kids’ Summer Essentials, Gear & Travel Guide. This guide highlights kid‑friendly products that help families stay cool, safe, organized, and adventure‑ready—whether you’re traveling, heading to camp, splashing at the pool, or spending lazy afternoons on the lake.

Warm enough for splash pad season, don’t you think? There are plenty of splash pads in and around Austin. And we've made a list of all of them, including schedule and pricing info.

It's never too early to start thinking about summer camps. Especially when registration for some summer camps are already open or closing soon or when they're free.

Free camps? Yes, there is such a thing as free camps. We've done quite some research to find camps in and around Austin (up to a 4 hr radius) that are not a financial burden to families, especially families that already have enough to worry about.

Looking for a fun, enriching camp for your kids? Our Kids Directory is your one-stop resource for discovering incredible camp options in the Austin area, including:

• Academic or Educational Camps – Spark your child’s curiosity and love for learning.
• Adventure or Outdoor Camps – Explore the great outdoors and build confidence.
• Arts Camps – Unleash their creativity and artistic flair.
• Music Camps – Nurture their musical talents and rhythms.
• Religious Camps – Grow in faith while fostering community.
• Special Needs Camps – Inclusive and supportive programs for every child.
• STEM Camps – Encourage innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math.
• Sports Camps – Stay active, learn teamwork, and have a blast.
• Free Camps – Read our blog "Free Summer Camps In and Around Austin".

You can easily narrow down your search by location and age group to find the perfect match for your child. Read on for more info!

Schools out for summer – now it’s time to gear up for an amazing summer camp or a well-deserved summer vacation!

To celebrate the accomplishments of our incredible kids this school year and keep them entertained during the summer, we're giving away three copies of 'My Friends and I.' Enter to win now!

It's getting hot! We need places to cool off! Thankfully, there are over 60 pools in the 512 that allow us to do exactly that.

Here's our list. Rate and leave a review for your favorite pool!

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