Founded in 1963, the University of Texas at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art unveiled a major revitalization this year. The 200,000-square-foot campus houses a permanent collection of more than 21,000 pieces, rotating exhibits, and colorful infrastructure. Located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue, the museum is hard to miss with its new, three-story canopy structures and outdoor community space called the Moody Patio that sits between two buildings.

Head inside to enjoy the Blanton's vast collection of modern and contemporary American and Latin American art, Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, and the interior's unique architecture. Visit Ellsworth Kelly’s immersive installation Austin, a chapel-like building made of limestone from Spain that features a colorful array of stained-glass windows, a reference to religious architecture.

If you’re visiting with children, ask the visitor services team for a family art box, a fun kit that includes different hands-on activities to keep the little ones’ hands occupied. The Blanton also has a creative space on the second floor that features sketch pads, pillows, and picture books for visitors to unwind and get creative. Free admission day is every Tuesday.

200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX

Nestled on the corner of Congress Avenue and Fifth Street, the Mexic-Arte Museum is a cultural institution, established 40 years ago, that explores the rich art and history of Mexico, Spain, and Latin America. The permanent collection has more than 5,000 pieces, but the main attractions for visitors are the ever-changing seasonal exhibitions, educational programs, and special events like the annual Día de los Muertos festival and parade.

The Mexic-Arte Museum prides itself on being more than a place to look at art, and since its inception, programs and events have grown. There are food tastings, art education for children through programs like Screen It! and AmArte, rotating murals on the museum’s exterior walls, an art vending cart residency known as a Changarrito that supports local artists, and a gift shop. While admission is affordable ($1 for children 12 and under, $4 for seniors and students, and $7 for adults), if you visit the museum on Sundays, it’s free of charge.

419 Congress Ave., Austin, TX

There’s a museum for just about anything these days, and the Museum of Ice Cream is one concept we didn’t know we needed. Where else can you jump into a giant sprinkle pit, ride an animal cookie, get endless free ice cream samples, and take fun photos with your friends and family? There are currently five locations across the world, and the Austin location, opened in 2021, is just a 20-minute drive north of downtown.

The self-guided experience is as close as you’ll get to Willy Wonka’s wonderland, with colorful art rooms, interactive playscapes, and treats along the way. There’s a retro diner with an old jukebox and ice cream trivia, a banana forest, a candy shop that serves sorbet ice cream at the end, a carnival room, a pink rainbow tunnel, and more. If you have room in your belly after the exhibit, head to the cafe, bar, and retail shop and order the Sprinkle Pool Sundae. Tickets and bundles vary, but children two and under are free.

11506 Century Oaks Terrace #128, Austin, TX

If you want your kids to spend the day having fun and learning new things, consider Thinkery. This 40,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor museum (rebranded in 2013 from the Austin Children’s Museum) is full of hands-on activities related to STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. This museum will spark imagination and creativity for kids of all ages and is especially geared toward those under 11.

As a children-focused museum—where kids can touch the art—Thinkery focuses on play-based learning through making, experimenting, and creating all types of fun projects. The Bloom Room is a garden-themed room where infants and toddlers can explore their senses and motor skills. There’s also a fun story nook corner. The Spark Shop exhibit includes the opportunity to build rocket launchers and gliders from loose parts, which is fun for both kids and adults. In the Currents exhibit, prepare to get a little wet and learn about fluid dynamics and all things water, like how objects float and sink, what makes a wave, and more. Fresh! Farmers Market teaches kids about healthy meal choices and local food sources, and the Light Lab allows them to create art using shadows, light, and color to draw shapes and build structures out of blocks and LEDs.

Thinkery also hosts a ton of summer camps, sleepovers, Early Learner events, workshops, and of course, birthday parties. Since walk-ins are limited, ticket reservations are highly encouraged. Free admission days are Tuesday 3 to 7 p.m. and Sunday 3 to 5 p.m., and sensory-friendly hours are from 8 to 10 a.m.

1830 Simond Ave, Austin, TX