A look at some of the best places for kids to go cycling in Austin. Enjoy some spectacular scenery and wholesome family friendly good times on the trails this summer!
Austin Cycling for Kids
Great places for kids to go cycling in Austin
Bicycles are a part of Austin’s culture. Locals know that one of the best ways to explore the compact downtown Austin area is by bike. For one thing it helps to cut down on traffic congestion. For another, it gives you a lovely way to travel into town for one of the many upcoming summer festivals.
Most locals will tell you that the number one spot for cycling in the city has to be along the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. This is a wonderful a crushed gravel cycling path that encircles downtown’s Lady Bird Lake.
We covered the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail in a previous article about Austin's best bike paths for kids.That’s because Austin is known as a great place to start and raise a family and is full of fun, family friendly places to spend a few hours with kids on bikes.
For this guide, we will look at what to expect in Austin this summer, and which bikes trails will be most fun for you and your family to explore.
Family friendly summer fun in Austin
Summer in Austin is festival season. Whether you live in Austin or are just visiting, you’ll have a great time if you plan your cycling excursions around weekend festivals. If visiting and in need of a high end bike rental, check out the great rental bikes in our shop. To help you plan, here are some top summer festivals to look out for in 2019:
- Kerrville Folk Festival: the longest continuously running music festival in North America runs for 18 days in late May-June and attracts over 30,000 people from all over the world. If you love music, "Kerrville" is not to be missed.
- FunStop 5K and Fest: if you want to mix up your biking with some weird jogging shenanigans, this event was formerly called the Keep Austin Weird Fest + 5K. It's a very slow-paced 5 kilometer jog with lots of entertainment and fun stops along the way.
- Fourth of July Fireworks and Symphony: few places will let you experience the full glory of southern fried Americana than Austin's Fourth of July Spectacular. This is a family friendly outdoor concert featuring patriotic American music and an amazing evening fireworks display over Lady Bird Lake.
- Austin Ice Cream Festival: just imagine renting some bikes from Mellow Johnny's and then cycling over to Fiesta Gardens on June 22 for this fantastic event for the whole family. Enjoy games, concerts and some of the most amazing and innovative ice cream flavors imaginable.
Hot picks for cycling this summer
For the adventurous member of the family, check out the 9th street BMX park and the House Park bike park. The south side of Duncan park is is a rider-maintained dirt BMX park full of whoops and jumps. Nearby at House Park is a city-built and maintained concrete bike and skate park. Both are an easy ride from Mellow Johnny’s along Austin’s bike path network. You’re bound to see lots of bikers here practicing some tricks at either spor.
For a more casual day, the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake offers gorgeous scenery and a 10 mile trial, with multiple bridges across the lake to make the ride shorter if need be. A mix of easy, smooth crushed granite and paved paths, the trail goes along and over the water with a picture-perfect view of the beautiful Austin downtown skyline.
For those looking for an “out of the city” feel, look no further than Shoal Creek trail.
An easy bike ride for family members of all ages right from the door of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, the Shoal Creek Trail boasts an abundance of recreational activities. Take a break during your ride and enjoy a picnic under the canopy of trees, or enjoy a hike around the rocky stone trails.
If you’re toting around younger kids, a great place to check out is Tanglewood Park, located in northwest Austin. The paved trail follows up a small hill to the waypoint pavilion that serves as a resting spot, as well as a place for picnics. There are also basketball courts, fire pits, and a playground available all around the biking trail.
No matter the age or skill level of your child, there are plenty of places around Austin for you to enjoy as a whole family. As you are planning your adventures, keep Mellow Johnny's in mind for bike rentals, bike sales and some of the best bike accessories in Austin.
For more information, or to book a bike and start your adventure, call or visit us in the store today!