The greater Austin metro area includes some amazing neighborhoods full of kid-friendly amenities, such as the booming areas just south of Austin — Buda and Kyle! Our Do512 Family Field Expert Shenika Mays, of Mays Family Travels, shares her top 5 favorite things to do with her family in our southern suburbs…

— Stagecoach Park
Stagecoach Park is a beautiful Buda treasure that includes a playground, pond, hike and bike trail, amphitheater, pavilion, and tons of open space. The historic buildings and oak tree-lined trails also make it one of my family’s favorite locations for family photos! Many local events are held at the park every year including the Buda Trail of Lights hosted by the City of Buda each December.

Sweet Cakes 4 U
My family’s favorite place to treat ourselves in Buda is Sweet Cakes 4 U. They’ve been popularized for their variety of inventive cakes by the slice, but don’t miss the many other delicious treats they offer including cake balls, cupcakes, cookies, mini cheesecakes, and much more. Be sure to get there early! These delectable goodies can sell out quickly and you’ll often find customers lined up outside of the building as soon as they open, waiting to get their sweet fix. My favorite cake is any slice made with their signature moist chocolate cake.

EVO Entertainment
EVO is an entertainment center that offers something for everyone. It features a bowling alley, arcade, movie theatre, and Hardihoods Bar and Grill. In the summer, they host the Kidflix Summer Movie Clubhouse which is a 10 week series where recently released family-friendly movies are shown for only $1.

La Ola Pop Shop
Cool off on a warm day with gourmet made-from-scratch paletas or ice cream from La Ola Pop Shop in Kyle. Flavors range from fruit based to cookie based and are made all in house with fresh natural ingredients. La Ola Pop is located in Kohlers Crossing between Texican Café and Aviator Pizza which makes it the perfect place to stop after dinner. There’s also an open play area right out front with turf and large climbing rocks where kids can play while you wait for your food.

5 Mile Dam Park
Escape the Texas heat and take a dip into the Blanco River at 5 Mile Dam Park. 5 Mile Dam is located just outside of Kyle, in San Marcos. The shallow side of the river is the perfect place for toddlers to splish-splash while the top of the dam is deeper and great for swimming. Don’t forget your raft! The river rapids are a fun place to go tubing. Also, be sure to bring your cooler and a blanket. The grassy area in front of the river is an excellent place to have a family picnic with river views. In addition to the river, 5 Mile Dam also offers a 43 acre soccer complex, playscape, and pavilion. (Please note that like most of our area’s swimming holes, this does dry out if there is no recent rain. Keep that in mind when planning a visit.)