Austin's brand new children's museum, the Thinkery, is a tinkerer's paradise. A veritable wonderland of hands-on exploration, the two-story red building beckons builders, makers, and artists of all ages to come and learn through play. From water, to paint, to colored light, the media on offer provide seemingly endless opportunities for tactile experiences. Parents will find it hard to resist playing alongside their child in this fun environment.
Located in East Austin's Mueller community, the 40,000 square foot Thinkery is equal parts science and technology center and children’s museum. Focusing on “STEAM” learning – science, technology, engineering, art, and math – the unique museum offers eight interactive exhibit galleries, each hosting a variety of engaging activities.
Innovators’ Workshop invites young inventors to design and build to their heart's content, with 2,500 square feet of materials and tools at their disposal. There are recyclables for crafting, string for weaving, and do-dads for connecting. The vast gallery includes a glass wall for painting, a wall of magnets, and a table filled with moveable metal shavings, among many other intriguing stations. In this special place where engineering meets art, young imaginations are ignited.
Light Lab offers a rainbow of activities, from a giant Lite-Brite to mini building blocks with colorful LEDs. It's fun in the dark, when you've got lasers and shadows to play with!
Spark Shop is a destination for older children to take on more advanced design challenges, like making foam airplanes to launch in the projectile range. Future engineers will enjoy this space created with them in mind.
Currents is a watery science exhibit where your child will get wet. Possibly very wet. As in, you should probably bring spare clothes along wet. Visitors to this gallery can't resist making waves playing water drums and piping tunes on the hydraulophone. It is worth the sogginess to let kids immerse themselves in the concepts of fluid dynamics, but you may want to save this upstairs exhibit for last.
These galleries are just a taste of all the Thinkery has to offer. There is also a fun story time nook, neat playgrounds both indoors and out, a chicken coop for kids, a Kitchen Lab, an outside area for water play, and more. Even when the Thinkery is bustling with activity, the cheerful staff welcomes young visitors to explore every possible STEAM opportunity. My children, ages 10 months up to 13, all had a grand morning out at the Thinkery.
Admission to the Thinkery is $9. It is free on Sundays from 5-6 p.m. and by donation (suggested $1) on Community Nights, which are every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. Admission is always free for kids under 24 months old. Parking is also free. According to Thinkery staff, the best time to visit is on weekday afternoons. No Tour Tuesdays are less crowded, as no school groups are scheduled on these days. To best plan your outing, read the Thinkery's Tips for Your Visit and The Statesman's Interactive Guide to the Thinkery.
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Things To Do In San Marcos
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Central Texas Speedway
Three Prokart Races for Two, Four, or Six at Central Texas Speedway (Up to 50% Off)
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San Marcos
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San Marcos
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San Marcos
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Sunset Bowling Lanes
San Marcos
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Harris Hill Raceway
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Lost Paintball hits its targets of safety and fun with the varied terrain of its fields, detailed defensive instructions, and an emphasis on less waiting and more playing. Full rental packages include unlimited time in the great outdoors, a protective facemask, a Spyder Xtra paintball marker and barrel cover, unlimited air refills, and 500 Valka and Draxxus paintballs. Before games commence, all players—whether brand-new to the joy of spattering paint or well-versed in the art of stalking human canvases—receive a thorough safety debriefing. Players battle through four different environments, marking and shooting to their hearts' content. Meanwhile, Lost Paintball's cheerful, paint-covered staff stands by ready to assist with questions, directions, and heated squabbles over whether that deer knowingly crossed into enemy territory.
4701 Hilliard Rd
San Marcos,
TX
US
Hogs. Feral hogs everywhere. That's the problem that faces agricultural landowners in Texas right now. Lonestar Helicopter Hunter blossomed from this problem, and its staff of active duty and ex-military personnel began hunting hogs from the passenger seats of their helicopter to help battle the destructive populations. In addition to helping farmers, the group realized how powerful the adrenaline rush was and started teaching other hunters and marksmen the challenging hunting style. Soon they came up with a paintball-based version, which equips adrenaline-seekers with markers, paintballs, and a field of stationary targets to aim at, providing the same kind of excitement as the real hunt. In addition to aerial target practice, Lonestar's expert pilots also license and certify burgeoning helicopter pilots with private, commercial, and certified instructor courses.
121 Center Point Road
San Marcos,
TX
US
On sweltering summer days, the San Marcos River becomes a cooling respite for hundreds of tubers thanks to Don's Fish Camp. The shop rents tubes with coolers and sells supplies such as sunscreen and waterproof cameras for tubers to take onto the water. When not floating with a brew in hand, tubers can barbecue and picnic along the banks flush with trees and shrubbery.
The rec area accommodates those who aren’t ready to go home at the end of day by allowing guests to pitch a tent and camp under the stars to the sound of rushing water and largemouth bass that just won't shut up. To give these visitors a scenic place to tube and party, Don's team cleans up the riverbanks daily and requests guests bring no glass or styrofoam on the premises.
105 Nelle Ln.
Martindale,
TX
US
The minds behind Texas State Tubes know that drifting downriver should only be relaxing. That?s why, through a partnership with the Texas River Alliance, the company conducts daily surface cleans and biweekly deep cleans of the San Marcos River. Those efforts pay off during the journey itself, when guests can opt to paddle across the blue, float in a spacious tube, or levitate just above the water on a raft. Once treks wrap up, the company supplies a free bus ride back to the parking lot. Groups can even park at the river?s end before receiving a complementary lift to the starting point.
2024 North Old Bastrop Rd
San Marcos,
TX
US
Run by Texas State University, The Meadows Center (formerly Aquarena) introduces visitors to the lush diversity of the San Marcos Springs and intricate system of waterways. Glass-bottomed boats set out for guided tours of Spring Lake, gazing at the aquatic life and University midterm papers below. Above the springs that bubble up from the bottom, soft shell turtles and bluegill sunfish swim in the clear waters and songbirds survey the sky. Eight endangered species populate the springs, including beetles and two species of salamander. On land, visitors can explore gardens of native Texan plants or a hall of nature exhibit.
201 San Marcos Springs Dr.
San Marcos,
TX
US
A bright, five-pointed star gleams above the Texas State University campus on select nights. Fixed atop Jackson Hall—a 12-story building that marks the campus's highest point—the star can be seen for miles throughout Hays County, letting fans know that it's time to celebrate a Bobcats victory and take out the pizza they started baking at half-time. Throughout the Bobcats' proud history, the Victory Star has had many occasions for beaming, as the school has won a litany of championships across multiple sports, including NCAA Div. II championships in football and men's golf and NAIA titles in men's basketball and men's tennis.
700 Aquarena Springs Drive
San Marcos,
TX
US
