I live in Austin which means we usually have warm weather and sunny skies. I don’t have to worry about snow usually and there are plenty of swimming holes for us to enjoy! But Texas also has a way of going from summer to winter in a matter of days. This makes it harder for us to be able to adapt to it and find activities. Outdoors during winter with a toddler can feel challenging. It can feel like we’re spending most of our time indoors and it’s driving everyone a little stir crazy.
Our Favorite Activity
In the middle of the city there is Town Lake or Lady Bird Lake. During the summer it’s a popular place to spend your day paddleboarding, on a boat, or kayaking. But once the temperatures cool down, it starts to clear out. This is our favorite time to visit. Not only do you have more space to navigate the water, but you also get to enjoy the changing scenery. You have an opportunity to see the tiny bit of foliage Texas has to offer.
This past month we decided to spend a Sunday’s golden hour on the water. It was magical. The lake was mostly empty, and we didn’t have to worry about bumping into others. It was also quiet which gave us an opportunity to enjoy all of nature’s sounds. Finding a peaceful spot is definitely a favorite way to spend time outdoors during winter with a toddler.
The Details
My favorite rental spot is The Texas Rowing Center. It’s locally owned and has been there since I can remember. Their facilities are clean, well maintained, and the location is superb. You can park alongside Austin High School. Pro tip: Sundays you have free street parking in Austin. A kayak rental is $15 an hour or $35 for the full day!
Benefits of Taking Your Toddler Kayaking
Nature provides so much for kids. They have an opportunity to enjoy nature and learn from it. They ask questions about all that they’re seeing. The best way toddlers can learn is from rich real-life experiences. Harper attempted to row but really splashed the water around but she’s making that effort to learn. She’s curious and is understanding how a kayak works. These small experiences start to create building blocks within her brain on how things work.
Favorite Parks
For a listing of favorite parks during the summer you can check out this blog post, Five Best Parks in Austin. I’ll be adding soon more updates as Harper gets older and she starts to enjoy different parts of the parks.
Outdoor Gear
Water Safety
Let’s talk about safety with water. A child is required to wear a life vest at all times when on a boat. Since I knew that we would be visiting bodies of water more than once each season I found it was best to purchase her own life vest. You can check out our favorites here. I learned from another mom that it’s always best to dress your child in bright colors when in water. This will make them easier to spot them in case of an emergency. Our go to swimsuit is from Hot Tots. It also provides full body protection for that summer sun. You can use code HARPS15 for a discount.
Accessories
When it comes to being outdoors there are many items I love. My non-negotiables are a reusable water bottle, a container for Harper’s snacks, and sun protection. You can see our full listing of Outdoor gear for the family here.
My “fall/winter” outfit this past season as a shirt with a cardigan over it! You can find more links for outfits in my LTK.
Outdoors During Winter with a Toddler
In conclusion, outdoors in Texas are very different than the rest of the country. We have cold weather, but we don’t have snow! I try to expose Harper to as many rich life experiences as possible. I know this post may not apply as “winter” to many but for all of us living here in Texas this is our winter! So, enjoy the foliage while it lasts and the empty lakes and rivers.
