Texas
Experiences|Attractions

The Most Affordable Way To Experience The Best Attractions Austin & San Antonio, Texas Have To Offer

Pogo Pass offers affordable access to numerous family-friendly attractions in Austin and San Antonio for a year.

Published May 8, 2023

Written by 

Meghan Byers

If you're tired of spending a fortune on different family-friendly activities in Austin and San Antonio, we've got a secret weapon for you: the Pogo Pass. For just one low price, you get admission to tons of exciting places in the Austin and San Antonio area for a whole year! Pogo Pass has partnered with a wide array of different venues to offer you a great deal on admission to all of these attractions -- so you'll have an endless list of things to do in Austin & San Antonio, Texas with kids.

To get started on a year of family adventures in Austin and San Antonio, use code ONLYINPOGO to get 50% off the Pogo Pass, making it just $49.99 per person.

Looking for a fun way to experience the best attractions Las Vegas has to offer? Pay for the Pogo Pass one time for each member of your family and enjoy a year of fun at a variety of unique destinations – from sporting events to indoor playgrounds, and so much more!

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Pogo Pass

Things To Do With Kids In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

Whether you live in or just frequently visit Austin & San Antonio, these kid-friendly activities appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. And they're covered by your Pogo Pass!

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1. San Antonio Zoo

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San Antonio Zoo/Facebook
  • Address:3903 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212
  • Fun For: Families with kids, couples

What's better fun for the whole family than a trip to the zoo? The San Antonio Zoo is an excellent choice, with over 50 acres and 16 different exhibits to explore. This zoo is home to a total of over 750 species, some of which are endangered or even extinct in the wild. The zoo also offers a wide range of behind-the-scenes experiences to make your visit even more special, at an additional charge.

2. Austin's Park and Pizza

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Austin's Park/Facebook
  • Address:16231 N Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660
  • Fun For: Families with kids

Austin's Park and Pizza offers tons of fun and games for families -- both indoors and outdoors. Go-Karts and bumper boats, a roller coaster, mini-golf, laser tag, and bowling are just a few of the exciting activities and rides you'll find at Austin's. There's also an arcade, a carousel, a tower drop ride, and even bar games for adults. And of course, there's the all-you-can-eat buffet, which features seven different kinds of artisan pizza. The Pogo Pass gets you one visit per month, so you can keep going back for more.

Things To Do With Toddlers In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

Sometimes it can be tricky to find toddler-friendly activities, but you've got lots of options with a Pogo Pass in hand. These are some of the best things to do with toddlers in Austin & San Antonio:

3. The Rush Fun Park

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The Rush Fun Park/Facebook

The Rush Fun Park is an indoor park with giant slides, trampolines, and so much more. There's a special area just for kids six and under to play called the "Toddler's Corner" -- so even the littlest ones can enjoy lots of fun.

4. Austin Aquarium

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Austin Aquarium/Facebook
  • Address: Austin Aquarium, 13530 US-183 Hwy #101, Austin, TX 78750
  • Fun For: all ages

Who doesn't love a trip to the aquarium? Little ones will be mesmerized by these fascinating and colorful sea creatures. Thousands of species are housed in this aquarium, where you'll also find hands-on interactive exhibits like feeding stingrays, meeting lemurs, and more. You can even meet mermaids at the Austin Aquarium!

Things To Do With Teens In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

Teens may have it tough out there, but we're confident these attractions will spark their interest and provide some great entertainment. Plus, they're fun for the rest of the family, too.

5. The Dr. Pepper Museum

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Dr Pepper Museum/Facebook
  • Address: 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701
  • Fun For: All ages

Technically located in Waco, a little over an hour and thirty minutes from Austin, the Dr. Pepper Museum is worth the trip for those who enjoy a look into the past -- and the fun of making your own soda! You can concoct your own special soft drink, and taste unique soda flavors. Guests 18 and older can also sign up for a paranormal experience tour, exploring the spookier corners of the museum. Do note that the Dr. Pepper Museum is only covered by your Pogo Pass through 5/22/23, so you'll want to plan your trip before then.

6. Rock Sports Arena

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Rock Sports Arena/Facebook
  • Address: 3918 Gattis School Rd #102, Round Rock, TX 78664
  • Fun For: All ages

Rock Sports Arena is best known for its roller skating rink, with open skate hours available on weekdays from 12 pm to 7 pm. The Pogo Pass grants you two visits during open skate hours. If you're not so confident on wheels, you can always book a 1-hour lesson for an additional fee!

Outdoor Attractions For Kids In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

There's no substitute for fresh air and sunshine. If you and your family prefer to find fun in the great outdoors, the Pogo Pass gets you access to these kid-friendly outdoor attractions.

7. Pioneer Farms

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Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms/Facebook
  • Address: 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr, Austin, TX 78754
  • Fun For: Families with kids

Step back in time at Pioneer Farms, a living history museum where you're invited to "experience authentic Texas history." There are lots of kid-friendly classes and workshops you can take, and your Pogo Pass covers your first visit.

8. Typhoon Texas

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Typhoon Texas Austin/Facebook
  • Address: 18500 TX-130 Service Rd, Pflugerville, TX 78660
  • Fun For: All ages

With 23 acres and a 10,000-square-foot activity pool, Typhoon Texas provides tons of waterpark fun for all ages. There are water slides, a 1,000-foot-long lazy river, a huge wave pool, and tons more. It's the perfect place to cool off in the Texas heat.

Indoor Attractions For Kids In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

When the weather isn't cooperating, there's still plenty of fun to be had in Austin & San Antonio. These are some of the best indoor kid-friendly attractions in Austin & San Antonio, all of course covered by the Pogo Pass.

9. Mt Playmore

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Mt Playmore/Facebook
  • Address: 13609 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78753
  • Fun For: Younger kids, toddlers

Looking for indoor fun? Look no further than Mt Playmore. This truly "Texas-sized" indoor playscape is the size of a 3,000 square foot house, at 120 by 60 feet and 18 feet tall. There's even an over 1,400 square foot toddler-only area! Plus, the playscape is designed to make it easy for parents to play along with their kids -- and they even have massage chairs for parents. There's also an arcade full of games, and an extensive menu of food made fresh to order if all that fun makes you hungry.

10. Thinkery

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Thinkery/Facebook
  • Address: 1830 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723
  • Fun For: Families with kids

Thinkery is a popular, hands-on children's museum in Austin, with play-based learning experiences. Unique and exciting hands-on exhibits focused around science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) help budding inquiring minds learn and grow, having tons of fun along the way.

Unique Things To Do With Kids In Austin & San Antonio, Texas

Looking for some really unique, fun things to do with kids in Austin & San Antonio? These attractions are some out-of-the-ordinary destinations included with the Pogo Pass.

11. Monster Mini Golf & Laser Tag

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Monster Mini Golf - San Antonio, TX/Facebook
  • Address: 2267 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78213
  • Fun For: Families with kids (who aren't too easily spooked!)

Monster Mini Golf & Laser Tag is the spookiest item on our list by far. The monster-themed, 18-hole mini-golf course is indoors, and includes animated monsters and glow-in-the-dark features! There's also a virtual reality game, a laser maze, and of course laser tag.

12. Quest ATX

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Questatx/Facebook
  • Address: 10815 FM1625, Austin, TX 78747
  • Fun For: Older kids, teens

If you're looking to beat the heat and do something unique, why not try wakeboarding at Quest ATX? With your Pogo Pass you get a 2-hour wakeboard session, with equipment available for rental at an additional fee of $15. Alternatively, you can choose to upgrade to an all-day park pass and enjoy an obstacle course on the water and more.

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Pogo Pass

Hopefully, this list has given you ideas for some fun things to do in Austin & San Antonio, Texas with kids! Don't forget to use code ONLYINPOGO to get half off your Pogo Pass, for a total of just $49.99 per person.

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Experiences|Attractions

I Discovered that Nothing is as it Seems in this Interactive Art Exhibit in Grapevine Texas

Interactive, artistic, and totally bizarre the Meow Wolf art exhibit in Grapevine is one wild adventure.

Published Sep 23, 2024

Written by 

Chris Dodge

I was speechless but couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as I left the Meow Wolf art exhibit in Grapevine Texas. I didn’t even really know how to reconcile what I just had experienced but it certainly was the most unique attraction I have ever been to. You could almost describe Meow Wolf as an art exhibit that meets a hands-on museum, but even that does not quite adequately describe the experience. I have always had a deep appreciation for artistic expression in many forms. I was the weird kid in art class that my teacher assigned me to paint a picture of a flower because I had painted too many “Dark and disturbing pieces” her words, not mine. So I get it, but what I saw in Meow Wolf took it to a whole new level.

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Meow Wolf’s origin got its name randomly, which is exactly what you would expect while visiting. They put a bunch of words in a hat and then pulled out two of them to create the name, Meow Wolf. There are now a few of them across our country, but it remains one of the most unique things to do in the Fort Worth and Dallas area. Once we saw a video for a Meow Wolf my girls have been begging for us to go to one. On our trip out west which we called our dream trip, and if it was in fact going to be a dream come true for all of us then this attraction was going to be a must. We stepped up to the entrance which is actually located inside a mall and our girls couldn’t have been more excited. 

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

The whole attraction is a mind-blowing experience from the second you step into the moment you leave. Opening the door you are greeted with a scene of a normal-looking home with a garden outside, stars up above, and the sound of crickets chirping. It felt very standard for what we knew was waiting for us inside. 

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

Things quickly took an unexpected turn once we stepped inside of the home. As we crouched into the large fireplace we noticed it was actually a secret passageway that led to a forest of neon trees and colorful statues. The washer and dryer were actually swirling portals you could climb through to get to new and exciting places. We quickly realized that nothing in this home was as it seemed. That expectation had us opening every cabinet, pressing every button, and opening every door. One corridor led to another and pretty soon we were lost in the disorienting swirl of strangeness. 

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

The fridge in particular was one of our favorites. Opening the large door you would typically find containers of leftovers, milk, eggs, cheese, and standard cold items, but not in this home. The fridge opens up into a hallway that leads to a big room filled with other fridge doors that all lead to different places from a desert landscape, to a plant-like alien taking over the room, to even a popsicle-themed room. We walked through a fish tank, explored an old RV, and the whole time it kept us guessing what could come next. There was even a way to activate a dance party with a descending disco ball, lights, and loud thumping music. The interactive nature of Meow Wolf was so immersive you couldn’t help but get sucked into the weirdness. 

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

Meow Wolf is a multi-sensory experience and certainly appeals to my odd side and imagination. Some of the rooms were closed off and small leading to a dead end, others were massive with multiple entrances and exits. One of those massive rooms had a large tree twisting up through the ceiling with a hollowed-out fort and bridges that connected the branches. The roof was covered in hanging white with glittering lights and storm clouds, which also oddly enough included a fat flying cat. I feel like you could go through this place hundreds of times and still find something new.

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

I loved the different themes of each section that perfectly bleed seamlessly from one place to another. We certainly got lost but I was rather fond of the grimy post-apocalyptic cyber-punk style city section. We found our way in through a door which was a vending machine on the other side. There was a LED face on the screen and the robot vending machine was both sarcastic and funny with its comments on the people coming and going. The arcade had a few interactive games, but like everything else in Meow Wolf didn’t really make sense and continued with the bizarre context of the attraction. 

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

After thoroughly exploring I have to say this has got to be one of the best art exhibits near Fort Worth and Dallas. Forget everything you know about the natural world and prepare yourself to have everything you think you know get challenged, because this odd attraction will certainly take you on a journey. If you want to adventure to this incredible place I would highly recommend it so make sure you head to the Meow Wolf art exhibit in Grapevine website to get your tickets.

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For yet another taste of Meow Wolf make sure to watch our Adventuring in the Moment video, and enjoy this weird and wonderful place.

The Fort Worth and Dallas area are worth sticking around and exploring so make sure you book a night at Hotel Vin and spend the next day on a Texas adventure. 

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Experiences|Attractions

Head Salsa Slinger John Gallegos Has Made Johnny G’s Salsa A Texas Favorite With A Cult Following

Published Aug 29, 2024

Written by 

Sarah McCosham

Some people put sriracha on everything (hello, it's me), while others hit up the hot sauce for some extra heat. Ketchup, too, is one of those all-purpose condiments that works for, well, all purposes. If you live in Texas, though, you might add BBQ sauce to that list -- and certainly salsa. Texas is known for its many popular salsas which are a key part of the state's cuisine. Many, many, a salsa company can be found headquartered in the Lone Star State, including big name players like Mrs. Renfro's and Clint's. But you know what they say about Texas -- the bigger, the better -- and this certainly applies to the state's salsa market, which supports just as many sole proprietors as big businesses.

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John Gallegos is one such sole (salsa) proprietor. Gallegos, who calls himself the Head Salsa Slinger of his namesake company, Johnny G's, has a lifelong passion for salsa that began in childhood. "My great grandfather taught me how to make our authentic hand-crafted salsa when I was just eight years old," he says, adding that this knowledge gave him a taste for high-quality, well-made salsa.

Fast forward to 2019. "We had just moved back home from the DFW area [...] jobs were getting scarce and I couldn't find anyone able to pay what I was needing, so I 'gave myself a job' with the goal just being able to make ends meet and pay some bills," he says. Texas had other plans, however.

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Johnny G's Salsa Co./Facebook

After Gallegos decided to go "Facebook official" by starting a business page for Johnny G's: "I started sharing it with friends and family," he says, and from here, word quickly spread about his tiny-but-mighty salsa company in Texas. So Gallegos went all in on his namesake company, "eventually selling on shelves and online at johnnysalsas.myshopify.com," thanks to articles and local TV spots that gave his salsas coverage. "Johnny G's took on a life of its own and now here we are selling out every weekend online and local farmer's markets," he muses.

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Johnny G's Salsa Co./Facebook

Folks come for the salsa, of course, but also the Head Salsa Slinger himself. "We're on a first-name basis with an unfathomable amount of our customers -- it's a rare instance where people know the person behind what they're getting," says Gallegos, who says he's especially proud of the cult following his little salsa business has garnered.

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Johnny G's Salsa Co./Facebook

"In Texas, people are fiercely loyal to their favorite brand of salsa the way 'car people' are loyal to a car brand [...] we'd like to think we're at the tip of that spear when it comes to a high-tier product," says Gallegos, who says his favorite part of being a small business owner is meeting new people and "seeing the look on their face the first they have a proper salsa in the form of Johnny G's Salsa Co."

Speaking of which, if you're trying Johnny G's salsa for the first time, you might want to start with either his mild Verde or Rojo options... at the other end of the spectrum is the Full Send Extra Hot, a "special salsa for a special type of person" that's "a nuked version of our delicious smokey, salsa rojo turned up to 11 with Carolina reaper chiles." Whew. Keep a glass of milk handy for this one!

This tongue-and-cheek description is what you can expect from Johnny G's, a salsa company with an owner with a big, bold, doesn't-take-himself-too-seriously personality. The kind of happiness that comes with finding your purpose in life is, frankly, infectious and immensely inspiring.

"I came from the corporate world where life tends to feel like a dead machine with no end or meaning in sight. I think I finally got fed up and pushed to the proverbial edge of the waterfall where I was either going to be eaten by the tiger chasing me to that point or jump and see what happens."

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Johnny G's Salsa Co./Facebook

We're so glad you jumped, John Gallegos. Our tacos, breakfast scrambles, and late-night chip raids thank you, too.

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Many thanks to John Gallegos, Head Salsa Slinger, for sharing the story of his inspiring Texas business. Learn more about Johnny G's Salsa Co. at its Shopify site and Facebook page.

Of course, Johnny G's is one of the many amazing small businesses in Texas; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Texas article. And be sure to follow Only In Texas on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Lone Star State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.

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