We recently took a Spring Break trip to West Texas with my sons' scout troop. A six hour drive from Austin will bring you to a countryside that is not only very beautiful but is also filled with things to do.
Touring West Texas
We recently took a Spring Break trip to West Texas with my sons' scout troop. A six hour drive from Austin will bring you to a countryside that is not only very beautiful but is also filled with things to do.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities!
Volunteering can be a great way to teach your kids the importance of giving back to the community. And having a teenager, I now have learned it is also highly rated on college applications ;o)
But it can be somewhat difficult to find places that will allow teens to volunteer. I have reached out to a number of local organizations, and here are some opportunities I have learned about!
South by Southwest Gaming Expo
The boys and I went last night and it was a lot of fun. Hundreds of game companies had their newest games available for trial. There were a lot of video games, but also some board games as well.
Explore UT
One of my all-time favorite events is happening this weekend, and it isn't just because I bleed burnt orange ;o).
Explore UT! is the University of Texas' open house. Many of the departments open up the doors and let you explore what they do. The day is filled with interesting talks, experiments and hands on activities for all ages.
Go early, as the place fills up very quickly, and parking can be tough to find. Our favorite area was the UT Engineering buildings.
Some of our don't miss events this year (based on what we enjoyed last year):
* ASME’s Rube Goldberg Machine: 20 Or More Steps to Erase a Chalkboard
* Engineer and build a balloon rocket that you can enter in a race the moon
* Design a building using toothpicks and marshmallows, and test it in earthquake conditions
* Learn how a radar gun works to measure or "clock" speed. You’ll be able to use a radar gun to test how fast a tennis ball travels when you throw it. (okay, oddly enough, my boys *loved* this and spent at least a half hour throwing the tennis ball!)
* Sample liquid nitrogen ice cream and observe flowers, bananas, a racquetball and filled balloons being frozen.
* Get a thermal look at life by taking your picture with an infrared camera, watching heat engines turn fans and power light bulbs (Another unexpected favorite!)
In addition, the Department of Theatre and Dance will present a free performance of MOVE! at 2:00 pm in conjunction with Explore UT.
Foucault's Pendulum on UT Campus
I recently heard there was a Foucault's Pendulum on the UT Campus. With two science loving boys and one science loving husband, I figured Christmas break was the perfect time to check it out!
Spring Break Trip to Big Bend
Looking for a great Spring Break Trip?
Located a short six and a half hour drive from Austin, this is a great place to visit on a long weekend or short week!
We have traveled all over the US on our trips and hit many countries as well, but only last year did we discover the gem in our own back yard! We saw things we had never seen before. It was truly amazing and I recommend it for *everyone*!
Now is the time to start planning.
Below are the details from our trip to Big Bend last year.
Wimberley Trail of Lights
Looking for a great holiday experience?
It opens the day after Thanksgiving and is lit through New Year's Eve, so there is plenty of time to catch it.
My dad was in town visiting and wanted to see the Trail of Lights, but Zilker closed down before he got into town. So, looking for another option, we stumbled into this gem!
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