THE CAPITAL WITH KIDS

Travel tips from YouTube mega-stars

WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

IF YOUR CHILD IS A YOUTUBE FANATIC, chances are they know all about the Izzys. The longtime Austin residents—known to viewers as Stridor (mom), Eddie (dad) and Bubs (their 6-year-old son)— started making videos in 2016, showcasing their elaborate train-track builds. Fast forward to 2020, and they’ve reached a billion (yes, billion with a B) views on their main channel, youtube.com/theizzys. Today their videos range from creating a LEGO obstacle course for Happy the Hamster to playing video games to opening fan mail from their 920,000 subscribers. We tapped the bona fide YouTube stars to give us their recommendations for a trip to the state capital with kids.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Zilker Park. Dubbed “Austin’s mostloved park,” it stretches across 351 acres in the heart of the city. “Take a ride on the Zilker Zephyr train,” Stridor suggests. There’s also a huge playground, canoeing, the Barton Springs pool, Barking Springs for your pup and more. The Izzys like to start their Zilker Park outings with a family picnic— P. Terry’s Burger Stand is their choice.

Later, enjoy the city by land and water with Austin Duck Adventures. “They tell you lots of interesting facts I never knew about Austin, and you get to boat on the lake and quack at people along the way,” Stridor says, adding that you should check Groupon for discounts before buying tickets.

The Texas heat can creep up anytime, so it’s good to have some indoor spots on your itinerary. Stridor recommends The Thinkery, Austin’s children’s museum. “We love it here,” she smiles. “We shot a show on it awhile back; you can check it out to get a better feel of it.” When the kids have worn you out there, make your way downtown to the Central Library. “This place is a work of art,” says Stridor. “I bring kids here just to walk through, and I drink a cup of coffee at the top.”

After a full day, both you and the kids are no doubt hungry. According to Stridor, Phil’s Icehouse on South Lamar is a great choice. “Hello, playground!” she says. “They have ‘parent recess’ prices on beer and wine, and there is an Amy’s Ice Cream.”

When the Izzys have guests, they take them to The Oasis on Lake Travis. “There’s music and tons to see,” says Stridor. “Get there early if you want to sit right on the rail, closest to the water.”

When you’ve wrapped up dinner, there’s one more outdoor outing that’s an Austin must. “We have bats!” Stridor exclaims. “They leave their spot under the Congress Avenue Bridge every night and it is amazing. And a little stinky.” But worth it to see North America’s largest urban bat population (we’re talking hundreds of thousands of bats) start their night flight. The bats are active from late March through early fall and begin to move between 7:30 and 9:45pm.

For a cool hotel pick, Stridor suggests the Austin Motel on South Congress. “It’s weird. I like weird,” she explains. There’s also The Driskill, the iconic property on Sixth Street. “This is my husband’s pick. Because it’s haunted,” Stridor says. “He’ll be staying there alone.”