Baby & Me: Your Austin Fall Guide
This is my first fall as both a founder and a new mom, and I’m learning that both roles require the same thing: showing up, staying present, and embracing the messy moments. As we build Recess into Austin’s go-to platform for discovering and booking children’s activities, I’m also discovering fall through my daughter’s eyes for the first time. She’s nine months old now, full of curiosity and just starting to explore the world on her own terms. Between building out our platform and watching her grab fistfuls of leaves, I’m constantly reminded that the best activities don’t need to be complicated. They just need to meet your baby where they are.
Fall in Austin offers something special for families with young children. The weather finally breaks, pumpkin patches open their gates, and suddenly outdoor exploration feels possible again after a hot Texas summer. Whether you’re looking for activities to do at home during those in-between moments or planning your first pumpkin patch visit, here’s what I’ve learned works beautifully for babies around nine months old.
What babies enjoy around 9 months
Before we dive into specific activities, it helps to understand what’s happening developmentally. Babies at this age are sensory explorers. They’re sitting independently, many are crawling or scooting, and they’re using their hands and mouths to investigate everything within reach. They respond to different textures, sounds, and visual contrasts. They’re also developing object permanence, which makes peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek games endlessly fascinating.
This means the best fall activities engage multiple senses at once. Think about the crunch of leaves, the bumpy texture of a pumpkin, the cool smoothness of apple slices, or the surprising squish of cooked sweet potato. Your baby doesn’t need elaborate setups or expensive materials. They need safe opportunities to touch, taste, hear, and explore.
Austin’s best fall destinations for babies
Now that the heat has broken, it’s finally time to get outside. Austin has several pumpkin patches and fall venues that genuinely welcome babies, not just older kids. Here’s what I’ve found works well.
Uhland Fall Fest is probably the most baby-friendly option in the Austin area, located 25 miles south of Austin in Uhland. Open weekends from September 27 through November 2, 2025, babies three and under get in completely free. The venue was explicitly designed with strollers in mind, featuring multiple mothers’ rooms throughout the property, smooth paths for easy navigation, and extensive shade from 100-year-old cottonwood trees. For a baby who’s still adjusting to new environments, the shaded hammock areas and laid-back atmosphere make this less overwhelming than some larger venues. Their Kinderville zone includes a corn pit perfect for babies who are sitting or crawling, and with 50-plus activities spread across 12 family fun zones, you can explore at your own pace without feeling pressured to do everything. The petting zoo, pony rides (mostly fun to watch at this age), and 30-plus varieties of pumpkins provide plenty of visual interest and tactile exploration opportunities.
Sweet Eats Adventure Farm in Georgetown (30 minutes north of Austin) offers the most comprehensive experience. Open daily from September 20 through November 7, 2025, babies 23 months and under get in free. The massive petting zoo includes baby chicks, bunnies, goats, and llamas, all gentle animals that are appropriately sized for infant interaction with supervision. The pig races provide entertaining visual interest, and unlimited pony rides are included with adult admission. They offer pumpkin painting and 40-plus varieties of pumpkins sold by the pound. The farm operates cashless, so plan accordingly. Food trucks and an on-site bakery mean you can stay for several hours. While strollers work on most of the property, an all-terrain stroller handles the rougher terrain better, and bringing a baby carrier for certain areas makes navigation easier.
Texas Pumpkin Fest in Leander excels at accessibility. Open Fridays through Sundays (plus October 13) from October 3 through November 1, 2025, kids in diapers get in free. The entire 10-acre property is ADA-compliant with ADA restrooms and wheelchair-accessible train rides. The rear train car has a ramp specifically for strollers and wheelchairs, making this ideal when you’re managing multiple bags and gear. Every child receives a free mini-pumpkin to take home, which becomes a perfect toy for your baby to examine for weeks afterward. The venue includes hay mountains, live music, multiple photo opportunities, and feels spacious rather than crowded. Small coolers and chairs are allowed, and parking is free.
Indian Springs Ranch in South Austin (Manchaca) offers a more intimate, family-owned experience on 50 acres. Open weekends from September 27 through November 1, 2025, this ranch features exotic animal encounters with over 30 species including bison, alpacas, peacocks, kangaroos, and camels. These animals are observed from safe distances, making this appropriate for babies who might be startled by up-close encounters. The low ropes course playground targets younger children, the jumping pillow provides entertainment (mostly for watching at this age), and the corn pit offers sensory play. Scenic Colorado River views make this visually beautiful, and the family-owned atmosphere means smaller crowds. Local food and drinks are available on-site.
Mama Mary’s Farm in Creedmoor (less than 30 minutes from Austin) provides the smallest, most intimate option. Open Wednesday through Sunday from September 28 through November 2, 2025, this small family farm includes baby goats that eat from your hand, hay rides, tractor tire playground, and pumpkin painting. All activities are included with admission, so you don’t need to manage multiple tickets. However, the entrance is bumpy and not particularly stroller-friendly, though the interior is more manageable. There’s limited shade, so visit during cooler morning hours and bring sun protection. This works better for babies who can walk a bit or are content being worn in a carrier.
Beyond pumpkin patches, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (4801 La Crosse Ave) offers peaceful, scenic walks on completely stroller-friendly paths. The family garden area provides space for babies to explore safely, and the overall environment feels calm rather than overstimulating. While not fall-specific, the cooler autumn weather makes this ideal for morning outings when babies are most alert.
Zilker Park (2220 Barton Springs Rd) remains Austin’s most iconic park with expansive green spaces perfect for picnics and exploration. Stroller-friendly paths, proximity to Lady Bird Lake trail, and the adjacent Austin Nature & Science Center (free admission) make this an excellent base for fall adventures. Note that the playground closes October 5-7 and October 12-14 during ACL Music Festival.
Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail provides 10 miles of completely stroller-friendly trail around the lake with different sections offering varied experiences. Shaded sections along the creek provide relief, and the scenic water views create a peaceful atmosphere. This trail connects to multiple parks, making it easy to plan longer outings.
For unpredictable hot fall days, Thinkery (1830 Simond Ave), Austin’s children’s museum, offers Baby Bloomers programming every Monday and Saturday from 8-10am for ages zero to three. These early hours reserve the museum specifically for babies and toddlers, meaning less crowding and age-appropriate activities in a climate-controlled environment.
At-home fall activities
Sensory bags and bottles have become my secret weapon for those moments when we’re stuck inside but need something engaging. Fill a large ziplock bag with faux fall leaves, orange and red water, and a handful of glitter. Seal it thoroughly and tape it to the floor or a window. Your baby can squish and press without any mess or choking hazards. These bags work brilliantly for tummy time or for babies who are cruising furniture. You can also create fall sensory bottles by filling clear plastic bottles with water, fall-colored leaves, and clear glue to make everything float slowly. Tape the lid shut and let your baby shake, roll, and study it.
Real pumpkin exploration is messy but worth it. Cut open a small pumpkin and let your baby touch the insides. The slimy texture, the stringy pulp, and the surprising seeds offer a completely novel sensory experience. Put your baby in just a diaper, place the pumpkin in a shallow bin, and let them dig in. This is the kind of tactile play that develops their willingness to explore unfamiliar textures, which matters more than you might think for future feeding and sensory processing.
For something less messy, try a fall treasure basket. Fill a low basket with safe-sized fall objects: small pumpkins, large pinecones, silk leaves in different colors, smooth gourds, and wooden spoons. This Montessori-inspired approach lets babies explore real objects while you narrate what they’re touching. “That’s a bumpy gourd. Can you feel the ridges?” Simple narration like this builds vocabulary even before babies can talk back.
Edible sensory play solves the problem of babies who put everything in their mouths. Make Jell-O in fall colors and cut it into chunks for squishing and tasting. Create a sensory bin using Cheerios as the base, add cinnamon sticks for scent, and hide small toys for discovery. Or try oatmeal mixed with real apple pieces. Everything is safe to ingest, so you can relax while your baby explores.
Water activities remain endlessly engaging at this age. Fill a shallow bin with warm water and add small pumpkins for washing, faux leaves for floating, or cups for pouring practice. Water play builds fine motor strength and provides calming sensory input, but you must supervise closely since babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
This fall season matters not because you’ll remember every pumpkin patch visit, but because you’re building your baby’s confidence with new environments, textures, and experiences. Whether you’re creating sensory bags at home or visiting a local farm, you’re teaching your child that the world is safe to explore. And honestly, that’s exactly what I’m trying to build with Recess too: a way for families to discover activities that meet their children exactly where they are, with confidence and less overwhelm. Here’s to first falls, first ventures, and figuring it all out together.
Looking for something else? You can find more recommendations on the Recess events page!
Whether you’re out honoring heroes or dancing to a food truck beat, there’s no wrong way to make the most of Memorial Day weekend. And if you’re looking for more family fun? Recess has plenty more programs, classes, and events ready when you are.
