I love this school and my son has literally blossomed in the 2 months he has been here! Such an…read moreamazing staff, so helpful and informative for parents like us who are so new to early learning centers/daycares. My son has been at home with dad for 3 years so all of this was very new for my family. When I first called to get information about the school it was just a wonderful conversation! Desiree was so patient with all the questions and concerns I had, such a different experience from any other place I reached out to who just seemed to be annoyed with all my questions I had. Needless to say the entire staff helped make this new transition for us all so easy and helped us every step of the way and we couldn't be happier with our decision!

My 4 year old started stepping stone in March of 2024 when I decided to return to work. It was the…read moreonly daycare with availability I felt comfortable sending him to in the area. When I came to make the initial payment and the director asked if I wanted to meet his teacher I of course said yes. We went outside where the kids played and I was excited to see who he'd be with all day. Mind you, this was to be his first time ever being away from me. His teacher was young, and looked super uninterested in talking. She said hi with what I couldn't even consider a smile, and didn't say much to my son. At drop off his first day the morning teacher didn't say much either. She didn't really offer any assistance when I was trying to leave and my son was visibly scared and upset. This went on for the weeks he was there. I did not like the staff member who hung out with the kids until his teacher showed up. She said good morning and that's about it. Towards the end I think she could tell I was irritated and offered my son things to keep him occupied while I left. My overall feel was these "teachers" don't like being there. I did not like this environment. When The lighthouse opened we made the switch and it was night and day! My son was SO EXCITED for daycare because the staff is AMAZING! I got constant updates, I don't have to ask for his meals to be updated through the day, he was engaged, the teachers are engaged and happier. I would never suggest Stepping stone to anyone.

This weekend Camp Lutherhill held the Unwind Retreat for Women. It was an awesome way to…read moreexperience this wonderful camp, wonderful women and wonderful God. We enjoyed fellowship, creation, desert before dinner rope's challenge (not me though-ha!) and wine at a nearby winery! Awesome time! Thanks be to God...and we will!

We loved our weekend retreat at Lutherhill. We can't rave enough about the friendly staff,…read moredelicious food, beautiful views, and fun activities. The night sky was also spectacular being far out of the cities.

If you're looking for an amazing summer camp, I can't recommend Electric Avenue Camps enough! My…read morekids have attended several different camps around town, and this has been their absolute favorite. Every single day they came home excited to tell me about what they did and couldn't wait to go back the next morning. The activities are creative, engaging, and so much fun, and it's obvious that so much thought goes into every day. The owner is incredible. She works so hard to create a camp where every child feels welcome, included, and excited to be there. You can truly tell how much she cares about the kids and their experience. It's rare to find a camp that is this well run while still feeling so personal. We will absolutely be back!

The manager of the After School program seems to let a lot slide. A child that i'm related to has…read moregotten hurt and bullied by a child and the young girls who work there have tried to inform the parent, but instead they get in trouble for involving themselves. This kid has come home almost everyday telling us what happened that day and it's very disheartening that she is avoiding doing anything about it and letting it continue. I hope something will actually get done about this. I like the owners very much, so it's disappointing seeing one person bring the place down.

Booked a quick workshop for a birthday last min. They were very friendly and accommodating. We made…read morecandles and a candle coaster. It doesn't take a long time but the host Jackie was super helpful and created a great memory for me. My daughter enjoyed it so she wants her party there next! We brought a cake and light snacks to enjoy. Would recommend!

From the owner: Register for a DIY workshop to create on-trend home decor from raw materials - wood signs, canvas…read morepillows, wood framed signs,, lazy susans and more! We also have blanket making and candle pouring! Enjoy a girls night out, date night, team building event, private party or birthday party at AR Workshop Cypress!

Oooh, if you like fancy theaters or Texas history or antiques or Illuminati conspiracy theories,…read moreyou simply must come visit the Austin Scottish Rite Theater (ASRT). Best known these days for delightful children's programming, the ASRT also serves as a rentable events venue, the site of many interesting touring act performances, and the ongoing home of one of the oldest Freemason groups in the state, Austin Lodge #12. The building was constructed in 1871 as a German opera house called Turner Hall, and you'll still find many interesting architectural details that hint at the original use. There's even an official state historical marker medallion out front. You can learn more about the fascinating history of the building and the men who met here over the years at the Freemason's site, http://www.austinscottishrite.com/av-temple/ and Historic Theatre Photos, https://www.historictheatrephotos.com/Theatre/Scottish-Rite-Austin.aspx My usual reason to be here is to hear some live music by one of our awesome local bands, or a touring act that is willing to perform in a venue that holds less than 400 audience members. The seats are comfortable and the room is gorgeous, from the old-time decor around the stage to the dreamy night sky on the ceiling and the priceless hand-painted antique backdrops. I really enjoy the intimate listening space and ease of movement out to lounges and the restroom, especially from the first row of the back of the theater. Parking for evening and weekend events is not too bad. There's a small surface lot at 1710 Colorado that is free for theater visitors after 5:30p and on weekends. If that doesn't work out, there is ample metered street parking managed by Texas Capitol (not by City of Austin) and a few private surface lots around with pay-on-site or reservations through ParkWhiz app. I usually don't have to walk more than a couple of blocks or pay more than 5 bucks. One thing that is not easy to do is to understand when upcoming public events are happening at ASRT. The theater's calendar lists only productions that they are managing directly (such as children's plays), and this is only a small sliver of what goes on here. However, if you are tuned into our local performing arts & culture scene, chances are that you'll see some upcoming events scheduled at ASRT and promoted through the hosting organization, such as SXSW, Sonic Guild, Russian Speaker Society of Austin, and others.

My family attended a Russian performance and this theatre delivers on the atmosphere and customer…read moreservice! It is an older theatre, with not a whole lot of seating. It is perfect for local Austin cultural groups who want their community to get together.

The spinning wheel is such a cute spot to be creative with friends! I hosted a spinning class with…read moreall of my girl friends and had an amazing night. The staff was so informative and attentive with helping us hone our craft. They were so accommodating, letting us set up snacks and drinks for our big group and stayed a little late to let everyone finish up. We can't wait to come back!

I attended a Valentine's Day event last month with The ATX Dog Mom Social Club at The Spinning…read moreWheel. There was confusion over pricing and timing. The event post noted one price and when we got to the event, we were told it would cost extra to glaze the bowl which was a necessary step make the clay piece food-safe. We were making dog bowls so of course we wanted them to be food-safe but it was a bummer that we would have to pay an additional fee on top of what we had already paid. I was charged more than others in my group! We were instructed to make our bowls outside on the picnic tables which weren't flat surfaces. The event poster also stated that we could shape our clay by hand or use the spinning wheel. The spinning wheels weren't even offered to us. Overall, I attended this event to make new friends and create something nice for my dog. I accomplished both so that was a win! While I most likely won't come back, this business is a fun concept that is great for groups of young children and I even saw a mother bring in her young daughter with her to glaze pottery together which was so sweet but the pricing and timing to pick up your artwork could be clearer. Also parking is very limited so park next door at the gymnasium.

My daughter is a perennial participant and has enjoyed the welcoming, supportive and inclusive…read moreenvironment of the leadership, counselors and other staff and attendees.

Went here and was awful. First of all the coddling I received was god awful. Rule of three is…read moreinsane and we can't fill our own water bottles. Also I got bullied and isolated A LOT and the counselors didn't do anything except shush me. The vegetarian food is BELOW subpar and when I sent a letter home telling my mother about it I was pulled aside and told off. The sleeping rules are cumbersome. Was totally ignored most of the time and generally felt pretty down about everything. Counselors were rather mean. All in all a very very bad place for kids unless they are bullies or conformists. Also vegans beware. Was not asked permission before they filmed a TikTok and now my face is out there

Let me try to be succinct: This camp poses as a gifted and talented (GT) camp; in fact it requires…read morea school reference in the application. However, there are no GT activities; just an open-play running around camp that focuses on "peace" and is run by a devout Buddhist and her family. Other than being something completely different than the expected interesting project-based camp, the owner Terry is incredibly rude. When I inquired about the 10% late fee (I paid 6 days late in March for a June camp) of $300.00, she informed me I could "take my kids out.. " Then I asked, can I pay with a credit card... "what do you think I am, a bank???", do you have a discount for a second child? "sniff, we pay the TEACHERS the same don't we???" Very rude; then all June received "peace" lesson emails on a daily business; ironic! Biggest cons: Camp is run-down and dusty; no first-aid kit; no structured activities, no GT activities; a lot of meditation, head of camp is incredibly rude; absolutely nothing comes up on the camp via Google search [so strange]; and some weird slanted political papers float in your kids' backpacks. Now, to be fair and balanced, it has a lot of positive word-of-mouth from parents, the late fee is posted on the bill (got it several days after due date from spouse). If you don't have high expectations for a "GT" type camp and don't feel nervous about the chanting and meditating, or having your kid's labels read every lunch and food taken that has any hint of sugar or fat in first 3 ingredients (oh that dreaded Cliff bar) , then it's fine. For us, it definitely did not meet our camp expectations, particularly for the high price.

A very good camp for all GT students. At this camp, GT students are able to have fun and learn the…read moresocial skills that are not typically taught in a classroom setting. Every morning begins with a daily lesson on how to communicate with others with kindness, peace and self-awareness. Then they are split off into the classes they signed up for, which include a large array of unique classes that teach skills not found in many other schools or camps, such as basket weaving, acting, and building. After morning classes, students are encouraged to eat a healthy lunch, avoiding products with too much sugar, as to help them keep up their energy throughout the day. After lunch, the kids have a few hours of free choice where they can choose between swimming in the pool, playing games, riding horses, jumping on the trampoline and playing games out in "the maze". The staff is friendly, kind, and hardworking. They all work very well with kids and the kids seem to enjoy their company. The one draw back is that it is an outdoors camp, but the kids never seem to mind, they all say that they enjoy the camp and can't wait to come back the next year. Overall, this is a very good camp and I encourage you to bring your children.

My two kids have been attending McDonald Ranch in their after-school program for 2 years now and…read moreLOVE IT. My daughter is now 7 years old and my son just turned 10. They have a couple of friends from their school but also have made new friends from other schools. Both my kids are learning to ride horses; They have discovered their enjoyment with pottery because of this Ranch after school program; Their engagement with dogs, kittens and goats have just opened up their world & care for animals; The ability for the Ranch to drop them off to our home in the evening is SUPER APPRECIATED because my husband and I both work until 5pm; The Friday outings Linda takes the kids on is always looked-forward to by both my kids and I love that they get to visit new places and do new things! Taking care of kids is tough. Yes there can be issues with so many kids but Linda has immediately addressed any concern I've had and made me 100% trust her and the program. I continue to send my kids, they continue to enjoy the heck out of it and I continue to share with other friends who have kids how this after-school program is FANTASTIC.

My daughter has been going to McDonald Ranch for several years, both after school and during the…read moresummer. She absolutely loves it. She is getting older and still wants to be there. The program has provided her with an opportunity to graduate to a counselor someday and it is her biggest life goal. As a helper at the moment she truly relishes the opportunity to be a leader to the younger kids. McDonald Ranch was her first exposure to riding horses and to farm animals in general. This experience has been life changing for our whole family. Richard and Linda have a difficult job dealing with kids and parents who aren't always easy. They are kind, and fair, and patient. They have provided transportation to their program, which would have otherwise been impossible for us. It's not fancy but it is real life.

I had such a great time at Sherwood Forest Faire! There's truly something for everyone, lots of…read moreactivities, amazing food options, and such a fun, welcoming atmosphere. One of the highlights for me was how inclusive the food selection felt. I had a really tasty vegan curry and some churros that definitely hit the spot. The entertainment was nonstop. There's live music, plenty of shows to check out, and even jousting, which was so fun to watch. It's also super family-friendly--I saw lots of strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs, and everything seemed really accessible and easy to navigate. I love that your ticket covers entry without any extra hassle no paying for parking or dealing with a complicated ticket system just to buy food. That made the whole experience feel more relaxed and enjoyable. I'm thinking about making this an annual tradition. Definitely recommend checking it out! Although I think I went on the last day so you'll have to go next year!

My family and I visited Sherwood Forest Faire while one of our kids was visiting during Spring…read moreBreak. We bought our tickets online and headed out there. While driving in there were several people guiding everyone where to park. Pay attention to the section you park so you don't get lost finding your way back when you are ready to leave. After parking we walked up to the Faire entrance, someone scanned our tickets and we were in. Once we were in we walked around. We watched some live music by Amanda Kitchens Carnival Sound Band. We shopped and I bought two crowns from Medieval Metal. We watched jousting and sword fighting. We ate pizza from Dante's, fries, and a Pineapple Dole Soft Serve from Robin's Kitchen and Sweets. Overall it was a fun filled Faire Day.