Spring Break in Dripping Springs: What to Do With the Kids This Week

DSISD is officially on Spring Break from March 16–20, and if your family is staying in the Hill Country this week, you have more options than you might think.

Here's a quick guide to getting outside, making memories, and maybe even tiring the kids out before bedtime.

Ranch Park Is Basically HQ All Week

Dripping Springs Ranch Park (1042 Event Center Dr.) has a full slate of Spring Break programming. The Tween Scene: Spring Break series gives middle schoolers a supervised, fun-filled space with games, music, and themed activities each day. Check drippingspringsranchpark.com for the daily schedule.

There's also naturalist-led programming throughout the week — guided outdoor sessions, wildlife observation, and interpretive hikes designed for families.

Don't miss the Star Party on Thursday, March 20, 8–9 PM. Free for all ages. Dripping Springs is one of fewer than 30 International Dark Sky Communities in the United States, and the Ranch Park star parties are one of the best ways to actually experience it. Bring a blanket.

Hit the Farmers Market on Wednesday

The Dripping Springs Farmers Market runs every Wednesday, 3–6 PM at Ranch Park — and Spring Break week is actually a great time to go. Fewer weekday commuters, more breathing room, and local vendors in full swing as the growing season kicks off. Fresh produce, local honey, Hill Country snacks, and a genuinely good outdoor hang.

Get Outside the City Limits

You don't have to drive far for proper Hill Country adventure.

Hamilton Pool Preserve (about 15 miles west on TX-71) is one of the most spectacular spots in Central Texas — a limestone grotto, waterfall, and trail system that feels genuinely wild. Swimming is allowed when water quality permits; check the Travis County Parks reservation system and book in advance. This place fills up fast during Spring Break.

Pedernales Falls State Park (about 9 miles east on FM 3232) is one of the most accessible state parks in the Hill Country. Walk the river gorge, let kids splash in the shallows when conditions allow, and enjoy views of the Pedernales that you just can't replicate anywhere in suburban Austin.

Explore Downtown Dripping Springs

Mercer Street has been evolving fast. Spring Break is a good excuse to spend an afternoon downtown if you haven't lately.

Rice and Oak Thai Texas Grill Kitchen (1025 Cannon Dr., Ste. 105) opened earlier this year — woks, curries, rice bowls, and soups from the family behind the beloved Aroi Thai food truck in Belterra. If you've been meaning to try it, this is the week.

Local shops, coffee, and outdoor seating make for an easy afternoon if the weather cooperates. And keep an eye on what's coming to Mercer Street later this spring — the restaurant scene here is only going to get more interesting.

Why It Matters

Spring Break can feel like a scramble, especially in a fast-growing town. But Dripping Springs has something most communities don't: genuine outdoor infrastructure, right outside the door.

State parks. Dark skies. A ranch park that programs all week for kids. A working farmers market. Trails. Hill country roads that lead somewhere worth going.

You don't need to drive to San Antonio or pack into a theme park. A great week is already here.

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DSISD Spring Break runs March 16–20. Dripping Springs Ranch Park: drippingspringsranchpark.com | Hamilton Pool Preserve reservations: travis.reserveamerica.com | Pedernales Falls State Park: tpwd.texas.gov