This list of Fun Things To Do In Austin was originally compiled by Andreas Speigl in February/March of 1993. Andreas has since left Austin, and obsessive/compulsive that I am about keeping lists of stuff, I couldn't bear for this one to just disappear. So with Andreas' permission, I've taken over its care and feeding.
Andreas didn't summarize who all contributed to this list (according to him, there were 42 contributors), so (unlike the Austin food lists), there is no 'Contributors:' section...sure hope no-one gets miffed if I add their suggestion to the list but their name doesn't get mentioned.
As always, this list is a 'work in progress', so if you have any corrections, comments, updates, or especially new recommendations, please send them to me at jlpicard@austin.ibm.com or jlpicard@wixer.bga.com.
Without further ado:
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Town Lake
Town Lake is the thickening of the river through downtown. rent a canoe, canoe into Barton Springs to see all the wildlife.
Zilker Park and the Botanical Gardens there: Ride the little train, feed the ducks; also the Zilker Garden Center, which is a beautifully landscaped and terraced hillside with many points of interest and the rose garden at the bottom. Austin Nature Center: (??same as Bot.Gardens??) It has several indoor exhibits, several nature trials, and a live animal exhibit.
Hiking along the Barton Creek Greenbelt
Downtown bats
If you have guests visiting during the summer, you must show them Austin's urbin bat colony under the Congress street bridge. The bats all fly out together from the north side of the bridge around dusk during the summer. It is really impressive. (but a bummer during the winter)
Highway 360 is supposed to be one of the most scenic drives in Austin.
Barton Springs
Mount Bonnell:
A gentle climb up stone steps, to a knoll at the top with picnic tables, from which you can see all of Austin. Pretty for picnic.
This is the place that was responsible for Austin being selected as the capital of Texas. It has a great view of Downtown Austin, Lake Austin, and the loop 360 bridge.
You just go out W. 35th St. all the way past Mo-Pac (2222 W) until you get to Mt. Bonnell Road. Then turn right, and you go up this really steep hill! The drive itself is an adventure. When you get to the top, there is a park where you can get out and look around. There is an excellent view of Lake Austin to the west, and the Austin skyline (including the UT Tower and the Capitol) back to the southeast.
The Oasis for a wonderful sunset
Don't try to eat dinner at the Oasis. The food is awful. Also be warned that on a Saturday when the weather turns nice around 6pm or so the line'll stretch for several hundred feet.
'But there is something nice about watching the sunset from the patio of The Oasis while a bit dizzy from Margaritas.'
Alternative: Mt Bonnell, Barton Creek Mall(!)
Windy Point at Lake Travis
Good swimming and picnic area with lots of windsurfers. Windy point is further down the same road that the Oasis is on.
Enchanted Rock State Park
About 30 minutes North of Fredricksburg is the second largest outcropping of granite in the US. It rises about 500 ft in 1/8 mile. Nice park, trails, Beautiful view. Carry a water jug up if you climb it. Lots of cactus, deer, and armadillos to go with the scenery, and some excellent rock climbing for the adventurous.
March is a good time to do this sort of thing -- all of the roadside flowers (bluebonnets, indian paintbrushes) are starting to bloom.
Sunsets: there's a westward-facing scenic overlook on the trail to one of the primitive campgrounds that is perfect for watching sunsets. It's almost worth timing your arrival. Sunrise: 'a few years back a friend & I timed an ER trip such that we could get up on the rock for sunrise. I think that would have to go down as my fave trip to ER...'
Some say ER is like the stereotypical `Texas'. $5/car to park for the day.
Pedernales Falls State Park
It is about 1 hour from Austin and has some very nice hiking places. It's about 50 miles from Austin and on the way to the enchanted rock (about a 30-mile detour). There's a swimming area, though I suspect it's pretty crowded on weekends, so you may want to consider visiting it on during the week. The falls are very impressive after a big rain, and there are some pretty nice hiking trails that parallel the river.
A very serene place for a quite evening by the river.
McKinney Falls
This is rumoured to be a really nice place, and it's a lot closer to Austin than Enchanted Rock.
Be aware that it is very close to a sewage treatment plant, and if the wind is wrong it can be pretty unpleasant. 'McKinney Falls is nothing if you've ever been to Perdenales Falls.'
LBJ Ranch (near Johnson City (see also: 6. Other Cities)) It is a pretty big ranch that is now a museum. Visitors might want to see a 'real' Texas ranch. (buffalos, longhorns, etc.) Especially nice in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Wildflowers Blooming
In the Spring you should definitely drive up into the hill country and see the wildflowers go ape. Just about everything from here to Marble Falls, Burnett, and Llano is full of color, and it ain't like being in Kansas anymore.
5 caves in Texas
Inner space, Natural bridge, Longhorn, ??)
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Wild Basin Nature Preserve (off Loop 360).
Guadalupe River State Park (south of Austin maybe 50 mi)
Inks Lake State Park (northwest maybe 30 mi)
Palmetto State Park
Buescher State Park (near Bastrop)
Hamilton Pool County Park (off Hwy. 71 toward Llano)
Bull Creek Park on 360 between 2222 and Spicewood Springs Road. It has some nice, but relatively small waterfalls.
Trip on the Hill Country Flyer
It leaves out of Cedar Park and goes to the city of Burnet and back. It gives you a good view of the Hill country. It's a steam locomotive and old restored train cars. You will need reservations, and the sooner the better since they only make something like one or two trips a week (on the weekend they borrow their track from a real train and thus can't use it during the week).
Hippie Hollow
'Clothing Optional' bathing and sunworship. If you're a nudist, this is the place to go (although there are a few too many overt gawkers and perverts for my taste).
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UT Campus: (Check with the Visitor Center for a self-guided walking tour)
LBJ Library (Lyndon B. Johnson)
often has interesting exhibits
HRC (Harry Ramson Center) (21st and Guadalupe) to see the/an original Gutenberg bible
Texas Memorial Museum(?)
Capitol
Laguna Gloria Art Museum (on the way to Mt Bonnell)
Austin is a relative newcomer in the wine business and there are several wineries in the vicinity that offer tours. The same goes for breweries. I doubt these will compare to those in Germany, but Hill country wines are supposed to be unique.
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Austin is also known as a great music city with a lot of local talent. Often called 'alternative music' until they become more nationally known, such bands can be found at the Continental Club, the Lizard Lounge, and several other places. Naturally, wandering 6th street is a good fall-back.
Don't miss an evening at the Split Rail on South Lamar, the original country western music place in town, where everyone who is anyone in country music once has played. don't eat the food there though ... prepare to dance the Texas Two-Step and the Cotton-Eyed Joe....
A weekend concert at Symphony Square, the Austin Opery, Captain Tom's, or Gruene Hall (take IH35 towards San Marcus)
Antone's tends to have the biggest names.
La Zona Rosa is supposedly the hip spot.
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Iceskating: there is an icerink in Northcross Mall.
If your parents are into go-carts, they have a 60mph go-cart track between San Marcos and Austin. I forget the name, but it is just around Buda. Fun, but not for the faint of heart. [sorry, I've been informed that this place na longer exists -ed]
Esther's Follys comedy show on 6th (but it might be too locally and nationally oriented to be funny to folks from out of the country).
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MEXICAN:
Chuy's on Barton Springs Dr.
La Fonda de San Miguel, 51st and Shoal Creek: (a little pricey) The best way to sample GOOD Mexican cooking...the Sunday Brunch is said to be really good.
Botanitas on S. 1st
Nuevo Leon
El Azteca
Peso's
Seis Salsas
A La Carrera
BARBECUE/TEXAS-STYLE:
Kreuz Market in Lockhart
In Lockhard there is also a nice little store at the town center were my German friends like to stock up on Levi`s jeans for some $16. I think they are called Rosenblums or something similar.
The Salt Lick near Driftwood
It's an all-you-can-eat in a cowboy bunk house on a ranch. Famous for decades among locals.
All you can eat BBQ ribs, brisket and sausage for $8.95 (bring your own beer though). The best way is to go down Mopac southbound pass Barton Creek Square mall, turning onto westbound 290. Keep going until you come to a Y in the road (at Oak Hill) and take the left fork (approximately 7 miles from leaving Mopac). Approximately 1-2 miles from the Y, you'll come across a traffic light for the RR 1826 T junction. Take a left at the light and go down 1826 for about 11 miles to Driftwood (where you'll find The Salt Lick on the right). They're closed Mon-Tue and you should go early (like 5.30 or so) to avoid long waits.
Threadgill's
Texas home-cooking style cooking at its best (meats & vegetables).
The Broken Spoke
THE authentic Texas chicken-fried steak experience; it's really more a pool hall & country dancing place than restaurant. |
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