Outdoor
Enjoy Town Lake
To the uninitiated, it looks more like a river winding through Austin, and originally it was the Colorado River. Lots of ways to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving downtown.
| Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail is the easiest and cheapest way to enjoy Austin outdoors. Here’s a map. You can throw on tennis shoes and go, or rent a bike from a nearby bike store like the Bicycle Sport Shop, then ride a few blocks south to join the Hike and Bike Trail. |
| Ride a Riverboat – Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises Double-decked, Paddle-wheel riverboat. Float downtown, or go on a sunset cruise on Town Lake and see the bats. Touristy, yes, but fun. |
| Bats! See 75,000 bats streaming from the Congess Avenue bridge over Town Lake at sunset. Best viewing locations: The grassy knoll by the Austin-American-Statesman offices, or from TGI Friday’s in the Radisson. |
Biking
It’s not by accident that Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, calls Austin his home.
For Trail information and upcoming cycling events click here.
The Veloway, a paved car-free road, winding through a preserve. Great for biking or roller blading. You’ll need to drive there. Scroll to the bottom of this Parks and Recreation Page for more info.
Running
5 K races -- Just about every weekend, you can find a 5K race in Austin. Run Tex co-sponsors many of the races, so you can find them listed here.
Marathons and Triathlons. You can usually count on 3M for a Half Marathon Race in January, a marathon in February, and the Capitol 10,000 race in April.
Other ways to be outdoors
Austin has lots of lakes, and it’s easy to rent moter boats/ ski boats/ or pontoons at places like http://www.aquaholic.org/ and http://www.beachfrontboats.com/
Austin Zoo – This is a small zoo, serving primarily to rescue animals. The benefit of the size is that you can get really close to the animals. There’s nothing like seeing a lion close-up.
Barton Springs Swimming Pool – My grandmother tells me stories of swimming at this spring-fed pool in the 1920’s when she was a student at the University of Texas. She took the trolley there. Thanks to the springs, the pool stays at a constant temperature of 68 degrees. It feels warm in the winter. I’ll let you decide how it feels in the summer!
Hamilton Pool – Located 30 miles West of Austin, this beautiful natural pool and grotto is worth visiting. Be sure and check the website for directions and hours. It’s often closed and only allows a certain number of cars per day when open.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – If you like plants…
Mount Bonnell – Nice view. Space to picnic and walk around. About 15 minute drive from downtown.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden – Beautiful outdoor sculpture garden and museum, located near downtown.
Volente Beach – Waterpark for kids, on Lake Travis.
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve – 227 acres, about 20 minutes from downtown. Hike to your heart’s content.
Zilker botanical Gardens – Near downtown. Nice walk through beautiful gardens.
Zilker Park – 351-acre park. Playground and train for kids. Sports. Hillside Theatre. Barton Springs Pool. Boat rental. And more.
Outdoor Restaurants
Perhaps the best way to enjoy the outdoors is with a margarita in one hand. Here are some restaurants where you can enjoy outdoor seating:
Shady Grove – Near downtown
Oasis – Overlooking Lake Travis. Known for beautiful sunsets, not for food.
Iguana Grill – Delicious Tex Mex/ Yucatan food. Yummy margaritas, and beautiful view of the lake. Downside: 40-minute drive from downtown. But with a designated driver, it’s worth it!
I’ll keep adding to this page! I know maps would help. You can email your recommendations to me at: .
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