Three Great Things To Do in Austin, Texas

Top Active Adventures in Austin

Austin, Texas is a great place for active adventures over a long weekend.  In addition to live music, good barbeque, and the LBJ Presidential Museum there are lots of dynamic ways to explore this fun city.  Here are my top three picks:

Self-guided bike tour:

Austin is known for its terrific outdoor murals and street art. These artistic creations are often thought provoking, colorful, humorous and/or whimsical. One of the best ways to experience them is with a self-guided bike tour. There are too many murals to see in one day, however, so plan a route according to how long you want to ride. Make sure to see the Greetings From Austin and the We Rise murals. You might want to finish your ride with a stop at Lazarus Brewing Company for a craft beer.

Take a swim in a hot spring:

Barton Springs Pool is centrally located in Austin and a very picturesque spot for a swim. This natural pool is three acres in size and varies in depth from 1 to 18 feet. It is fed by underground springs, so the water temperature is between 68 and 70 degrees. There is a grassy lounge area to hang out and dry off and a nearby bathhouse. Adult admission for non-residents is 9 dollars.

Hike along the lake with Stevie Ray Vaughan and bats:

The Butler Hike and Bike Trail that hugs Lady Bird Lake is a gem in the city of Austin. This ten-mile trail is a great place to bike or hike while exploring Austin. In the Auditorium Shores section, you will find the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue which pays tribute to this blues great and native Texan. If you hike or bike along the trail around sunset be sure to stop off at the Congress Avenue Bridge. This bridge is the home to thousands of bats; in fact, it is the biggest urban bat population in North America. You can watch the bats fly out from under the bridge around sunset and into the evening. The best time of year is between March and early Fall. Make sure to get there a little early because it tends to attract lots of sight seers.

After a big day of active exploring grab some fish tacos at Guero’s Tacos Bar and listen to the live music on their outdoor patio or indulge in some barbeque at Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar B Que.  

If you are interested in more city hiking and walking guides check out my post on Quebec City. Make sure to click on the subscribe link in the upper right or your screen so you don’t miss any of my posts.