Austin, Texas: Things to do

Austin is a popular destination due to its live music venues,outdoor activities and food scene. This thriving community is known for its diversity and culture.

Henbit began as a New York-style pizza food truck but has expanded into a brick-and-mortar eatery serving up comforting Italian fare,like its practically viral cacio e pepe arancini.

Music

Music is big in Austin,contributing 1.7 billion dollars to the city’s economy each year. You can enjoy live music in more than 250 venues throughout the Texas capital,including internationally renowned festivals.

You can rub elbows with cowboys in the Little Longhorn Saloon (an Allandale dive that hosts country music acts),listen to smooth jazz at the Elephant Room,or discover Tejano rhythms in a cozy East Austin pub. Some of the smallest venues produce some of the biggest sounds,such as Grammy-nominated rock & soul artist Black Pumas at downtown’s Continental Gallery or ascending funk-rock band The Skunks at the infamous Cactus Cafe on campus.

Many musicians who’ve banged their head against the wall in Nashville,LA and NYC move to Austin for its noncompetitive creative vibe. It’s not about how much money you make or how many hits on the radio; here,just putting your work out there is success enough.

Outdoors

If you love to be outdoors,Austin has plenty of fun activities to offer. You can hike or bike on the multiple park trails,swim in the many lakes and rivers,or soak up the sun at one of the area beaches.

Take a paddleboard or kayak trip on Lady Bird Lake. This wide section of Colorado River is popular for non-motorized boating,and it offers a beautiful view of downtown Austin. You can also watch the sunset on a dinner or lunch cruise,or check out the hundreds of Mexican free-tailed bats that gather under the Congress Avenue Bridge each night from late spring through fall.

For a more educational experience,head to the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria,a contemporary art destination that includes outdoor sculptures and natural habitats,all in a beautiful,peaceful setting. Visit the Austin Nature & Science Center to engage in hands-on activities,from fossil digging to animal encounters.

Quirky Things

Austin’s quirky nature is visible throughout the city. Small local businesses thrive,and creativity is boosted. National chains are unable to compete with the uniqueness of Austin (whatever Whataburger). The result is a fun and offbeat atmosphere.

Austin TX is home to a number of quirky attractions,including the Cathedral of Junk where Vince Hannemann creates awe inspiring sculptures out of trash,and the Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata,which features strange items such as a fork bent using telekinesis,and memorabilia of World’s Fairs,and other exhibitions,at Scott and Jen Webel’s Liberty Hill residence. The LBJ Presidential Library pays tribute to the 36th President of the US,and contains 45 million pages from his personal and professional files.

Watch the Mexican free-tailed bats at sunset from Congress Avenue Bridge. A guided bat kayaking tour is also available. Visit the Bullock Museum to see exhibits about Texas history and shop on Sixth Street,where you can find everything from vintage clothes to locally-made goods.

Family Fun

If you have young children,you’ll want to check out the cool kids attractions in Austin TX. For example,the Living Spaces Furniture Store in Pflugerville has an amazing indoor playscape that’s totally FREE! Also,the Central Public Library has a fun story time on Tues-Fri at 10 a.m. and BookPeople has a story time on Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

The Museum of Ice Cream is a must-do activity for kids in Austin because it’s a multi-sensory experience that’s all about ICE CREAM! The kids can play with the ice cream,eat it,and learn its history.

You can also take older children to the Museum of Science and Industry,where they can participate in STEM-related activities. ZACH Theatre offers a Family Series,which is kid-friendly. It’s also short so that they don’t fidget. You can also take them to the Austin Zoo for animal-related fun. And if you’re feeling adventurous,try hiking up Mount Bonnell for the best views in town.