Things to do in Austin

The LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas is a library and museum that houses thousands of historical documents and exhibits related to the life and presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president

Take a walk through Texas history when you explore the State Capitol building in the heart of downtown Austin. The Texas State Capitol is the largest state capitol building in the country, second only to the U.S

Zilker Park is considered "Austin's most-loved park." This 351-acre park is home to a variety of recreation opportunities and special events for individuals and families. Enjoy a ride on the Zilker Zephyr

The Thinkery is a brand new take on the old Austin Children’s Museum. An open interactive place where science and families play side by side. Kids can connect ideas by doing, making and experiencing all

10 miles of trails border Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin and serve as a social hub for runners, walkers and cyclists. A Memorial at Auditorium Shores honors the late bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan. The scenic

Within Zilker Park's 358 acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin - Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size, and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70

The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a museum located in Austin, Texas that is dedicated to the history of the state of Texas. It is named after Bob Bullock, the former Lieutenant Governor of Texas who supported

The Austin Zoo & Animal Sanctuary is a unique place where you can get up close and personal with the animal kingdom. The Zoo itself is a non-profit organization that works to rescue and rehabilitate domestic

Discovered in the 1960s, Inner Space Cavern is one of the most amazing natural wonders in Texas. Over 7,000 feet of the cave is explorable, and Inner Space offers many different touring options to accomodate visiting

The Mexican Free-tailed bats who make their home underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, TX are a unique sight to see. Every summer night they swoop out in a big black cloud to feed, and you can watch

Pedernales Falls State Park is a recreation area located approximately 30 miles away from Austin near Johnson City, Texas. Families visiting this large state park can enjoy a wide range of activities that include

The Texas Memorial Museum is a science and natural history museum located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. It is most famous for its fascinating fossil collections, which include various dinosaur skeletons

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum situates the gorgeous bronze sculptures of Charles Umlauf amid the lush gardens of Barton Springs in Austin, Texas. The statues were donated to the city by Umlauf himself

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a public botanical garden located in Austin, Texas. This University of Texas at Austin research institution studies over 700 species native to central Texas and provides

Enjoy fishing and other wonderful outdoor activities at Lake Austin, Texas, fish for bass, catfish and sunfish with your family. Lake Austin is a water reservoir on the Colorado River, lake Austin was formed in

Want to enjoy some outdoor recreational activities with the family in Austin, Texas, head over to Lake Travis, a water reservoir on the Colorado River, in central Texas. Families can enjoy a number of outdoor

Krause Springs is a privately owned swimming and camping area in the heart of Texas Hill Country. This 115-acre nature area is located just 30 miles west of Austin in Spicewood,Texas, and is known for its beautiful

Enjoy a vintage train ride through the Texas country side! Take a seat in the passenger car, which is styled after its original 19th century counterparts, and enjoy the view, the wine, or the murder mystery ride

Hawaiian Falls is a small chain of Texas water and adventure parks with a location in Pflugerville, which is approximately 15 miles outside of Austin. Its adventure attractions include a thrilling multi-level

The University of Texas Tower, also known as the Main Building, is the heart of the University of Texas at Austin. The 307-foot tall building is also one of the city's most important landmarks. It was constructed

Deep Eddy Pool in Austin is the oldest swimming pool in Texas. Originally, it was a popular swimming hole on the banks of the Colorado River. In the early 1900s, the land surrounding the swimming hole was purchased

The Austin Nature & Science Center (ANSC) brings dinosaurs, butterflies, and robots to the natural adventure that is Zilker Park. At the ANSC, your children and your family will have the opportunity to touch

Celebrate summer right on the shores of beautiful Lake Travis in Austin, TX. Volente Beach Waterpark is located right next to the natural lake and boasts huge water slides, lily pads, lazy rivers, and a playful

Longhorn Cavern State Park, south of Burnet in Burnet County, is 645.62 acres classified as a scenic park in the rugged Hill Country. Longhorn Cavern was acquired in 1932 - 1937 from private owners. It was dedicated

Pennybacker Bridge is also known as "360 bridge", this arched bridge connects the Northern and Southern sections of the loop 360 highway, across Lake Austin. The bridge was constructed in 1982, and is named after

Emma Long Metropolitan Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Austin, Texas. It is located alongside Lake Austin and is named after Emma Long, the first woman to serve as Mayor Pro Tem of the city. In addition

West Lake Beach is a privately owned park located alongside Lake Austin that has a beach which is open to the public for swimming. It also provides visitors with a volleyball court, a fishing area, a horseshoe

The Bull Creek Greenbelt is a large nature area in Austin, Texas that surrounds part of Bull Creek, a tributary that feeds the Colorado River. It is primarily known for its scenic trail alongside Bull Creek, which

One of the most beautiful nature areas in Austin is the Barton Creek Greenbelt, which is known for its popular hiking trail. Two of the most exciting attractions that can be found along the trail are Twin Falls

The Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin features a number of exhibitions related to the history of Texas' military forces from 1823 to the present day. Its exhibits tell the history of important events such

The Blanton Museum of Art is one of the finest university art museums in the United States. It is run by the University of Texas at Austin, and contains a permanent collection of over 17,000 works of art that

Pease Park is a popular public park located in the heart of Austin, Texas. It is known for large playground and its splash pad, where children of all ages can escape the summer heat while playing in the water

Brushy Creek Lake Park is a 90-acre park located in Cedar Park, Texas, which is located approximately 20 miles north of Austin. Its most popular feature is undoubtedly its water splash pad where both children

McKinney Falls State Park is a popular recreation area on the outskirts of Austin, Texas that is named after Thomas F. McKinney, a local rancher who owned the land in the late 1800s. Since 1976, the land has been

Reimers Ranch Park is a beautiful Travis County park that is located approximately 30 miles west of Austin. The park is known for its wonderful hiking trails through various natural habitats, but is also especially

Mayfield Park and Preserve is a popular outdoor attraction in Austin, Texas that is known for its beautiful gardens and colorful peacocks. The 21-acre Mayfield Preserve features numerous walking trails and wildlife

Mount Bonnell in Covert Park is one of the highest points in Austin, Texas. It is a popular tourist destination due to the beautiful views it provides of the city and the Colorado River, which are considered to

Mt. Playmore is a large indoor playground in Austin, Texas that is known for its "Texas-sized" playscape. Its immense multi-level play area is designed to accommodate small children and their parents, and features

Big Stacy Pool is a popular municipal pool located in Big Stacy Park in Austin, Texas. This free swimming pool has a few swimming lanes and a deep end where swimmers of all ages can practice their diving skills

Lakeway Swim Center is 9-acre recreation area in Lakeway, Texas, which is just 15 miles from Austin. This popular summer attraction contains several pools for swimmers of all ages, water slides, a lily pad walk

Rock'N River Family Aquatic Center is a municipal pool in Round Rock, Texas, which is located just 20 miles from downtown Austin. This popular water attraction within Old Settlers Park features a lazy river, thrilling

Bartholomew Pool is one of the most popular municipal pools in Austin, Texas. Its features include a kiddie pool and splash area for toddlers, a 4 ft pool where older children can swim and play in the water, a

Blue Hole Regional Park is a public park and swimming area in Wimberley, Texas, which is just 35 miles outside of Austin. This 126-acre park features trails, a playground, a basketball court, a sand volleyball

Spend a lovely afternoon cruising on the Lake Travis aboard a rented Just For Fun watercraft. Boats can be rented from 9AM until sunset daily with the exception of the Party Barges. Safety equipment are provided

Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of Texas' oldest and most popular swimming holes. During the peak of summer, weather permitting, the green-blue water of the spring can be a welcoming refreshment. The pool water

Whether you're just learning how to skate or want to strap on your wheels and reminisce about the golden days of 70s skating, Playland is the place to roll. At 27,500 sq ft, it is the largest rink in Austin! With

Enjoy a view of Austin from the beautiful Lady Bird Lake. The Lone Star Riverboat cruises take you through the lake estuary on an environmentally-friendly boat. Take in the ever-changing city skyline, the uniquely

The Chaparral Ice Center is an ice skating rink open to the public every day. Public skating is usually during the middle of the afternoon during the week and on the weekends, but there are also group skating

Kiddie Acres is a honky-tonk amusement park designed for young children and their families. They cater to children 10 and under by offering a variety of rides, mini golf, even pony rides! There is concession food

The Dinosaur Park was founded by a family who LOVES dinosaurs. They built this outdoor museum + nature trail adventure so visitors can experience life-size dinosaurs in their "natural" habitat. The park operates

Boggy Creek Farm is a working farm and farmer's market right in the heart of Gause, Texas. Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days. Visit the market and pick up all the fresh, organic fruits and veggies of the

Safari Champ is a huge indoor playground that focuses on keeping kids healthy and active by giving them ample opportunities to climb, play, explore, and exercise. There are slides, ropes, tunnels - even a basketball

Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms is a living history park in Austin, Texas. It features six different living history areas: the 1841 Tonkawa Encampment, the 1853 Walnut Creek Greenbelt, the 1869 German Emigrant Farm

Take your laser tag skills to the next level at Blazer Tag in South Austin. Their 3-story arena is the perfect place to test your skills and compete family-to-family as you battle for the high score. Tag your

If you're planning a trip to Austin, Peter Pan Mini Golf is something you can't miss. Along with the bats beneath the Congress Ave Bridge, it is one of the most popular traditions in the city. Peter Pan recently

Texas is big for a reason. Where else can you get a bowling alley, a skating rink, and a movie theater all in one place? The Millennium Youth Entertainment Center has 16 lanes for bowling, a fully-stocked food