8 Things to Do Around (not in) Austin

The regions surrounding Austin teem with activities and attractions, festivals, natural beauty, rich culture, and quaint small towns and communities. This article explores attractions and activities outside of the dynamic city limits of Austin, Texas.On your next visit to Austin, you may find it fun and entertaining to visit at least some of these attractions in the Texas Hill Country!

Hill Country Drives 

Highway 183

Find some of Central Texas’ most picturesque landscapes on Highway 183 north of Austin. It is a popular scenic route to explore Hill Country beauty that offers a drive that encompasses lakes and charming towns. This drive offers a variety of outdoor activities in the surrounding areas, from boating to hiking or picnicking in parks. 

The Lost Pines Route

Follow a road through a scenic and photographic stretch of a loblolly pine forest east of Austin. This 12-mile drive also leads you through rolling hills, dense pine groves, and glimpses of the area’s recovery from past wildfires. It connects with Park Road 1C Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park.

Find the loblolly pines in Bastrop State Park along with camping, hiking trails, lakeside activities at Lake Mina, and scenic views. Its forest highlights the resilience of its forest and new growth following significant fire damage.

Discover peace at Buescher State Park with its serene Hill Country landscapes, hiking trails, and small ponds. Buescher State Park is ideal for a tranquil picnic along the Lost Pines drive. Spot a variety of native wildlife in a panoramic setting showcasing the Hill Country’s distinctive terrain.

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa is a hub that features access to nature trails and wildlife and outdoor activities like hiking, horseback riding, ​ and kayaking.

The Three Sisters Scenic Loop 

Take an easy drive through Fredericksburg, Llano, and Mason, offering stunning views of Enchanted Rock, the Llano River, and spring wildflowers. Drivers and motorcyclists are known for hugging the curves and hills on this route (aka Three Twisted Sisters). This drive combines three ranch roads, RR 335, RR 336, and RR 337. 

You can spot deer, turkeys, and other wildlife and spring wildflower displays. The loop includes small towns like Leakey, Camp Wood, and Medina, which offer charming cafes, local shops, and friendly stops for food or fuel. Adventurers can expect twists, sharp turns, and elevation changes.

RR 335 

This segment of the loop runs parallel to the Frio River with its turquoise waters, stunning views of limestone cliffs, and ranch land.

RR 336

This road comprises steep inclines, sharp turns, and runs along parts of the clear Nueces River. This section is the adrenaline-producing so popular with drivers and motorcyclists.

RR 337 

People consider this section of the loop the most scenic. It winds through valleys and rolling hills, with panoramic views and the popular gentle curves in the road. 

Willow City Loop

The Willow City Loop features a peaceful 13-mile drive close to Fredericksburg. It highlights the rugged beauty of the Hill Country with views of wildflowers and rolling hills. Loop traffic is heavy in the bluebonnet season from March to April. 

This route winds through private ranch roads. Drivers need to stay on the designated road, which features vistas of canyons, creeks, and open pastures speckled with oak and mesquite trees. Trespassing is a convictable crime in Texas. 

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Highland Lakes Tour

The Highland Lakes region of the Texas Hill Country is one of the largest playgrounds in Texas and covers over 1,800 square miles of lakes and hills. The Highland Lakes offer various tours that cater to different tastes–there is not only “one” Highland Lake Tour. 

The Texas Highland Lakes link to each other via the Colorado and Llano Rivers in Central Texas. LCRA created these lakes primarily for flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power. Since their inception, they have been highly popular for recreational activities. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) manages the six Highland Lakes.

Be sure to read Texas Outside’s review of Lake Austin and Lake Travis. Also, be sure to check out Boating the Highland Lakes for more information and fun things to do.

Lake Buchanan is the largest and northernmost High lake and popular for fishing, boating, and its rugged Hill Country surroundings.

Inks Lake is a much smaller, constant-level lake perfect for kayaking, fishing, and swimming. Inks Lake State Park offers camping and hiking.

Lake LBJ is a favorite for year-round watersports and also constant-level lake

Lake Marble Falls is the smallest Highland Lake between Lake LBJ and Lake Travis. People visit Lake Marble Falls because of its peaceful surroundings. 

Lake Travis is known for its clear waters and vibrant recreational scene. large-scale attractions like Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures, camping, lakeside dining, hiking, live music and nightlife, recreation, and more.  

Lake Austin is more like a river and anarrow, urban lake flowing through Austin. It is flanked by parks, hiking trails, and waterfront homes.

Highland Lakes Attractions and Tours

• Explore historic towns like Bertram, Burnet, Granite Shoals, Marble Falls, Kingsland, and Spicewood 
• Explore state and local parks and nature preserves. 
• Look for endangered species like bald eagles, black-capped vireo, and golden-cheeked warblers. 
• Nature tours are scattered everywhere in the Highland Lakes region. For example, visitors can take a Vanishing Texas River Cruise on Lake Buchanan and the Colorado River to see wildlife, waterfalls, and cliffs. 
• See wildflowers like bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. 
• Swim, fish, boat, and water sport on the lakes. 
• Take a ride on the Hill Country Flyer train from Cedar Park to Burnet and back.
• The Highland Lake region is home to historic homes and landmarks. 
• Tour the Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery 12-miles west of Burnet. 
• Wineries abound in the Texas Hill Country. We cannot give an exact number of wineries in the Highland Lakes region. Many of them offer tours of their winery, and there are organized tours that take visitors to several at one time. 

Lake Travis – A Short Jaunt From Austin

Zip and Fly Across Lake Travis – Imagine launching from a 20-story cliff above Lake Travis for a two-and-a-half-hour zip line tour featuring five zip lines. These zip lines with take you across incredible canyons and inlets on beautiful Lake Travis. 

You can also enjoy some fun in the sun and the water on a pristine Lake Travis beach. You’ll zip on the longest zipline in Texas at 2,000 feet! This is one of the most fun things to do in Austin. So, sign up for a tour with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.

Fly Across Lake Travis – You’ve got to try this adventure of Flyboarding. One-thousand pounds of water will shoot out of the bottom of your Flyboard lifting you up to 17 feet in the air. You can then navigate forward or backward, do dolphin dives or flips, or most likely, on your first experience, do a nose dive back into the lake. Call Aquafly and reserve a time slot for this fun adventure.

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Soaring Over Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties

Soar Above the Austin Skyline and Lake Travis. The newest, most exciting adventure to hit the Austin area is flying above the Austin skyline and sipping champagne as you watch the sun set over Lake Travis. Alternatively, try some aerial acrobatics in a shiny red biplane with a decorated combat pilot. Read our article on a flight with Austin Biplane.

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Hamilton Pool Preserve, Dripping Springs

The Hamilton Pool Preserve is about 13-miles north of Dripping Springs. It is closed to swimming in 2024 because of rainfall and high bacteria levels. When Hamilton Pool does allow swimming, only a limited portion of the pool is available for water access because of falling rocks. The Preserve is currently open for hiking.

Hamilton Pool is a 232-acre destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Preserve is a breathtaking natural swimming hole known for its beauty and unique geological features. Hamilton Pool formed thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed.

The Travis County Commissioner’s Court designated the Hamilton Pool Preserve a nature preserve in 1990. It is located 3/4-miles upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River. Hamilton Creek spills out onto limestone outcroppings that create a 50-foot waterfall, which rolls into a steep box canyon. 

The waterfall never completely dries up, but it can trickle slowly in dry times. You may make your reservation online by paying $12 per vehicle with a credit card. You will also pay additional per person entrance fees when you arrive at the preserve. Now accepting reservations through September 2024.

Hamilton Pool Activities and Amenities

• Hiking trails
• Picnic tables
• Portable toilets
• Swimming not guaranteed with reservation due to conditions
• Guided hike
• Educational Programs

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Visit Fredericksburg

For a small town, Fredericksburg packs a surprisingly number of things to see and do in a small space. From exploring the great beauty of the Texas Hill Country to finding the perfect gift in a Main Street boutique to art to history to nightlife and more, Fredericksburg offers up a most charming town to visit. 

Shopping: 

Main Street in Fredericksburg is the hub of shopping in Fredericksburg. You will find over 150 shops, boutiques, and art galleries, dozens of restaurants, wine tasting rooms, a brewpub, two museums and more. 

You will find the Warehouse District off Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg. The Warehouse District runs from south of Main Street along Lincoln Street and extends over to Llano and Washington Streets. 

The Warehouse District features unique home goods stores and laidback, trendy, or upscale restaurants like Woerner Warehouse, a favorite for breakfast and lunch, and fine dining. 

Family Getaways

World Atlas named Fredericksburg, Texas, one of the 10 Great Small Towns for Family Vacations in a 2024 report. Fredericksburg appeals to families with its mix of outdoor activities, like hiking at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, its famous wine country, and family-friendly events like hot air balloon festivals. 

Things To do With Families and Kids in Fredericksburg:

• Fly in a Biplane 
• Get Artistic
• Get the Wiggles Out
• Hit the Rink (Winter)
• Hop in the Saddle
• Ice. Cream.
• Pick Your Own Produce
• Picnic at Marktplatz
• Swim, Splash, Slide (Summer)
• Take a Hike
• Travel Back in Time
• Walk on the Wild Side

Wineries

Fredericksburg, Texas, is the hotbed of Texas Wine Country The Texas Hill Country is home to over 100 wineries and vineyards. Fredericksburg boasts around 60 wineries, vineyards, and wine tasting rooms surrounding it and dozens more within a one and two-hour drive. 

Texas Wine Country has produced award-winning wines that have earned honors around the world. The original German settlers in Fredericksburg produced wines from the native mustang grapes. Some Texas wineries still make mustang grape wine. 

Attractions

Fredericksburg offers attractions and something to do for every interest from museums to a National Park, from Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to the largest wildseed farm in the United States. 

Live Music & Nightlife

Fredericksburg is famous with an electric live music scene. Almost every brewery, patio, restaurant, and winery and tasting room offers live music on a regular basis. Here are a few locations where you can find late-night bites & dance the night away.  

Fredericksburg’s history dates back to the town’s founding in 1846, for almost 200 years of history. German settlers arrived in droves in the Texas Hill Country. Throughout its 175 years of history, the area has preserved its history in fascinating museums. 

• The Pioneer Museum showcases 11 historic buildings and exhibits from the area’s early German settlers​
• Gillespie County Country Schools feature one-room school houses that educated children living a rural lifestyle unique to the Texas Hill Country.
• The Vereins Kirche Museum explores Fredericksburg’s founding and cultural development​
• The LBJ National Historical Park commemorates President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s life.
• Smaller museums like the Science Mill and Fort Martin Scott provide insights into the area’s heritage.

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Austin’s Swimming Holes

No one should deny themselves the opportunity in the Austin area to a wholesome splashorama in the Hill Country without partaking of the refreshing and clear water at Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs, Barton Springs or some of the numerous other swimming holes within 30 miles of the city.

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Golf Around Austin

Golf courses and country clubs dot not only Austin, but the Texas Hill Country. Top recommendations for these sprawling golf courses outside of Austin, Texas, are:

Horseshoe Bay Resort 

Located about 45 minutes northwest of Austin, this resort features three courses designed by the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr., including the famous Slick Rock and Apple Rock courses. It is highly rated and a great choice for both casual golfers and enthusiasts​

Lakeway Resort & Spa  

Just outside of Austin, Lakeway is home to four excellent courses, including the Live Oak and Flintrock Falls courses. This resort offers stunning views of Lake Travis and is perfect for a golf-focused getaway​

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

Situated to the west of Austin, this luxurious resort offers access to four championship golf courses. It’s a top destination for golf lovers, providing both excellent course design and high-end accommodations​.

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Try Some Unique and Adventures Attractions Near Austin

Austin has no limit to the adventures you can enjoy and the fun things you can find to do.

Kalahari Resort in Round Rock boasts the largest indoor water park in the country.

About an hour from Austin in New Braunfels, Texas, the Natural Bridge Caverns is an underground adventure destination offering guided tours through stunning limestone formations. Visitors can explore the caverns, mine for gems and fossils, or tackle outdoor activities like the thrilling Ape Canyon Zip Line and the Cliffside Challenge.

Spend some time on a water-based obstacle course at Quest ATX, Austin’s first and only cable wakeboard park.  

The floating Waterloo Adventure Park on Lake Travis is a challenge course and private island getaway. It covers an area equaling two football fields of pulse-pounding obstacles and a 1,500-foot beach to play and relax on with beach games, food, drinks and more.