Here are Texas Outside’ Top Fun Things To Do In Austin. Ok, you got me – Austin has so many attractions and fun things to see and do that we had to add a couple more than 10. Set a goal to visit all of these fun things to see and do in Austin. Have fun!
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Lakes & Boating – boat Lake Austin and marvel at the multimillion dollar homes, ski on some smooth water, and hit some good restaurants (stop at Ski Shores for burgers and music on the deck or Abels or Hula Hut for appetizers, drinks, or dinner) or enjoy any of the nearby Highland Lakes– watch the sun set at the Oasis which overlooks Lake Travis, rent a boat, waverunner, or party barge on any of the Highland Lakes, join the fun at Devils Cove on Lake Travis, or boat up to a restaruant on Lake Travis. Read Texas Outside’s review of Lake Austin and Lake Travis and check out Boating the Highland Lakes for more information and fun things to do. -
Hike or Bike – bike or hike around Zilker Park and Town Lake – take the trail around Town Lake and then over to Barton Springs Pool and continue on into the Barton Creek Trail. Then bike over to watch the bats take flight on the Congress Street Bridge at dusk, and make sure you stop for lunch, dinner, or appetizers and music at Shady Grove or Chuy’s for Mexican food. Take a short hike to the top of Mount Bonnell or the bluff on the east side of the 360 bridge for a fantastic panoramic view of Lake Austin and the Austin hills. The Biking & Hiking Section of Texas Outside has more information, including trail maps, on biking and hiking around Austin.
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Zip and Fly Across Lake Travis – imagine launching from a 20 story cliff above Lake Travis and taking a two and a half hour zip line tour on 5 zip lines across incredible canyons and inlets on beautiful Lake Travis and then enjoying some fun in the sun and water on a pristine Lake Travis beach. And you’ll zip on the longest zipline in Texas at 2000 feet! A must, so sign up for a tour with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures -
Austin Nightlife – give some of these bar districts a try: West Sixth Street (for posh young professionals), Rainey Street (lots of spacious patios), East Side (lots of myriad dives), or Dirty Sixth (loud music, lots of activity on the street, and plenty of intoxicated tourists and college students)
- Swimming Holes – you can’t leave the Austin area in the summer without partaking in the refreshing and clear water at Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs, Barton Springs or some of the numerous other swimming holes that are within 30 miles of the city
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Soar Above the Austin Skyline and Lake Travis – the newest and one of the most exciting adventures to hit the Austin area is flying above the Austin skyline, sipping champagne as you watch the sun set over Lake Travis, or trying some aerial acrobatics in a shinny red biplane with a decorated combat pilot – read our article on a flight with Austin Biplane -
Music, Music, Music – Austin is the music capital of Texas (and maybe the world) and you’ll find every type of music in a wide variety of different venues: for Country try the Continental Club, Hills Cafe, The Backyard, Saxen Pub, Broken Spoke, or one of our favorites Gruene Hall; or better yet, get outside and listen to some good sounds at Shady Grove, Johnny Fins, Carlos & Charles, The Oasis, Ski Shores, or Stubbs BBQ. You can’t beat these music festivals and venues: Austin City Limits, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Old Settlers Music Festivals, Texas Music Festival, or South-by-Southwest. Austin has over 250 music venues.
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Fly Across Lake Travis – you’ve got to try this adventure of Flyboarding where 1000 pounds of water will shoot out the bottom of your Flyboard and lift you up to 17′ in the air where you can 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.
- Try Some Unique and Adventures Attractions – enjoy the fastest and longest zipline in Texas with Lake Travis Zipline, spend some time on a water based obstacle course at Quest ATXor Waterloo Adventure Park hit a home run at a baseball park of your choice at Home Run Dugout, or learn how to wakeboard at Quest ATX
- Austin Tours – try something a little different and unique – book a beer tour with ATXcursions visit a local Austin Brewery and sample some beer from Austin’s best Micro Breweries or tour Austin in Bi-Plane or on a Segway and lots more.
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Golf – golf courses don’t get much better than what you’ll find in the Austin hills (elevation changes, scenic beauty, and challenges) – here is our list of the best golf courses in Austin and our Austin golf course map to help you find a course and read our review. Austin also has TopGolf which is an outstanding indoor golf driving range with computerized targets, restaurant, pool and shuffleboard, live music and more – read about our fun experience with TopGolf. Or try any of the outstanding Austin disc golf courses.
- Cultural – I know, some of these are indoors and it’s hard for you outdoor enthusiasts to go indoors, but if it’s raining or cold or if you need a break from the sun, then try exploring the Austin Capital Building, the Bob Bullock Museum for some Texas History, tour the University of Texas, or Esters’ Follies at night for some humorous political satire (does that count as culture?)
- Restaurants – Austin has some of the best and we love the ones with outdoor patios – Shady Grove for good food and music; Iron Works for BBQ or County Line on Lake Austin for BBQ on the deck; Hula Hut on Lake Austin; Iguana Grill for great views of Lake Austin. Other great restaurants include: Trudy’s for the breakfast buffet; Chuy’s for Mexican food; Pappadeaux for seafood;and Hills Cafe for chicken fried steak and great music
- Camp – try Emma Long Metropolitan Park for camping on Lake Austin, McKinney Falls State Park to enjoy nature, or Austin Lone Star RV Park or La Hacienda RV Resort for the big rigs – all of these parks are within 15 minutes of downtown Austin
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Miscellaneous Fun Things To Do In Austin
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locked in a room with friends/family/co-workers with 60 minutes to escape. Austin Panic Room is challenging you.
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try an exciting new indoor adventure suitable for all ages – indoor sky diving with iFly – read about our fun fly with iFly
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take a fun ride on Austin Steam Train
- sip some tasty craft beer or whiskey at one of these Austin Breweries and Brew Pubs or Austin Distilleries
- canoe or kayak on Town Lake
- take in a ball game or other special event at Dell Diamond – get a large group together and rent one of the group outing venues
- put on your cowboy hat and boots and go for a trail ride across splendid water crossings, hilly pastures, open fields, woods with Maverick Horseback Riding
- watch the bats head out for dinner from under the Congress Street Bridge
- take a tour of Austin and Lake Austin on the Austin Duck
- enjoy the sunset (plus live music, excellent views, and ok food) at Lake Travis at the Oasis
- hike to the top of Mt Bonnell for a magnificent view of Austin and Lake Austin
- visit the Austin Zoo, or smell the roses at Zilker Botanical Gardens or picnic in Ziler Park
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Author: Mike Sharp
I have a passion for travel and outdoor activities, and now I'm enjoying retired life. I will continue my traveling, golfing, boating, and enjoying life all across the great state of Texas.
