Things To Do
Outdoor and Nature
Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail Accessible from multiple points along Lady Bird Lake. 10.2-mile loop trail circling the lake with beautiful downtown views. Perfect for walking, running, or biking. Bike rentals available at places like ATX MetroBike Stations or Barton Springs Bike & Rental Tours. Recommend parking at Austin High School. Mount Bonnell 3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX 78731 Highest point in Austin at 775 feet above sea level. Climb 102 stone steps (~5 min) for panoramic views of Lake Austin and the Hill Country. Free admission, open 5am-10pm daily. Zilker Metropolitan Park 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746 358-acre park featuring trails, picnic areas, and outdoor recreation. Home to Barton Springs Pool and connects to the Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail. Barton Creek Greenbelt Multiple access points 12.86-mile hiking/biking trail with swimming holes like Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.
Shopping
South Congress South Congress Ave from Riverside Dr to Oltorf St Austin's most iconic shopping district with vintage stores, boutiques, and food. Don't miss Allen's Boots, Maufrais, and photo ops at the "I Love You So Much" mural at Jo's Coffee. Two Hands (best banana bread ever) and Cafe No Se are some of our favorite restaurants here. The Domain 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX 78758 Upscale outdoor shopping center with high-end retailers and restaurants.
Museum & History
Texas State Capitol 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 Impressive capitol building, taller than the US Capitol. Free guided tours available daily. Beautiful grounds with monuments and the Great Walk. Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 Three floors of Texas history exhibits, IMAX theater, and interactive displays. Open 10am-5pm daily. LBJ Presidential Library 2313 Red River St, Austin, TX 78705 Presidential museum on UT campus featuring exhibits on LBJ's presidency, civil rights movement, and a replica Oval Office. Open 9am-5pm daily. Free parking in Lot #38. Blanton Museum of Art 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 UT's art museum featuring 21,000+ works. Free admission on Tuesdays.
Food & Drink
A small sample of iconic restaurants in Austin and a few personal favorites. You better get to eating if you want to try them all. Sushi Uchi/Uchiko, Soto, Neighborhood Sushi, and more. BBQ There's no shortage of BBQ in Austin. Franklin's is probably the most legendary (with equally long waits), but some other staples include Terry Black's, La Barbecue, and Salt Lick. If you're looking for a fresher take on BBQ (read: our favorites), try Leroy & Lewis or KG BBQ (Egyptian-style BBQ). Tex-Mex: Fresa's, El Dorado, Lupe Tortilla (it's a chain but once you have their fajitas, you'll understand why it's on this list), Tacodeli (very casual), and El Naranjo (more upscale) Pizza Home Slice, Via 313, and Bufalina Sandwiches Foodheads (can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches) and Local Foods (Crunchy Chicken Sandwich = best sandwich ever) Asian Thai Fresh, 1618 Asian Fusion, and Ramen Tatsuya Honorable mention Scholz Garden for a big soft pretzel (William's favorite)