Do These Things To Do In Austin
Texas Sound Like Fun?

The amount of fun things to do in Austin Texas is amazing since Austin does not really have a vacation image. Most people think "state government" or "UT" when they think about Austin.

However, my family and I have discovered many family activities in Austin that will ensure a great Texas family vacation.

Our favorite family activities in Austin are Volente Beach, Zilker Park (including Barton Springs), the famed bats, a visits to the Austin zoo, the Bob Bullock museum, the State Capitol, and a swim in Hamilton Pool. Other fun things are 6th Street, night clubs, and Lake Travis.

I also want to tell you about other events in Austin, give you a map of Austin to help you find your way, and tell you what to expect of Austin's weather.

Family Activities In Austin Texas

My family and I live in a small community about 20 miles outside Austin. So, if the kids are nagging to go do something fun, we often go to Austin. Here are some of our favorite family-oriented things to do in Austin Texas...

• Volente Beach

  

  Volente Beach is the only waterpark in Austin. Situated next to Lake Travis, it has several fun water slides, a "little kids" area, and a sandy beach! We have been there several times, and we just love it!
  

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• Zilker Park

Zilker Park is a very cool place to visit. It is a large park next to Town Lake. It has many fun activities for families, including the Barton Springs Pool that I talk about below. When we go, we spend a whole day there.

• Barton Springs



Barton Springs are natural underground springs that feed the Barton Springs Pool, one of Austin's famous attractions. It is located within Zilker Park. In my mind, Barton Springs counts as one of the "cool" things to do in Austin Texas, but the 68°F water doesn't seem to bother my kids at all.


• Austin Bats

The bats under the Congress Ave. bridge is another of Austin's well-known attractions. We visited it on our first day ever in Austin, and made our first Texan friends there. The Austin bats sure are a spectacle to see!

• Austin Zoo



The Austin Zoo is a very special zoo because it is a "rescue zoo" that provides a home to animals that have been neglected. They have about 100 species of animals. You can buy food at the zoo and feed some of the animals, which is always a hit with the kids.


• Bob Bullock Museum

The Bob Bullock museum tells the story of Texas with three floors of excellent exhibits. Austin's only IMAX theater is also inside the museum. We've been there several times.

• Texas State Capitol



The Texas State Capitol was the first Austin attraction we visited when came to Texas the first time. It is a magnificent building with many historical artifacts inside and outside. If you'd like to get a glimpse into Texas history, visit the State Capitol!


• Hamilton Pool

Hamilton Pool is a fantastic swimming hole with its own waterfall! It's a great place to do hiking, picnicking, and of course swimming. Even though it's about 30 miles west of Austin, I think it is well worth the drive.

• Canopy Tours



If you're looking for more adventurous things to do in Austin, you may want to look into canopy tours! They are awesome!

In a sense, you become a bird... you'll be flying through the trees!

Cypress Valley Canopy Tours offers these fun adventures. They are located a few miles west of Austin on Hwy 71.

Other Fun Things To Do In Austin Texas

Sometimes it's fun to go out without the kids... sorry kids... Here are the fun things to do in Austin Texas that my wife and I like a lot...

• Alamo Drafthouse

The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is a very cool movie concept that I think is great. It's a movie-restaurant combo where you eat a meal while watching a movie. If you haven't been to one yet, make a point of going!

• Night Clubs

Austin has several night clubs. My favorite is Dallas Night Club on Burnet Rd. They have Country & Western dancing, live music, and many other fun things.

• 6th Street



6th Street is another of the well-known Austin attractions. It has various music bars and clubs and is the reason why Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World". I think if you're going to visit Austin Texas, you have to experience 6th Street!


• Lake Travis

We live next to the largest lake in the area, which is Lake Travis. There are good choices for boat rentals, pontoon rentals, and jet ski rentals. Boating is certainly one of the funnest things to do in Austin Texas. It's a blast in the summer!

Austin Texas Restaurants

Austin Texas restaurants are wonderful, and there are many different types available... Asian restaurants... Mexican restaurants... Italian restaurants... and many more.

• The Oasis

The Oasis restaurant is one of my favorite Austin restaurants. It overlooks Lake Travis and is well-known for incredible sunsets. I love their Chicken Fireballs too!

For other choices, here is a list of great Austin restaurants.

Lodging In Austin Texas

If you're from out-of-town, you're going to need lodging in Austin. Luckily, Austin has some great options...

• Austin Resorts

An Austin resort would be the luxury option because the good ones offer things like spa treatments, golf courses, tennis courts, canoeing, and so on.

• Bed and Breakfasts

Austin has several great Bed and Breakfasts too. I like the character that many of them have. That's what makes an Austin Bed and Breakfast special.

• Austin Hotels

There are many reasonably-priced hotels in Austin that I think are great for families. You should easily find a good hotel in Austin that meets all of your family's needs.

Austin Texas Map

I have created an Austin map that shows where many of our favorite things to do in Austin Texas are located.

Austin Events Calendar

There are events that take place in Austin that aren't fixed attractions. They can be a lot of fun too. Take a look at my Austin Texas Events Calendar to find some fun events for your family.

You can also buy tickets to many sports events and concerts in Austin right here!

Austin Weather

It always helps if the weather plays along when planning things to do in Austin Texas. To find out what the weather's plans are for the next few days, check out the Austin Texas Weather.

Tell Us About YOUR Favorite Things To Do In Austin?

Have you visited Austin before? If so, you probably did some things in Austin that were a lot of fun! We'd like to hear about it! Others would like to hear about it!

Tell us about the good times you had in Austin. Others can then read your stories and have a good time too. C'mon, do it! It's easy & fun!

(Please describe your favorite activity, then tell us what you did there and why you thought it was great. This story is a great example!)

Click below to read about the favorite things to do in Austin that other visitors to this page have written about...

For an additional perspective about visiting Austin, you may also want to check out Visiting-Austin-Texas.com.

Things To Do Elsewhere...

You now know about many fun things to do in Austin Texas. If you happen to be planning a trip to Bellingham, WA sometime in the future, take a look at these things to do in Bellingham. I haven't been there before, but it sure looks like a fun place!

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