Austin Activities
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Attractions
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Golf
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Live Music
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Museums
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Nightlife
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Outdoor Activities
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Performing Arts
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Special Events
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Tours
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats: Congress Avenue Bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in North America. More than 1.5 million bats fly out near dusk. March-Oct.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial: Stroll the Town Lake hike and bike trail and stop at Auditorium Shores to pay homage to Austin musical icon, Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Austin blues artist died in a helicopter crash in 1990.
Pick up a copy of the Austin Chronicle to find out live music schedules around town.
Antone's Night Club: Spend a blue night on Fifth Street at Antone's, known as "Austin's Home of the Blues." 213 Fifth St., Austin TX 78701 -- 512-320-8424
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: Live music greets visitors while showcasing the best of Austin's diverse music scene. The music stage is next to the Highland Lakes Bar located in the center of the terminal building on the concourse level. Live music performances are located on the secure side of the concourse, accessible to ticketed passengers only.
Broken Spoke: A genuine Texas honky-tonk, the Broken Spoke on South Lamar Boulevard gives visitors a true slice of vintage Texana. 3201 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin TX 78704 -- 512-442-6189
Frank Erwin Center: Pick up a ticket for headline concerts and a myriad of other musical events at the Frank Erwin Center. 1701 Red River St., Austin TX 78701 -- 512-477-6060
Stubb's Bar-B-Q: At Stubb's Bar-B-Q, live blues and rock play the outdoor amphitheater at night, and on Sunday mornings some of the town's most powerful voices belt out gospel songs during the popular brunch. 801 Red River St., Austin TX 78701 -- 512-480-8341
Austin Children's Museum: Austin Children's Museum exhibits and programs range from a unique "Austin Kiddie Limits" music set to robotic dinosaurs. Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., noon-5pm.
Austin Museum of Art: Presents and organizes contemporary exhibitions of work by international, national and local artists. Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat., 10am-6pm; Thurs., 10am-8pm; Sun., noon-5pm.
Austin Museum of Art Laguna Gloria: Facility features beautifully landscaped grounds and historic villa on Lake Austin. Villa open daily, 11am- 4pm; grounds open Mon.-Sat. 9a.m. - 5p.m.; Sun. 11am-5p.m.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (The): Features three floors of dynamic exhibits, a special effects Texas Spirit Theater, museum store and café. Austin's only IMAX theatre. Mon.-Sat. 9a.m. - 6p.m.; Sun. 12-6p.m.
Blanton Museum of Art: Recognized among the country's top university fine arts collections, the museum is located on University of Texas' campus. Galleries feature contemporary Latin American, Renaissance and Western art. Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat., 10am-5pm; Thurs., 10am-8pm (free admission); Sun., 1-5pm.
Mexic-Arte Museum: Museum presents traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latin American art and culture. Mon.-Thurs. 10am-6pm; Fri.-Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. noon-5pm.
Texas Memorial Museum: Includes dinosaur and fossil displays, Texas wildlife, gems and minerals, meteorites and natural science. Mon.-Fri. 9a.m.-5p.m.; Sat. 10a.m.-5p.m.; Sun. 1-5p.m.
Texas Military Forces Museum: Located on Camp Mabry Army Reserve base, the museum honors all Texas military personnel with exhibits and archives from the Texas fight for independence through all major US military conflicts.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum: More than 130 sculptures by the late Charles Umlauf are displayed both indoors and in tranquil outdoor setting. Wed.-Fri. 10a.m.-4:30p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 1-4:30p.m.
Sixth Street/Red River
Along Sixth Street, a National Register district once known as Pecan Street, jazz joints and rock 'n' roll hangouts mix with bars and dance clubs to create the backbone of the Live Music Capital of the World®. A seven-block stretch of Victorian-era buildings now house some of Austin's most renowned nightspots and cafes. On weekend nights, the street closes to traffic. Doorways open to the sounds of unbridled electric guitar riffs and soft, melodious saxophone. Visit venues such as B.D. Riley's Pub, an authentic Irish pub featuring singer songwriters. Groove to the Latin Caribbean sounds at Habana or check out the legendary Maggie Mae's. Take in a birds eye-view from the roof top of the Iron Cactus. Just around the corner from Sixth Street on Red River you'll find indie clubs such as Emo's, Red Eye Fly, Beerland and Room 710. Also located on Red River is Stubb's BBQ, home of nightly live shows and a Sunday gospel bunch.
Warehouse District
The Warehouse District, extending west of Congress Avenue along Fourth and Fifth Streets, also caters to live music. True to its name, the restaurants in this district have been renovated from former warehouses into trendy restaurants, concert halls, and distinctive bars. Sip martinis under the stars at Cedar Street Courtyard. Don't miss Antone's, "Austin's Home of the Blues" and ranked as "the nation's best blues club by USA Today. Also, visit Speakeasy, Red Fez and the Lucky Lounge or savor some cool jazz in the basement at the Elephant Room on Congress Avenue.
South Austin
South Congress Avenue and South Lamar Boulevard deliver offbeat shopping and dining and legendary live music haunts including the Broken Spoke, the last of the true Texas dance halls, the legendary Continental Club and the Saxon Pub. First Thursdays on South Congress offer a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere that brings the music into the street and shopping late into the evening at art galleries, vintage shops, boutiques, furniture stores, and salons that stay open until 10 p.m. or later.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Barton Creek Greenbelt offers 7.8 miles of natural surface hiking and biking trails and is a habitat for several endangered wildlife and plant species.
Barton Springs Pool
Swim in the constant 68-degree waters of Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed swimming hole in Zilker Park. Daily, 5am-10pm. Voted the "Best Swimming Hole in Texas." Closed Thursdays, 9am- 7pm.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Congress Avenue Bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in North America. More than 1.5 million bats fly out near dusk. March-Oct.
Hamilton Pool Preserve
This idyllic, natural pool west of Austin is surrounded by a stunning grotto.
Inner Space Caverns
Easy trails and 72-degree year round temperature make this one of the most comfortable caves to explore in Texas. Weekdays, 9am-4pm; weekends, 10am-5pm.
Deep Eddy Pool
The state's oldest swimming pool, Deep Eddy, offers lap swimming, wading pool and pool-side movies in the summer.
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Nestled on Lake Austin, the wooded park contains a lakefront beach, boat ramps, fishing dock, swimming area, campsites and volleyball courts.
Enchanted Rock
One of the state's premier rock climbing sites, this massive pink granite dome rises 425 feet above the surrounding terrain; hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, picnicking allowed; daily use fees: $6 per person (age 13 and older)
Krause Springs
Situated on a bluff overlooking Cypress Creek and made up of 32 springs, Krause Springs encompasses two swimming holes in one.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Native plant botanical center with nature trails, display gardens, interpretive center and gift shop.
Lake Austin Riverboats
View Austin from the decks of genuine stern-wheel riverboats while cruising scenic Lake Austin. Complete food and beverage service.
Lone Star Riverboat
Authentic double-decked, paddlewheel riverboat provides sightseeing and sunset bat-watching cruises on Town Lake. Private charters available. Tickets at Austin Visitor Center.
McKinney Falls State Park
Outdoors enthusiasts find miles of trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and spectacular waterfalls in the 635-acre park.
Mount Bonnell
At 785 feet, Mount Bonnell stands as one of the highest points in the city and also one of Austin's oldest tourist attractions.
Rockin' R' River Rides
Enjoy the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers with rafts, tubes, team building, group events, qualified guides, catering, picnics, camping and cabins.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort
Rated by the Travel Channel as "America's No. 1 Waterpark," this fun family resort spreads over 65 acres with thrills, spills and floats.
Skatepark of Austin
Skatepark of Austin is a 20,000 square foot, indoor skateboarding, BMX and aggressive inline skating facility. The skatepark consists of 4 areas: a street course, 4 foot mini bowl, a 6 foot to 9 foot bowl and a flat-ground section. We offer one-on-one skateboard lessons for all skill levels and party organizing. Professional skateboards are available for rental.
Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail
10 miles of trails border Town Lake in downtown Austin and serve as a social hub for runners, walkers and cyclists. Memorial at Auditorium Shores honors the late bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Veloway
The 3-mile Veloway meanders through meadows and woods across more than 100 acres of parkland. Open to cyclists and in-line skaters only.
Volente Beach
Beach club on Lake Travis features water park with slides, sandy beach, pirate boat and wading area for the kids. Craft rentals available. Open seasonally.
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Habitat for native flora and fauna on the Balcones Fault Line divides Texas' praries and the Hill Country. Trails open daily, sunrise to sunset; center open Tues.-Sun., 8am-4pm.
Zilker Botanical Gardens
A botanical showplace for native foliage, roses, ponds, Oriental gardens and 100-million-year-old dinosaur tracks.
Zilker Park
Austin's largest, most popular park offers swimming in Barton Springs, trails and a miniature train.
Zilker Park Canoe Rentals
Hourly rentals on canoes and kayaks for Barton Creek and Town Lake; open daily.
Mary Moody Northen Theater: Reserve a seat for a premier production at the Mary Moody Northen Theater at St. Edward's University. 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 -- 512-448-8484
The State Theatre: The historic State Theatre sets the stage for local and touring productions. 719 Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701 -- 512-472-2901
Zachary Scott Theatre: From '50s-style fare to Christmas classics, Zachary Scott Theatre raises the curtain on a season of crowd-pleasing performances. 1510 Toomey Rd., Austin TX 78704 -- 512-476-0541
Zilker Hillside Theater: Pack a picnic and enjoy live music, movies or an exciting outdoor musical at the Zilker Hillside Theater. Zilker Summer Musical plays in July and August. 2206 William Barton Drive, Austin TX -- 512-479-9491
Austin City Limits Music Festival: Billed as a celebration of Austin music, the Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three-day festival that brings the magic of the famed public TV series outside of the studio and into Austin's most loved park. Zilker Park -- 512-478-7211
Austin Film Festival: It's a movie fan's cinematic dream-come-true at the Austin Film Festival. 1604 Nueces St., Austin TX 78701 -- 512-478-4795
Southwest Music, Film, and Interactive Festival: Each March, South by Southwest Music, Film, and Interactive Festival descends upon Austin with fresh new talent from around the world. -- 512-467-7979
Urban Music Festival: Held in conjunction with Texas Relays, the music festival is an all-day, outdoor, family oriented event featuring live music and social activities held in the heart of Austin, along the banks of Town Lake at Auditorium Shores.-- 512-314-5446
Old Settler's Music Festival: A nationally known music festival featuring the best in roots and Americana music. The festival is held in April in the gorgeous TX Hill Country, at the height of the wildflower season.-- 512-346-0999
Zilker Hillside Theater: Spread a blanket over the grass and settle back for the annual Zilker Summer Musical, at the Zilker Hillside Theater. 2206 William Barton Drive, Austin TX -- 512-479-9491
Free Noontime Concerts: Enjoy lunch with live music outdoors each Tuesday at noon during the fall and spring at Republic Square Park at 5th Street and Guadalupe. -- 512-478-0098
Blues on the Green: Free music from some of Austin's best musicians plays on an outdoor stage filling the summer night air. Zilker Park -- 512-478-0098
Austin City Limits Tour:Since its premiere on PBS in 1976, Austin City Limits has featured more than 500 different regional and internationally acclaimed artists. Although tickets are hard to come by, tours of studio 6-A at station KLRU on the University of Texas at Austin campus are available on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. The tour includes a short video on the history of the show and Hall of Fame photos of the artists who have appeared over the years. Visitors also get the opportunity to take photos on the famous stage where such artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson played. Austin City Limits Tour: 2504-B Whitis Ave., Austin TX 78712 -- 512-475-9077
Austin Duck Adventures:A fun, narrated, amphibious tour of downtown Austin end with a splash on Lake Austin. Tours and tickets available at Austin Visitor Center.
University of Texas Tower:Enjoy the spectacular view from atop the University of Texas' most famous landmark. Advance reservations are recommended. Call for tour schedule.
Lake Austin Riverboats:View Austin from the decks of genuine stern-wheel riverboats while cruising scenic Lake Austin. Complete food and beverage service.
Austin Historic Walking Tours: Learn about the history and architecture of downtown Austin on free, guided walking tours of the Capitol grounds, Congress Ave. and E. Sixth St., the Bremond Block. Available Thurs.-Sun., March-Nov. The Historic Congress Avenue & Sixth Street tour times are 9 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Walking tours of the Bremond Block take place at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Texas State Capitol:The granite Texas statehouse stands as a testament to the history of the Lone Star State. Free, guided tours. Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30p.m.; Sat. 9:30-3:30p.m.; Sun. noon-3:30 p.m.
Austin Segway Tours:Gliding Revolution provides exciting Segway experiences in downtown Austin, Barton Creek Resort or at your desired location. They currently have 19 long range Segways that have the updated 14.1 software. Would you like to try the (XT) off-road Segway? Gliding Revolution is the only operation in town with long range yellow, red, blue and XT's for your enjoyment.
Haunted Texas:Walk in the tracks of ghouls and ghosts with Austin Ghost Tours through downtown. Reservations required. Tickets available at Austin Visitor Center.
Capital Cruises:Cruise scenic Town Lake on the country's largest electric paddlewheeler or smaller boats for dinner, cocktails, bat watching or sightseeing
