7 Things to do Anytime in Austin
(That doesn't involve food)
By Sean Claes
So, I've seen hundreds of "Things To Do In Austin" lists and they all seem to be concentrated around eating. Sure, we've got some amazing restaurants, cafes, food trailers and street vendors... but we've also got some amazing attractions that people can visit. Here's a list of seven of our choices of things to do in Austin that doesn't involve feeding your face.
1. Find an awesome toy store
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| Terra Toys - Photo Credit Sean Claes |
You’ve got some awesome options for local-only toy
stores in Austin.
a.
Toy Joy has been around since 1987.. and in
2013 they moved locations and landed in the heart of Downtown, on 403 w. 2nd
Street. It’s not only one of Austin’s coolest places to shop, in December 2014
is was chosen as one of the top 10 toy stores in the WORLD (
link).
b.
Terra Toys is another amazing store. It’s
been open in Austin since 1979. It’s located now at 2438 W. Anderson Lane. Last
time I went there with the kiddos it was almost so much fun that I forgot it
was a store and not a giant playground. Terra Toys has received many awards for
being exactly what it is… one of the coolest toy stores around.
2.
Tour…
then roll down the hill at the Capitol Building
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| Texas Capitol Building - Photo Credit Sean Claes |
There’s nothing like
walking inside the Capitol Building and taking in the history. Checking out all of the past Governor
paintings on the walls, taking a walk through the corridors and seeing where
laws are made or denied. Also… there’s nothing much cooler than having a little
fun while there… standing in the center of the star under the dome on the
ground floor… looking up and spinning. Heading outside to see and appreciate
the hundred-year-old oaks… then rolling down the hill on the front lawn. Best
part? It’s all free!
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/spb/capitol/texcap.htm
3.
Take
a swim
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| Barton Springs Pool - Photo Credit http://austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool |
Barton Springs Pool is a natural pool that is fed from an
underground springs. It’s no longer a hidden little gem within Zilker Park. It
gets about 800,000 visitors a year.
Songs have been written about it… New
Year’s Resolutions have begun there (Jumping into Barton Springs Pool on New
Year’s Day is a rite of passage for Austinites). But at the end of the day,
it’s just a really neat place that brings hippies and families and hipsters and
couples together to swim in harmony.
Little known fact that came from me
looking this up online. Actor
Robert Redford learned to swim when he was 5 in
Barton Springs Pool.
http://www.austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool
4. Putt Putt Anyone?
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| The T-Rex at Peter Pan Golf - Photo Credit Sean Claes |
One of my favorite places to head when I’m in Austin and don’t want
to spend a mint is Peter Pan Mini Golf. It is your old-school 18 hole putt-putt
course. It actually opened its gates in 1946 and I’m not sure…but from the
looks of it, there hasn't been much by way of modernization since then. But you
know what? It’s awesome just like that. I’m not sure if I’d want to go back if
there wasn't the big ól slightly creepy Peter Pan kneeling in the front and the
giant T-Rex on the course. I like it just the way it is… and you are likely to
as well.
http://peterpanminigolf.com/
5. Take to the trail
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| Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail - Photo Credit: http://www.austinparks.org/ |
The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (aka Town Lake
Trail) is an awesome 10 mile loop that is great for exercising or just walking
around on. Since the 1970s, this urban dirt trail has wraps around Town Lake..
ahem.. I mean Lady Bird Lake. It spans from Pleasant Valley Road to MoPac.
If you’re not a runner/jogger/biker it’s all
good.. there’s some great spots to just lounge around and see the Austin
skyline.. maybe hang out on Auditorium Shores and play some Frisbee or pay
homage to Stevie Ray Vaughan by visiting his statue. And if
you have been to the trail before, but not for a while, you might be excited to
know that the Boardwalk Trail, closing the southeastern gap of the trail,
opened in June 2014… so it’s a solid
loop now.
6. The Stars at Night… Are Big and Bright
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| Wild Basin Preserve Photo Credit: http://think.stedwards.edu/wildbasin |
(I’ll wait while you finish that line)… Did you know that the Wild Basin
Wilderness Preserve (805 N. Capital of Texas Highway) is the location of a
monthly Star Gazing and Moonlight Tour (
link) hosted by the Austin
Astronomical Society? How cool is that? The Wilderness Preserve is actually
home to 227 acres of Hill Country and has trails that are open from dawn until
dusk.
Note: Second Saturdays they offer a 2 hour public guided tour beginning at 10a
and frequently have what they call “Hike and Lecture Series” events. In order
to find out about these, there’s a meetup.com group set up (
Lean
more here).
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| Tesoros Trading Company - Photo Credit http://www.firstthursday.info/ |
Chances are if you've lived in Austin for more than a second,
you've been down to South Congress. It’s been said it’s where the “Weird” comes
from in the “Keep Austin Weird” slogan. (Yes.. I know that
Red Wassenich, a librarian from ACC
actually said “Keep Austin Weird” first… and
Outhouse Designs trademarked the
phrase and the
Austin Independent Business
Alliance has adopted the phrase… I was speaking figuratively… thank you
very much)
ANYHOW… If you’ve got a day to spend on South Congress, you should totally do
that… try on some great costumes at
Lucy In Disguise. Check out
the amazing handmade boots at Heritage
Boot.
Pick up a funky
Loteria inspired art
piece at
Tesoros Trading Company, or
great art from
Yard Dog. You never know
what cool wearable art piece will lurk behind
The Turquoise Door. You can always
pick up a Batman
Labbit
or a new
Dunny… or a
Star Wars koozie… or maybe some rainbow tape.. or pretty much any other odd and
wonderful toy you can think of at
Monkey
See Monkey Do.
The point is… you can find the weird and wonderful on South Congress. And, if
you’re lucky there will be plenty of people watching and maybe a few musicians
busking.
So there you have it…. seven options that
won’t actually break your bank when you’re entertaining yourself, your family
or a group in Austin, Texas. Hope you enjoyed.
Feel free and comment on some additional places I've not mentioned here. There are hundreds of great spots to visit. Go out and discover your Austin.
