Awesome spot but beware that we were there yesterday and there are orange worms that bite - maybe…read moreleeches? The kids said they'll never go back haha

Great park for little up to early middle school. Street parking. No dogs allowed. Turf and mulch…read more Bathroom and water station. Several areas for kiddos to play. Bbq pit if you want to grill. Plenty of shade and seating for everyone. Well done park. Father of two and both enjoyed it.

Violet Crown Trail is one of my favorite places in Austin. I love coming here to walk, jog, or ride…read moremy bike, sometimes with my dogs and sometimes on my own. Everyone is considerate of each other, and I've always felt safe. I love seeing how the trail changes with the seasons. It's a great place to exercise, take in nature, or just enjoy being outdoors. If you bring your dogs, please remember to pick up their poop and dispose of it properly!

We're not experienced hikers, but this was a great trail for beginners! It's mostly flat and easy…read moreto follow, though very rocky in many sections, so good shoes are a must. The trail was beautiful, well maintained, and clearly marked once you're on it. One thing to note: mileage between points isn't posted at the entrance. Distance markers only appear after you start hiking, which made it a little hard to plan upfront. We ended up hiking about 5 miles round trip and didn't even cover the full trail. We brought lunch but underestimated how far we'd go and left it in the car. Definitely a lesson learned! There were several scenic spots along the way that would have been perfect for a lunch break. Overall, a solid option for beginners who want a scenic hike without intense elevation, as long as you're prepared for rocky terrain and bring what you need with you. I highly recommend to go early! We arrived around 10:30am on a Saturday and parking was filling up fast. Once we got back to the car around 1pm, there was a long line waiting for parking. Another notable mention is the restrooms! It could have been due to the time of day we arrived, but it was one of the cleanest and well maintained for a public facility.

This trail walk (or "hike") is a fairly pleasant one. We went early March, and it was a bit…read moreovercast that day. It's about 30 mins or so to the very end where the mini falls are. During that time, it was lush and water was flowing pretty high, but you had to go all the way to the very end to see water. Ive also been here one time in April and the water was flowing about halfway through the trail. It's not strenuous at all, very nice refreshing walk. Brought the pup out there and he did really well. Getting there, don't follow the Sculpture Falls direction because it will take you to a non-accessible location. Instead, make a U-turn on Capital of Texas Hwy and head east. Then you'll turn into the mopac entrance but instead of going on ramp, you take a right and you'll see a bunch of cars parked. The entrance to the trail is off the right side.

Decided to go for a little hike and ended up going to see the sculpture falls. The falls weren't…read morelarge but just as beautiful. The walk however was exhausting. Going down wasn't too bad but going back up was. We later learned it was called the hill of death. The pictures do not show the intensity, depth, treacherousness or level of difficulty walking up the hill.

Wild Basin is Austin's first wildlife preserve and it was established in 1976. It is part of the…read moreBalcones Canyonlands Preserve system and co-managed by the City of Austin and St. Edward's University. While it is only about 270 acres it is packed with all kinds of features to satisfy any Texas outdoor enthusiast. Today (August 7) I attended the First Friday Walk and Talk led by their research director, Dr. Gabriella Pardee. While August can be brutally hot here in Austin, the walk started early enough to avoid the blazing sun plus the lower trails were mostly shaded. Inside the research center Gabby talked about the history of the preserve, how it is managed and some of the programs offered to the public as well as students at St. Edward's. Then we hit the trails which are well-maintained and have signage so you can easily find your way. During the hike, many topics were touched on like bumble identification, the diversity of animals/birds and stream ecology. Bee Creek runs through the preserve. I highly recommend signing up for one of these "First Friday" of the month hikes led by Wild Basin staff. You will learn a lot. Diving deeper into the natural history of this preserve builds a feeling of community and connection to the wildness so close at hand.

Wild Basin Writing Workshop -- A Hidden Gem!…read more A friend told me about a writing workshop happening at Wild Basin, so I decided to check it out -- and I'm so glad I did! Wild Basin offers an Artist in Residence program featuring creatives in photography, writing, pottery, and more. From what I learned, residents spend about three months sharing their craft by offering a few workshops, and at the end, there's a celebration showcasing their work. One special piece even becomes part of Wild Basin's permanent collection -- how cool is that? Our workshop was led by Sarah Cypher, and it was absolutely lovely. We sat in a circle on the deck on a perfect, "almost-fall" morning. Most attendees seemed to already have their own writing practice, but Sarah made everyone feel welcome and at ease. She's a wonderful facilitator and presenter. We read a few poems, discussed what resonated with us, and then took some time to wander the trails for reflection and writing. It's been years since I've been in that kind of creative space (probably since college!), and it felt so refreshing to tap into that part of myself again. As a teacher, I spend my days helping kids become writers -- but this time, I got to write just for me. My favorite part? Honestly -- all of it. Huge thanks to Sarah, Paul, Wild Basin, and my friend Laura for sharing this experience with me. Funny enough, I drive past here all the time but had never stopped in -- that won't be the case anymore!

The River Place Nature Trail is the perfect combination of breathtaking scenery and an opportunity…read morefor a great workout. The trail is known for its steep elevation changes, lush greenery, and tranquil water features. This trail is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and fitness evangelists. The trail winds through dense vegetation with a mix of wooden steps, rocky pathways, and shaded stretches. One of the biggest attractions is the seemingly endless staircase sections. Looking up from the bottom, those steps appear to climb straight into the heavens. I was mentally preparing myself for the challenge when I spotted a sign that changed everything: "Beware of Snakes. Stay on the designated trail." Excuse me...what?! Will a snake know whether or not I'm on the designated trail? I'm thinking no. Those slithering little noodles of doom that can inject venom and potentially ruin your entire day or your life? At that moment, my inner adventurer immediately became my inner safety officer. Mission status: Abort. Abort. Abort. Instead, we claimed chairs overlooking the pond and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings from a much safer distance. It was incredibly relaxing...except for the part where I spent a good portion of the time imagining snakes conducting secret meetings somewhere in the bushes. All humor aside, River Place Nature Trail is absolutely beautiful. The scenery is stunning, the atmosphere is serene, and for those brave souls who aren't distracted by reptilian concerns, it's an excellent hiking destination. As for me, I'll admire it from the comfort of a chair with a clear view of the ground. There is a fee to walk the trials. If you do not pay the fee, please feel free to donate to the trail fund. This is a very well-maintained trail.

Nice canyon trail in the middle of the neighborhood. Glad that small piece of nature is preserve…read moreinstead turning into someone's backyard. 2.5 mile one way. It said it has a lot of steps (2736) but they are not continuous so don't worry. There isn't a overlook but at the hill top u can see over the valley a little bit. I started around lunch time . 11am. 89F. Maybe because I was little sick but I drank 24fl oz of water at 2mi mark. So bring more water if u plan on going back. Which will be a 6mi total hike. I see people being kids so it is not very difficult. Scenery: currently Texas is under a drought so all the creek is bone dry as u can see in my pictures. There many different of plants u can see along the path. Flowers and berries too. $10 during peak hours which I assume is weekend. And for parking, you can just park on the street

Oh how I love walking the Greenbelt! It feels like you can go for miles and miles. Well, you can as…read moreit's for nearly 12 miles of trails. Our little furry guy loves a jaunt on the trail in his stroller, especially if that means stopping off for a swim along the way. Can't beat cooling off in natural watering holes during a hot summer in Austin. The Barton Hills entrance gets you to Campbell's Hole while 360 gets you to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls. I say do it all. Maybe not in one day...save something for the next time. Definitely a precious piece of Austin that we're so lucky to have.

WARNING: They break into cars here! They shattered our car window and stole my backpack. We called…read morea local car repair shop to fix the window and they said they receive constant business because of this! The hike was great with lots of shade. But I would seriously discourage you from coming here because of the vandalism and theft.

I discovered the Alliance Children's Garden while attending a conference at the Palmer Events…read moreCenter as they are situated right next to each other on Barton Springs Road in Austin. We visited the Garden and had lunch there while taking in all the unique and beautiful installations. The Alliance Children's Garden is pristine and appealing to all age ranges. We saw from small children to senior citizens in the garden. You can find a range of areas to interact in from swings to wooden structures to cave tunnel installations. Covered overhangs provide shade and welcomed seating. A blue honey comb looking structure is the focal point for the garden. This garden is super convenient to downtown Austin. Importantly, one downside of the garden was parking. With very limited parking, it made the garden less accessible.

TLDR: Great park for all ages, with unique playscapes, climbing structures, and a splash pad…read more Limited parking in paid lot. Awesome park with a variety of playscapes. Large space -- spread out. You've got climbing structures, slides, tunnels, swings. What I really loved was how they incorporated the playscapes into the terrain (e.g. slides and tunnels were built into hills). I also appreciated that they had activities for various ages -- my 3.5-year-old daughter enjoyed the complex climbing structure while my 1.5-year-old son liked the simple tree stump climbing structure. Splash pad nearby and ample green space to run around. Downtown is nearby so you've got a beautiful view of the skyscrapers. You've also got some less pleasant aspects. When we were parking, there was a disheveled looking man being arrested. No idea how much of a disturbance he created but the cops were taking care of it. There's a paid parking lot that fills up quickly. Terry Black's BBQ is right across the street if you got a good parking spot and want to snag some meat as well (their line moves fast).

Our wonderful Rhodesian Ridgeback passed on to the rainbow bridge three months ago at the age of 14…read moreand we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to rehome a five-year-old Ridgeback -- see photos. Her name is Tails, previously Wrigley. Have been to Zilker with her five times in the three weeks that we have had her, most recently this morning. This continues to be a great place to take a friendly animal and allow them to run wild off leash. She loves mixing it up with the other dogs and, being a Ridgeback, she is the fastest dog out there other than some of the Vizslas. Loves the sand where volleyball is played! Lots of parking! Easy access!

Zilker Park is Austin's giant front lawn -- sprawling, busy, and full of every outdoor activity…read moreimaginable happening at once. On any given day you'll see dogs chasing frisbees, people picnicking like it's a competitive sport, and someone doing yoga in a spot that makes you wonder if they're performing for the whole park. The lawn stretches out forever, and on a sunny day it feels like half the city is out there claiming a patch of grass. Yes, the Zilker Zephyr (the little train) still exists in spirit, though it's been through closures and rebuilds. The current version -- the Zilker Eagle -- runs a short loop that's basically nostalgia on wheels. Kids love it, adults tolerate it, and everyone agrees it's one of those Austin things that doesn't need to make sense to be charming. Down by Barton Springs Pool, the real show is the area where the pool overflows into Barton Creek. It's almost always packed with families, college kids, and anyone who didn't feel like paying admission or dealing with lifeguards. It's a lively, slightly chaotic stretch of water -- people wading, floating, splashing, and generally having a great time in a spot that feels like Barton Springs' unofficial side‑door entrance. Parking is its own adventure, especially on weekends, and you'll see people trekking across the park like they're on a pilgrimage from wherever they finally found a spot. But once you're in, it's easy to settle into the mix of sunshine, crowds, and classic Austin energy.

This is a great park right in the heart of Rollingwood. My kids and I enjoyed stop here in a quick…read moretrip from Trader Joe's nearby and were pleasantly surprised by this little park. I felt safe with my kids at dusk knowing the police station was just across the parking lot. We all had allot of laughs on the spinning contraption & practicing our gymnastics on the workout bars. We will be back to stop again next time we are near:)

Little park nestled in the heart of Rollingwood. They recently replaced the playground equipment…read moreof the kiddos, so it's pretty nice now. There is shade on the playground, and it's never very crowded. There is some exercise equipment for adults as well and a couple of large baseball fields. Plenty of parking in the dedicated lot, and it's smack dab in the middle of a quiet residential area. The playground is separated into two parts, upper and lower. The lower part by the police station is really nice, lots of picnic tables and benches and a pavilion as well as large, fun playscapes.