Deep Eddy Pool is an Austin institution! I spent many years at deep Eddie pool with family, friends…read moreand colleagues. It's nothing like swimming on a hot summer day. Your first impression of the pool will probably be wow it's large with so many lanes and many areas where you can just swim or float to your hearts content. Another impression might be and it was especially for me the bright blue water of the pool. It looks refreshing, cool, and inviting. Deep Eddiy pool has a oblong shape typical of large pools of its size. The pool has architecturally clean lines with precise corners. When you stand on the pool platform the vastness of the pool rushes to the forefront. Everytime I stick my foot in the water of the Deep Eddy pool, that cool refreshing feeling envelopes my body. Entry fees are very reasonable and can beas low as $2 per day. Paid parking is available in front of the pool and on the street. Nice relaxing self-care day...

I've lived in Austin for 5 years and finally made it to this Austin institution! Deep Eddy Pool has…read morecool, spring fed water which feels amazing on a blistering hot summer day. There is no shade to speak of when in the water, so be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen. They have lockers to store valuables on site, but you need to bring your own lock. They also have dedicated dressing/shower areas and relatively clean toilets. If you don't use a locker, you have to place everything on the sides of the pool in the grass/dirt (be sure to bring a picnic blanket if you plan to hang out there at all). The grass/dirt area is nicely shaded. No beverages apart from water is allowed by the pool. Entry fees were $5/person for Austin residents. It was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

We are park hoppers, I'll go ahead and admit it, you won't find us at the same park each week;…read moreguaranteed. Why? Well...what child wants to go to the same park over and over, play on the same old equipment and not grow tiresome? Definitely not my children, so when we arrived at an appointment in the area a tad early, we decided to stop by Shipe Park. Now let me start by saying this place ROCKS! This place is one of the few Austin-area parks that have a shaded playground and as all Texan's know it's hotter than hell during the summer, shade is a huge-huge-huge bonus for the kiddos. We'll be visiting again, why you might ask? *Amenities- SHADED (by trees) PLAYGROUND, duh; the swimming pool(s) - 1ft pool separated from the larger pool with lifeguards on duty; basketball courts - not overtaken 24/7, you can actually shoot around; tennis courts--what's a park without them; and a huge field for running around free or tossing around a football with the nuggets. *Events- upcoming Movies in the Park and a pool party, major win! [Btw- there might be a summer camp that takes place at this park, there was a few (young) kids running wild on the playground, tossing their (wasted, yes because they had like 4 each) milk cartons all over the playground, screaming so loudly my two year old wanted to ditch playing and go because the kids were as he said, 'crazy,' ha. I did not see an adult within eye-sight so I don't know if they are free to roam?]

Shipe sits in the heart of Hyde Park, an older and legendary north-central Austin district with a…read moremix of families, professionals, students, professors, and alternatives. Shipe is a neighborhood, family-friendly park with a playground, a pool, and two small tennis courts. I believe it also has a basketball court. The park has no trails and measures about one square block, but serves a purpose for young families, dog walkers and amateur tennis fans. There is rarely an hour of the day when I drive down 45th to find the tennis courts empty, and the night lights help keep the space popular with UT undergrads and grad students with writer's block. The playground is busy on the weekends and in the afternoons, with a smattering of strollers and dogs wandering about. If you live in the area, it's a nice place to spend a few minutes. If you don't, there would really be no reason to make the effort. Shipe is suffice.

The best part about this pool is that it's open all year (closed on Mondays) with the water temp at…read morea consistent 78-80 degrees. This is one of several free public pools in Austin. I love it because it isn't as crazy busy as some of the other pools and it makes it easier to splash around and not worry about being on top of other people. The bathrooms are basic but clean.

Been swimming here starting over the spring. My neighbor mentioned Big Stacy and it's relatively…read morenearby my domain. I enjoy the length - with is greater than 25 meters (33 I believe). Usually keep 2 lanes open for laps and you can usually find a spot. Sometimes the bathrooms can get backed up with homeless as some do rely on that for showers. I have run into this a couple of times, not frequently. But overall I like the size of this pool and usually 2 lifeguards on duty. Sometimes if schedule changes or adjusts it's hard to find the right source that is always updated or accurate. Google's hours are not accurate, and neither is Yelp's. But overall it's still a free community pool and great place to cool down.

I am one of a thousand reviews for Barton Springs. I don't think I'll have a new perspective, but I…read morecan share mine. It's a hot summer weekday in Austin, and my friends and I hit up the Springs to cool off. We came a little after lunchtime, and while it was busy at the pool, it wasn't TOO bad as it probably is on a weekend. We set up base at a spot near a tree to collect a little shade and lathered up in sunscreen. The pool has strict rules of no food and drinks other than water, but it keeps the place clean and risk free, which is actually appreciated by me. The pool stays between 68°-70°, which is a temperature not too cold on impact, but still super relaxing to hang in. The pool is massive with plenty of people hanging around in all corners. It's a great spot in summer but definitely not a hidden gem. It's an extremely well-known gem. I'm curious how populous it is during peak times, but that random Wednesday afternoon was perfect. RIYL: The biggest pools

This was my favorite experience on my trip to Austin. You…read morehave to pay to get in. It's a little cheaper if you're an Austin resident but overall not expensive for the experience it provides. Everything about the area is gorgeous and unique. I found the whole place very clean and well staffed with multiple life guards on duty and people of all ages. Note that there is absolutely no food or drink allowed inside. I think that policy, along with the requirement to pay, is what keeps the area so clean. The water is absolutely freezing and can't be regulated as it's not a pool, but man does it feel nice on a hot Austin day. Must do in Austin.

The pool is awesome, as are the shaded tables and the yard. The bathrooms leave much to be desired;…read morehowever, they at least provide a changing area and toilets. If not for bathroom situation, I would give 5 stars.

This pool is a neighborhood gem! It's not too crowded and it's free. But even better, it's actually…read moreclean. From all the pool and watering hole exploring I've been up to, this has been the cleanest. Maybe there are some leaves in the pool, but the water is clear and bright. Unlike some other swimming venues with hair, twigs, bugs, murky water, and a slick of sunscreen at the top (Deep Eddy, I'm looking at you...), Murchison is terrific. The pool isn't too big, there are a couple lanes reserved for lap swimming, and then the rest is open. It's very kid friendly, as most of the pool is 3-4' deep (it makes flip turns a little tricky on one end..). There is a deep corner of the pool, about 8'+ deep. Biggest bummer is that its hours are seasonal and its closed for most of the year, like when school is in session.

I really wanted to enjoy my experience at Cabana Club, but unfortunately it was disappointing from…read morestart to finish. The service was terrible, and the drinks were somehow even worse -- overpriced, poorly made, and definitely not worth it. What bothered me most was the treatment from the waitresses. It honestly felt like they only paid attention to male customers. The atmosphere has potential, but customer service can completely ruin a place, and that's exactly what happened here. I wouldn't return or recommend it based on this experience.

Had such a great experience here! The atmosphere was on point--fun, energetic, and a really great…read moreplace to hang out whether you're with friends or just stopping in for a drink. Everything felt well put together, and the overall vibe made it stand out. Sophia, our server and bartender, was absolutely amazing. She was super friendly, attentive, and made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Her recommendations were perfect, and you can tell she genuinely cares about giving great service. Honestly, Sophia made the whole experience next-level. Definitely coming back and highly recommend checking this place out!

I'm on a mission to visit as many of the playgrounds around me. I feel like Austin Playgrounds need…read morea better way to find them, the Austin parks & Rec website doesn't show enough about what the experiences at each one are really like. That being said, Ramsey is a five minute drive for us so the convenience is great. Parking is on the street and while I've always been able to find a spot, during peak play times you might have to circle the block and perfect your parallel parking skills. One of the main reasons I knocked a star off is the bathroom situation. Points for having bathrooms, but we only use them in emergencies. They're about as clean as you'd expect a park bathroom to be but they could absolutely use a little bit of updating. There is no soap available. I almost think I'm expecting too much but I've been to many playgrounds in major cities that were clean and had all the items you need for hygiene. (No changing tables here.) The playground is nice, it is separated in to two parts where one side seems a little more suited for older kids and the other side has some things toddlers can climb and play on. Lot of space for imaginative play with the boulders and "cave" they can get into. There is also a basketball court, tennis court, and a medium sized field to run around in. Decent amount of picnic tables here and benches.

Decent park for the kiddos. Like that there's a tennis court and pool. Good crowds and gets pretty…read morebusy during the weekends. Like that there are levels of slides and some swings throughout. With that said, it's not my favorite park though and this is why - missing a sandbox. There's a hospital nearby with occasional sirens and my kid and some others keep running towards the noise wanting to see an ambulance/firetruck/police car and nothing preventing the kids from running into the street. A fence or wall would have been nice, atleast by the playground area to limit the # of exit points. Lastly, it can be a little dirtier compared to some of the other parks I have been to in the area. But overall, a decent park, love the neighborhood and the big trees, and good vibes overall.

No idea how we went 6 years living right down the road and having no clue this existed. We came by…read moreon a Saturday afternoon around 3 and were able to get a parking spot and a chair. The layout is split between a young children splash pad area and a full size pool that is split into multiple sections. I was incredibly impressed by everything they have to offer. The splash section has a slide and plenty of shade for the kids. The big pool has a walk in section that gradually gets deeper as you get in. To top it off, the have the diving boards to get out all your high flying energy. We will definitely be back all summer long.

This pool is great!! My husband and i recently discovered it and it was the most fun I had in a…read morewhile. The entrance fee is $5 per adult, $4 for senior citizen or if you have a military ID. They have a high dive and a low dive that dips into 12 Ft pool. They have 2 swim lanes, they can be shared. I do think they have certain hours where it is open swim, adult swim, etc. Check online before going to make sure you will be able to swim. They have a lot of picnic tables and chairs to lay your stuff at while you swim. They have a small kids play water park with slides and a bucket that dumps water. It looked like fun but since I didn't have a kid with me, I didn't venture to that side. Overall, this pool is great and I would come again!