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.

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!

Multiple intricacies within the parks known as Town Lake Metropolitan. Waller Beach, the various…read moretrails and paths, the boardwalk, Ladybird Lake, etc. Such a peaceful and beautiful area to get in exercise (walking/running/leisurely strolling), enjoying the outdoors, year-round. Great to explore alone or with friends and family, or your furry friend. Different spots to sit and relax. Simply a beautiful piece of Austin for locals abs tourists alike.

You haven't explored Austin until you take a stroll through the series of parks through the Town…read moreLake areas. Covering multiple miles, you'll see parts of downtown alongside the colorado river. Along this pathway, you'll be lead to the Barton Springs municipal pool and the Zilker Park & Garden as you go west. Going east, you'll eventually find your way along the Boardwalk near the Town Lake apartments and then at some point, the peace point at lady bird lake, one of the chillest spots in Austin to zone out. Obviously you bike, jog, run, walk, dogwalk, skip, however you prefer to galivant along the way of this beautiful section of the capital of Texas. It's one of many reasons people love living here!

Such a pleasant park. Perfect for a stroll around the lake. Stroller-friendly…read more Plenty of benches as well as grassy area for picnics or for kids to run around on. There's also a playground (across from The Thinkery). A huge amount of birds here. Ducks, pigeons, grackles. Even saw cormorants. A few food trucks near the parking lot although most were closed late Sunday afternoon.

Mueller Lake Park is such a pleasant park to walk around. It is away from the hustle and bustle of…read morethe Mueller district. You take in the beautiful lake as you meander around the lake. The hubs and I walked around the lake after our brunch. Such a pleasant walk...

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).

Alliance Children's Garden is a playground within the larger Butler Park in Austin. We chose to…read morecome here since its want right across the street from Terry Black's BBQ, where we planned to have lunch. The park has lots of playscapes and climbing structures, and you'll also get nice views of the tall buildings of downtown Austin. They do have an hourly pay-parking lot at the entrance, but it does fill up quickly. It's almost better to leave your car here and walk to Terry Black's. We only hung out at the hills and tunnels section of the park, which our 4yo son loved. They have several hills covered with artificial turf of varying heights that are fun to crawl, climb, or roll down. The tunnels through each hill will make you feel like a Hobbit in those LOTR movies.

I love that the trail now goes full circle. This trek to east austin is magical. I've seen turtles,…read morecranes, sailboats, tight rope walkers, fisher people, artistic graffiti and so much more. They now have bathrooms and entrances with coffee shops in case you need to make a stop. Also the trails are wide on this side so you won't get mown over by drunk people on electric scooters or tech bro mountain bikers.

This is easily the best section of the Ann and Roy Butler Trail off Lady Bird Lake. The view of…read moredowntown Austin over the river is beautiful, the trail is well supported and wide, there is plenty of break off points to sit and enjoy the view, and plenty of entrances to get on and off the trail. RIYL: Good vibes and good walks

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.

There are definitely reasons why this park is so popular and why the website recommends purchasing…read moreday passes in advance. McKinney Falls is gorgeous! We went for a hike there right after a big storm and the grounds were so green and vibrant. We mostly stuck to the Onion Creek Trail as it is paved; however, the storm brought in mud to a few places on the trail, so be prepared to maneuver or wear proper footwear if you go during rainy season. Many families line up to take pictures in front of the upper falls (outside the Smith visitor center), so go early if you'd like a picture free of other guests. We then went to the lower falls area where there is an expanse of limestone (I believe) to get to the falls. There's a very small beach and swimming hole area that many families were enjoying. It's important to note that dogs can't enter any of the water at this park. The park also had multiple designated fishing areas as well. We drove around the campgrounds and they have well-maintained water + electric sites at every site. We would highly recommend a visit if you're in the Austin area.

Austin, Tx. Actually the park is pretty nice, except…read moreconditions on a hot summer day were not ideal. The lower falls had little water and there was a huge slew of trash and litter in it and it looked disgusting. The upper falls were better but very little water flowing. We were leaving soon but my wire told me to pull over so she could photograph some wildflowers. I did because there was nobody there that day, but a Ranger had to come scold me anyway. Well I did leave behind my $12. I hope it goes for trash removal.

When my boyfriend said "let's go meet our friends at the peacock reserve", I didn't think twice…read moreabout saying yes and I also didn't think twice about it being a ACTUAL place with peacocks. This place was honestly so cool. The peacocks free roam so it's important to be mindful where walking, and especially important to watch in their small parking lot as the birds wander into there as well. With that being said, there are no dogs allowed. We walked around the grounds a bit trying to find more birds. There's benches to sit, nice little water ponds to see, and a little trail as well. Would definitely advise going with closed toed shoes if you're planning to walk the trail. It's not really stroller friendly as there are branches and rocks scattered all along the path. I would definitely come back here, should I find myself back down in Austin. Such a wholesome and peaceful place!

I first visited Mayfield Park several years ago when visiting Austin for the first time with my…read moreboyfriend who is from here. The park is famous for the peacocks that reside on land of nearly 23 acres. They're so beautiful to watch. The park also has koi ponds, hiking trails, gardens, and the Mayfield-Gutsch cottage that dates back to the 1870s. It's a beautiful and peaceful park to hike, walk, or just relax in. Extremely well maintained and cared for. It's also a place my sisters like to visit when they're in town to see me.