The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake is a place of meditation and total peace. In the mornings it…read morefeel like its only you in Austin and the lake, that is until a walker or runner whisks by you. It overlooks Lady Bird Lake and at this end of the lake, it is massive, incredibly serene and extremely peaceful. The way the light reflects on Lady Bird Lake makes you think you are in a picture postcard. When I want a quiet place to steal away to, this is where I go. I also have fond memories of running the perimeter of Lady Bird Lake when training for my two marathons...from MOPAC down to S. Lakeshores. Running on a trail is far more appealing than your feet hitting hard concrete on the streets of Austin. There is plenty of free parking along Lady Bird Lake and many access points.

Sunset is the best time to stroll along the boardwalk by the river. The city skyline views are…read morestunning, and the breeze makes the walk even more enjoyable. The boardwalk is clean, great for walking, running, and biking. I started my walk at sunset and stayed until nightfall. Watching the skyline light up was beautiful and so relaxing. I didn't see any turtles this time, but I really enjoyed the peaceful walk along the river. A lovely place to unwind, enjoy the views, and get some fresh air. Parking is limited, so plan accordingly.

Overlook Park and Dam at Canyon Lake (about 50-60ish miles from both Austin and San Antonio) is the…read morepublic park I visit most often since joining the CL community in June 2020. At least a couple of times per month, we make our weekend run over the dam from North Park and bask in the seasonal beauty of the big blue lake, the variety of plants on the slopes and forest, and the joy of other visitors taking it all in. Who knows how long it will last in these troubled times for public works, but today, the park remains free to enter from dawn to dusk. The enforcement of parking and capacity limits is by Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), while the authority for the water and 1964-built dam falls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Wardens, and the Guadalupe - Blanco River Authority (GBRA). Finally, the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) helps with safety signage and waste management around the park by providing free litter bags to make it as easy as possible for visitors to pack out their trash. The park technically doesn't promote swim access, and there is no lifeguard or buoy barrier system for protected swim zones, but you will see many swimmers and floaters in the cold water around the rocky shore during warm weather. The closer to the dam you are, the more likely you'll see fish swimming in the clear water, so bring your snorkel and enjoy. Keep in mind, depth drops off steeply down to 120 feet, so if you're not a strong swimmer, a life vest or other safety provisions may be in order. Certainly, keep an eye on your kids at all times. If you want a coveted spot for the day at the shoreline, you're going to need to plan ahead. Pack up your provisions, chairs, shade tent, what-have-you and get to the park as soon as possible after dawn to secure a parking spot. You'll need your goat feet and maybe an all-terrain wagon to get down the rocky trails to your place at the water. The shore is entirely limestone, so you typically won't be able to use stakes for a pop-up; plan to weigh down with something else, as Canyon Lake gets VERY windy. Restrooms are at the far southeast end of the park, near the Gorge overlook. You'll also find porto-johns near the dam gate and disabled parking spots. If you're still there by sunset, you'll hear the sheriff's deputy over a PA system asking you to leave. There is no camping or overnight parking allowed. Note that this park is also home to USACE headquarters for Canyon Lake. Their visitor center is open Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p except for federal holidays. A few times per year, special events may open up an opportunity to drive across the dam's paved path (a.k.a. the Verada Real). These spots are secured through a charitable donation to the DAM Community Alliance (damcommunityalliance.com) and tend to sell out fast. Otherwise, only pedestrians, strollers, and bicycles are allowed on the paved path. Dogs should be on leash and poop should be picked up, please, for the love of all that is holy. More to come....

We have lived next to Overlook Park and Canyon Dam for 10 years and it has gone to hell in a…read morehandbasket in the last two or three years. It's like the county government, in coordination with the Army Corp. of Engineers has decided that they just don't want people here. First it was erecting "no parking signs" on the road and handing out tickets by the sheriffs department. Then they installed tire flattener spikes at the exit and gate barriers so that access was restricted. They had the sheriffs department come in every night to throw people out at sunset. We used to call that person the "Dam Nazi" (Canyon Dam). Now they close the place early even before hours are over and sometimes they don't open it at all. And worst of all they've started lining tow trucks up to tow people's cars at sunset without warning. It's ridiculous. It's like they are practicing for totalitarianism. It's like the government has decided that they hate people. My daughter and son-in-law walked the over-the-dam walkway with our 3-year-old granddaughter; when they came back to leave, his pick-up truck was in the air - the tow truck driver said he would take $150 to lower it again so they could drive home. People are literally starting to move out of Comal County. It has become downright evil and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority seems to be getting rich by selling all of Canyon Lake's water downstream. This is the rural version of Los Angeles, Seattle or Denver. It's getting nasty.

Even though you can no longer access the Guadalupe River from this spot, it's still a nice place to…read morerelax before or after a day on the water. It's also fun to make it part of a bike ride, stroll, or hike. Before hitting the water we swung by to relax and watch others having fun in the river. It's a tranquil and peaceful pedestrian/bike bridge with benches over the river.

It is a historical bridge. Beautiful spot for pictures. If you are in the area definitely stop and…read morecheck it out. The bridge was built in 1887 it is wooden boardwalk for pedestrians

Watching thousands of bats pour out from under a bridge is one of those experiences that sounds a…read morelittle strange until you're standing there thinking, "Okay, this is actually really cool!" The Austin bat bridge on Congress Ave. is such a unique experience, and even better, it's completely free! It definitely isn't a secret, though. A lot of people gather to watch the bats emerge, so I'd recommend getting there early if having a good viewing spot matters to you. Personally, I prefer watching from under the bridge. From that vantage point, you can actually see the bats coming out from underneath, which is the part of the experience I enjoy most. Another plus is that this doesn't have to be your only activity while you're in the area. There are plenty of other places nearby to check out, so it's easy to make the bat viewing part of a larger outing rather than your entire plan. PROS * Completely free * Such a unique Austin experience * Fun to watch the bats actually emerge from beneath the bridge * Plenty of other places nearby to explore CONS * It draws a lot of people, so arriving early is important if you want a good spot BOTTOM LINE: This is one of those simple experiences that's worth doing at least once when you're in Austin. It costs nothing, it's memorable, and there's something pretty impressive about seeing that many bats emerge at once. I'd absolutely come back and do it again, preferably from underneath the bridge.

Fun & FREE Austin Experience - watching thousands of bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue…read moreBridge at sunset. The bats start flying out non-stop to hunt for food at around 7.30pm, summer time. The best viewing spots are under the bridge and along the east side of the trail. One thing to know, you can definitely smell the bats, it's part of the experience. I recommend pairing this with a walk on the Roy and Ann Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail along the river. You can enjoy the trail, see the Austin skyline, and then watch the bats take off. A great way to spend an evening in Austin.

This is a very peaceful and beautiful spot along the river. There is only one hiking trail. Very…read morewell shaded. Seems this is where the tubers stop for a break. The water is kind of shallow They have a playground for kids and definitely a good spot to walk your dog in this Texas heat

Great place to cool off. Secret tubing area. Great for kids. Place your picnic area, walk up a ways…read moreand float down.

Took the kids here for some cool down. In order to get to the pool, you need to hike abit, which…read moreis great for the kids. Parking can be tough but eventually you will fine a spot. The pool is quite nice with cool breeze. Finding a sport can be rough if you come late in the morning but bring some shade and you will be fine. Water is cold but it was nice after a the hike and eventually your body will get used to it. Overall everyone enjoyed the day here.

What an incredible experience. I have to say first off, I really appreciate that it's reservations…read moreonly. Doing that limits the amount of people entering at once and allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Paying for a reservation and then additional money upon arrival allows this reserve and park to be properly maintained. I'm thankful for that and for the people who take care of it. It was a bit chilly the morning we went and the water was freezing. I still went in! I wanted the full experience and I got it. The way the water in the pool meets the rock formations is breath-taking. As is the rest of the park. It was a nice area to hike and breathe in nature.

I went tubing with a group of friends. We got our tubes from Corner Tubes just right across the…read morestreet from Prince Solms Park. Walking wasn't that bad. It gave me a chance to stretch or warm up before getting to Comal River. According to the website tubeinnewbraunfels.com, the part of river after the chute is on the park ground. I enjoyed the tubing experience. But I was trying to catch up with my friends, I didn't fully investigate the park features. I just saw a big warning sign with information at the front entrance and the last public exit by the river. I noticed the life jacket stand but I didn't know if it was free or not. There weren't that many people last Saturday. I guess it was a good time to go tubing.

Park is just ok. Parking now $20. There's a sign that says picnic tables $25 on weekends. A lot of…read morefools smoking cigs and weed. No personal grills allowed. Park needs more tables and some shades.

Walnut Springs Park is such a charming, peaceful spot to walk around. It runs right along a small…read morecreek, and the stone walls, low bridges, and shaded paths give it a really unique, old-school feel. Because it's set a bit lower than the surrounding streets, it feels surprisingly cool and quiet even though you're right near the center of town. It's not a huge park with big athletic fields, but it's ideal for a quick, relaxing stroll or taking a break in the shade.

Short walkway in the walnut springs park if you plan to walk back and forth but crossing towards…read morethe library is like a hidden gem. Beautiful painted squirrels definitely recommend walking this area leading to max stark park.

April 11, 2026 The universe granted us a really nice night. It's been raining, and gloomy during…read morethe day, but the nightlife came alive and we truly were blessed with GNO. It was warm, a little breezy, but the vibes were there and everyone was happy mingling, drinking, just a typical ATX night out on Rainy. Now yes, some of the charm has left. Little by little every few years something disappears, and something new comes in. The people make up for the "charm" feel. We remember what once was. Little houses that once held family dinners and birthday backyard parties are now bars. Gutted out of the family photos hanging on the walls, to neon signs barring a beer logo. Rainy Street is still charm for those that once knew it and hold it in our hearts. We make the charm because we knew, and we pass that vibe to the college kids (sorry, but you are still kids) that spend their whole weekend night letting lose and being just that, fun kids experiencing life, not corporate life, but life life. It's up to us mature Rainy Street goers to show these kids how it's done. IMO Rainy Street. Bar hoping at its bests. Charming street. Decorated for the season. Come at Christmas, it's a ball! Everything is walkable. Some really nice higher end restaurants have moved in. It's a nice place to start out your night. You will find college kids here. But you'll also see birthday party groups, bachelorette parties, bachelor parties just people having fun, enjoying life. You'll see mature, older men and women with their, "I'm still 28" in my mind. (Me, I'm that woman) They do have a small food truck area too. So when you're looking for something quick, give these food trucks a go. They are pretty good. And they have seating so you can chill, and get back at it. I only saw 1 parking lot. It was $50. For 3 hours. And $55 for 6 hours. Uber in, car pool, or find parking a block or 2 away. Come to Rainy Street. Spend the night here. Grab some dinner, a few cocktails, bar hop up and down the street. Be young, be a kid, life's short.

Rainey Street is not what it used to be 10 years ago…read more That's not awful, but it's also not good. I remember visiting when it wasn't as commercial, wasn't as loud, not as many bars, not the large hotels, and it was cute little old bungalows and restaurants that felt homey and it was charming with a food truck area. None of that appears to remain - it's vastly different and has grown. I'm not entirely sure if I think it's for the better or the worse, but much of the charm I loved is entirely gone.

Austin is a freaking AMAZING city. Straight up foodie heaven…read morewith something happening at all hours. This place does not sleep... and I love that for us. It's social, active, and full of vibey people. Big city energy but you've got everything--lakes, hills, country drives, wineries, even that little German-town feel nearby. There's literally something for everyone and always something going on. Late nights? Covered. No "we close at 7pm" energy here Fun fact: Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World with live shows happening all over the city every single night . Oh--and it used to be called Waterloo before becoming the capital of Texas in 1839 . Yeah... I get the hype.

This was my 2nd time visiting the City of Austin but first time staying in downtown. The downtown…read moreis conveniently near so many good restaurants, bars, coffee shops, Lady Bird Lake, etc. [Per the internet] KEY AREAS OF ATTRACTION: 6th Street: Famous for its high-energy bars, live music venues, and historic buildings. Congress Avenue: The city's historic main street, featuring the State Capitol and the Driskill Hotel. 2nd Street District: A shopping area with boutiques, national retailers, and local favorites. Lady Bird Lake: Offers trails, kayaking, and scenic views, forming the southern boundary of downtown. Republic Square: A park that hosts the SFC Farmers Market on Saturdays.