Austin, Texas is well known for its live music scene, mouth-watering Tex-Mex cuisine, and quirky, relaxed atmosphere. But with so much to experience in this rapidly growing capital city, from outdoor adventures to cultural essentials, Austin has something for everyone who visits. These are some of the best things to do in Austin, Texas.
1. Take a dip in the pool at Barton Springs
This spring-fed pool maintains a balmy 68-degree temperature year-round, providing an oasis of calm in the often sweltering Texas summers.
Barton Springs Pool is 3 acres in size and has a real spring flowing out of an underground cavern at one end. Pools have a gentle slope and depths range from just a few inches for wading to more than 18 feet deep near the springs. Grab take-out tacos and enjoy a picnic on the lawn or relax by the pool.
2. Eat at Torchy’s
![Street tacos arranged on a plate.](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Shutterstock_441287707.jpg)
Austin is a taco lover’s paradise. Austin has developed a unique taco culture with a thriving food scene and influences from Mexican culture and Texas barbecue traditions. Enjoy everything from fusion tacos with unexpected ingredients, like the Chicken Pad Thai Taco at The Peach Tortilla, to Tex-Mex tacos packed with classic fixings. There’s no shortage of great options to satisfy your taco craving.
The heart of Austin’s taco culture is its famous food trucks. The taco truck, which serves exquisite flavors in a compact kitchen, requires him to make one or more stops during his visit. Torchy’s Tacos first launched out of a trailer in 2009 and has since expanded to popular brick-and-mortar locations. However, you can still see his original Torchy trailer on South 1st Street.
Torchy’s doesn’t have bad tacos, but favorites include fried avocado tacos, trailer park tacos, and brush fire tacos. Don’t forget the chips and salsa!Chips and salsa are considered the main event at his Torchy’s, and you won’t be disappointed if you order the homemade salsa salsa verde. Another local favorite is Papalote Taco House. Crispy chargrilled corn tortillas, tender carne asada, refried beans, cotija cheese, pico de gallo Makes me want to eat flavorful tacos.
3. Try breakfast tacos
The breakfast tacos are thing in Austin. This city is obsessed with breakfast food, with breakfast taco shops serving delicious tacos on almost every corner. These are not California breakfast burritos. Think homemade tortillas and scrambled eggs, or migas, scrambled eggs wrapped in a tortilla and topped with cheese, potatoes, bacon, and a variety of salsas.
Veracruz All Natural serves breakfast tacos with freshly squeezed tortillas, and Tacodeli creates award-winning breakfast tacos with signature dishes like the sublime Doña sauce. creamy jalapeno sauce That way you’ll want more.
4. Explore Lady Bird Lake
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, Lady Bird Lake offers easy access to outdoor recreation and a break from the city. With 16 miles of trails, you can explore by walking, jogging, or renting a bike.
Or head into the water in a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. Near the lake there are various outfitters with all the necessary equipment. Our convenient location near downtown makes it easy to add exploring the area to any trip.
5. Watch live music
![11 things to do in Austin, Texas 3 concert](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shutterstock_500312950-scaled-e1691165890870.jpg)
![11 things to do in Austin, Texas 3 concert](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shutterstock_500312950-scaled-e1691165890870.jpg)
Austin is a must-visit music destination with the highest concentration of live music venues in the state. Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” it has multiple venues throughout the city. But no area of downtown boasts a more vibrant music scene than his famous 6th Avenue. 6th Street is home to more than a dozen clubs with live music every night, all within a few blocks of each other. Don’t know what you’re in the mood for? Head to one of his many blues, rock, country, funk, jazz, and more bars and listen to some tunes. Stay or wander around the next venue until you find one you like.
Try iconic venues like Esther’s Follies, a vaudevillian-style show that blends comedy, magic, and music, or Flamingo Cantina, with its funk and reggae beats. Buskers also line up on his 6th Avenue street to show off their skills and aim to grow a following. You might even catch an impromptu drum circle jamming to infectious Afro-Cuban rhythms.
6. Hike McKinney Falls State Park
Just 19 miles southeast of downtown Austin is McKinney Falls State Park, a 745-acre wilderness park perfect for escaping downtown.
Lace up your boots, pack a picnic, and head to the Upper Falls Trailhead for a gentle 3-mile loop into the heart of the park. As the name suggests, this trail leads to Upper McKinney Falls, a 41-foot waterfall. Continuing downstream, you can cross Onion Creek to the bottom of the trail and catch a glimpse of Lower Falls.
Not in the mood for a hike? McKinney Falls offers camping, mountain and road biking, geocaching, and bouldering. You can also fish and swim at Onion Creek. No matter how much time you spend at McKinney Falls State Park, it’s the perfect Austin antidote when you want to recharge in nature.
7. Eat Some Que
Mouth-watering smoked meats, tangy sauces, and juicy ribs bursting with spice – this is Austin, Texas. Authentic Texas-style barbecue stands proudly in Austin’s food capital. From acclaimed restaurants serving classic fare to new-school smokehouses with creative twists on tradition, Austin has plenty of barbecue for connoisseurs and casual fans alike.
Be sure to stop by Franklin Barbecue. But be prepared to wait in line for hours to enjoy the smoked brisket, which consistently ranks among the best in the nation. Nearby, the slightly less popular La His Barbecue still smokes brisket and beef ribs for patients, and there is still a line in the street. Popular menu items include jalapeño sausage and pulled pork.
Or, head to East Austin and check out Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ. The barbacoa carnitas tacos topped with cilantro deserve a special mention. Similarly, Pitmaster Evan LeRoy’s LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue embodies Austin’s bold and original barbecue spirit.
Can’t decide between tacos and barbecue? Local favorite Sam’s BBQ serves classics like melt-in-your-mouth brisket tacos and smoked turkey, sausage and ribs on homemade corn tortillas. Masu.
8. Hike to the top of Mt Bourne
At 775 feet, Mount Bonnell reigns as Austin’s highest point. This iconic observation deck offers panoramic views of downtown and the surrounding hills and his country. The summit is easily reached with a short, gentle uphill walk of less than 30 minutes.
Head to the Mount Vaughn parking lot in the Covert Park section of West Austin. Almost immediately you’ll find steps carved into the limestone, but there’s another option to the top by climbing a less steep dirt path to the right. Follow this tree-lined road that gradually winds upwards. At the top, look east toward the downtown Austin skyline. The State Capitol and UT Tower are recognizable from a distance.
9. Observe bats from Parliament Bridge
If you’re in town from March to November, take advantage of the bat shows that take place almost every night at dusk. It’s quite a sight to see approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge en masse from beneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge.
Arrive on the south side of the bridge overlooking Lady Bird Lake before sunset to find the perfect viewing spot. Just as the sky darkened, the first swarm of bats emerged from under the bridge, and at about the same time the remaining bats took off.
The display lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes before hundreds of thousands of bats take to the sky. Several local companies offer bat-watching boat tours. Or rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and head out to Lady Bird Lake to admire the views from below.
10. Stroll South Congress
Showcasing Austin’s funky, eclectic spirit, South Congress Avenue, locally known as SoCo, stands as one of Austin’s quirkiest and coolest commercial districts, just south of downtown. Drive over a mile through the Travis Heights neighborhood and explore its mix of boutiques, eateries, food trucks, cafes, music venues, and art galleries.
Starting just north on Monroe Street, stop by Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds to try out wild costumes and accessories perfect for cosplay and making your Halloween fantasies come true. Sample olive oil at the Texas Hill Country Olive Company, venture into the Tesoros Trading Company, filled with home goods and textiles from around the world, then read a quirky book at Austin Books & Comics.
Snap a photo at the Austin Motel, known for its retro, neon-filled atmosphere. Further south, you can dine at one of SoCo’s many menus. Taco Deli serves some of the best breakfast tacos in the city, and Food His truck sells everything from pho to pizza. Home Slice Pizza offers authentic New York-style pies by the slice or a giant 28-inch whole.
11. Stroll through the LBJ Presidential Library
Those interested in history and politics will want to explore the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library on the University of Texas campus. As the official Presidential Library and Museum of the President of the United States, the expansive complex details the life and reign of the native-born Texan Johnson during his presidency.
Highlights include a full-size replica of the Oval Office from the presidential administration, where you can sit behind the desk of a former president. His animatronic LBJ also gives a “We Shall Overcome” speech, recreating his 1965 speech to Congress on voting rights. The iconic presidential limousine used by the Johnson family is also on display alongside gifts from visiting dignitaries.
No matter your preference, there’s plenty to do in Austin, whether you’re looking for live music, great food, outdoor adventure, or quirky good times.
Sarah Gilliland is a travel journalist and editor-in-chief of Wealth of Geeks with over 10 years of experience writing, editing, and producing family travel content. In addition to her role as Travel Editor-in-Chief for Wealth of Geeks, she also freelances for other online media outlets. Sarah’s beats include theme parks, family vacations, cruises, and road trips. When she’s not traveling or writing freelance columns, Sarah can be found on her website. Traveling with Sarahor binge-watch the latest geeky stuff on Netflix or Disney+.