With an average of 228 days of sunshine, it’s no wonder Austin offers an abundance of outdoor activities. Whether it’s a sunset bat cruise on Lady Bird Lake, a hike on one of The Greenbelt’s trails, or a dip in an Austin swimming hole, get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Austin Hot Spots: Swimming Holes
Take a dip in one of Austin’s best swimming holes.
Austin Motel | Take the plunge! The Austin Motel is taking great lengths to keep folks cozy and socially distanced poolside each week from Friday-Sunday so grab your mask, reserve your pool pass now, and cruise on over.
1220 S Congress Ave | 512.441.1157
Blue Hole | Drive 45 minutes south of Austin to reach the glorious Blue Hole. The crystal-clear waters stay an ideal 75 degrees all year round and are shaded by towering cypress trees. Reservations are required.
Blue Hole Ln | 512.660.9111
Float On Boat Rentals | Make some lake memories and cool off with Float On boat rentals. Great rates, new boats, and friendly staff make this local company the highest rated boat rental company in Austin.
5019 Capital of TX Hwy N | 512.436.3505
Krause Springs | Spend the day swimming in its 32 springs, as well as natural and man-made pools. And be sure to take a walk through their colorful Butterfly Gardens.
424 Co Rd 404 | 401.236.7554
SUP ATX – Paddleboarding | Rent a SUP board on Lady Bird Lake with the largest paddleboard company in the world. No reservations necessary, just show up!
1541 W Cesar Chavez St
West Lake Beach | A great place to take the fam! Located along Lake Austin, just north of the Lake Austin Dam, West Lake Beach features a roped-off swimming area that gets up to six feet deep!
2509 Westlake Dr | 512.327.9004
Austin Hot Spots: Patios
Head to one of our favorite Austin patios where you can safely eat and drink alfresco.
Contigo | Farm-fresh Texas fare meets seasonal cocktails and beer, plus a large social-distance all-weather patio!
2027 Anchor Ln | 512.614.2260
Fresa’s South First | The Mexican restaurant maintained the massive, dog-friendly patio when it took over the former Freddie’s Place.
1703 S 1st St | 512.992.2946
Loro | Asian smokehouse meets Texas barbecue in a rustic spot with beer, wine, and cocktails plus giant patio.
2115 S Lamar Blvd | 512.916.4858
Olive & June | This Italian restaurant offers a stunning patio with a beautiful ancient oak tree, perfect for happy hour cocktails.
3411 Glenview Ave | 512.467.9898
Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar | One of Austin’s original high-end patio dining experiences, and still one of the best.
1400 S Congress Ave | 512.291.7300
Yard Bar | The dog-loving Yard Bar is a combination dog park/restaurant/bar with Bark Rangers on guard to help your pups. The dog park is only open to members currently.
6700 Burnet Rd | 512.900.3773
Austin Hot Spots: The Great Outdoors
Head out and get some fresh air in Austin’s great outdoors.
Barton Creek Greenbelt | Contains 12.68 miles of gorgeous trails, with the main trail spanning about 7 miles. This particular greenbelt is considered one of the top hiking trails in Texas. Make sure to make a reservation.
Blunn Creek Preserve | This one-mile loop makes it easy to forget that you’re in the middle of the city. Attracting fewer visitors than some of the other trails, it’s perfect for quiet introspection.
1200 St Edwards Dr
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | Eat a picnic lunch and learn more about the conservation of native plants at this internationally recognized botanic garden.
4801 La Crosse Ave | 512.232.0100
McKinney Falls State Park | Offering endless fun with lots of trails, wide-open spaces, and water that you can swim and jump in. Reservations are required.
5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy | 512.243.1643
River Place Nature Trail | Skip leg day and head to River Place—one of the most challenging hikes in Austin. Each of the three trails that make up the system has something to offer.
8820 Big View Dr
Turkey Creek Trail | The only off-leash area in Emma Long Metropolitan Park, the 2.5-mile Turkey Creek Trail zig-zags across the creek bed, providing plenty of opportunities for your best friend to frolic – and for you to get your feet wet.
1401-1711 City Park Rd
Austin Hot Spots: Iconically Austin
Here are a few hot spots that are uniquely Austin and socially-distancing approved.
Austin Bat Tours | It’s a spectacular sight to see the Congress Bridge bats emerge from the bridge at sunset, even better view from the lake!
100 S Congress Ave
Austin Zoo | The Austin Zoo is a non-profit rescue zoo where families can visit and learn about their rescued animals. Be sure to buy a bag of food to feed the goats!
10808 Rawhide Trl | 512.288.1490
Blue Starlite Mini Drive-In | Authentic drive-in slots with window speaker setups and great movie programming all year long!
Peter Pan Mini-Golf | Operating since 1946, this cash-only family attraction feature a variety of characters, obstacles, and surprises on two 18-hole courses.
1207 Barton Springs Rd | 512.271.5475
Thinkery: Austin Children’s Museum | Re-opening September 5th. Enjoy their new “Path To Play” model, which will allow small groups of 10 to move throughout the museum in a timed and sequenced fashion.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden | With Texas’ largest collection of touchable sculpture, the UMLAUF offers over 50 sculptures in a peaceful 6-acre garden near Barton Springs.