Here’s our list of top Austin places to visit and things to do

South Congress– Great restaurants, shopping, and walk a little south to see the bats at the South Congress bridge (March through November and people start gathering around 5:30pm). Plan ahead and you can do a boat tour of the bats. (Side note: there’s a mass bat exodus in RR too, just off I-35 if you don’t want to go all the way to downtown.) Look north while on the Blvd and you’ll see a breath-taking view of our state Capitol. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/south-congress-avenue-(soco)/4359/ 

Capitol building– taller than DC’s, and quite ornate and impressive inside. Tours detailing the building and Texas history are available every day of the week.https://tspb.texas.gov/plan/tours/tours.html 

Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool – A 358 acre park, just south of downtown. The pool is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees. If you wait too long in the day to go, the lines can be significant, although they move fast. http://www.austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool 

6th street– Lots of bars and music. The street is shut down on weekend nights and the street is filled with people, young and old. It’s always been a popular destination for Austin night life. Take a look at the Driskill Hotel, on the corner of 6th and Brazos. For more than a century, the Driskill has served up high-end Texas hospitality. https://driskillhotel.com/ 

Mount Bonnell– A very short hike, and perhaps the best view of the city of Austin, Austin’s wealth, and Lake Austin. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/mount-bonnell/2925/ 

Pennybacker Bridge (The 360 Bridge) – This bridge is perhaps our most iconic thing representing Austin. The homes are beautiful (and opulent) out that way as well. Lots to gawk at. The trail is short but rocky so be sure to wear good shoes and be sure to have your camera charged so you can take some amazing photos. https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/360-bridge/ 

Domain– “Austin’s second downtown,” includes fancy stores (like Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, and Nieman Marcus), beautiful hotels (think Archer Hotel Austin and The Westin) and high-end restaurants as well as more relaxed venues such as Macy’s, Hopdoddy Burgers, and GAP. There is truly something for everyone here. https://www.simon.com/mall/the-domain 

Mueller- A more and more hip area of town with a great kids’ museum (The Thinkery) and great park for kids. This is a great place for families but I think the “grown up” fun might be better found elsewhere. http://www.muelleraustin.com/ 

North and South Lamar– Lots of funky local Austin type restaurants there too. A very popular street to live near. Goes straight through town and many find it a good route when avoiding highways. 

Guadalupe and “The Drag” – Some iconic restaurants and a funky, college feel if you’re driving around out of towners. A good place to start if you would like to see the University of Texas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(Austin,_Texas) 

Walnut Creek – HUMONGOUS with lots of great trails (approximately 7.3 miles). Also has the Walnut Creek Pool. http://www.austintexas.gov/page/walnut-creek-trail-system  http://www.austintexas.gov/department/walnut-creek-pool 

Round Rock – One of the fastest growing cities in America. Settler’s park has great lights and recreation etc at Christmas time and it’s the home of the minor league baseball team, The Round Rock Express. Coming soon is Kalahari Falls! https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/  https://www.kalahariresorts.com/texas/

Hamilton Pool– Beautiful and a historic swimming hole with a gorgeous waterfall. It is 23 miles west of Austin. You need a reservation and be prepared for a rocky, steep hike. https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve 

Enchanted Rock– A much longer drive (96 miles), but still worth it if you ask me. My family goes out there maybe twice a year. Most beautiful and interesting hiking in our area, in my opinion. The drive there and back will also give you a good picture of what “Hill Country” really is. Depending on your route, lots of people stop in an old German town called Fredericksburg as well, a sort of bed and breakfast town with lots of novel stores and restaurants.https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock