Dripping Springs, Texas

Outside of the fantastic job market, one of the most magical things about Austin is how quickly you can go from city life to being immersed in nature. Nearly every day, I take a quick jaunt down to the Barton Creek Greenbelt with my trusty companion, Sage the Chocolate Lab. We live within walking...

The Cathedral of Junk is a hidden gem within the Austin City Limits, actually located in the Artists backyard. Construction was started back in 1988 by Vince Hahnemann and he still continues to add to it to this day! Climb to the top of the tower to rock out on the drum set or maybe even catch a ...

This small isle is a nice feature of the section of the Colorado River that flows through Austin. The isle is pretty small and is a good scenic location for a quick 1-2 hour outing. All the trails are pretty flat and easy to walk. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a nice park i...

This look out point is less than a quarter mile hike and is located within the Rollingwood neighborhood, just west of Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway). It faces east and is a great location for catching sunrise. The trail to the overlook is crushed gravel, but is very flat. This overlook is kid- and dog...

Spend the day swimming and exploring or stay the night and see everything this privately owned park has to offer! From the spring fed concrete pool, to natural spring fed swimming hole, waterfall, butterfly gardens and more! Bring your tent or even your RV! They take reservations for RV hookups o...

Located about 6 miles from downtown San Marcos, the Five Mile Dam Park is a popular destination for swimming, boating, and other outdoor activities. It has a large flat field for playing soccer as well as many bathrooms. The Blanco River flows through the park and as the name implies, there is a ...

The Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake provides great views of the city skyline from several different perspectives. It's perfect for exercising or just taking a stroll on. It's about a 10 mile looping trail however there are several points in which you can cross the river and make the loo...

The Main Trail to Meadow Loop to Taylor Creek Loop is a 0.6 loop hike found within Mayfield Park just west of downtown Austin. The trail is completely shaded and is a relatively easy hike. The trail does descend down stairs in some spots, but nothing too significant. This is a great family trail ...

Mayfield Nature Preserve is a 21-acre park located just west of downtown Austin, Texas. This nature preserve is unique from all other parks in Austin in that it that features free-roaming peacocks. It's a beautiful park full of beautiful nature and the trail leads down near the lake. The trail is...

You don't have to rent a bike but it's the "Austin" thing to do. With plenty of pick up and drop off locations all throughout the city you can start the trip and end it whenever you feel like it! It's recommended to start the trip on South Congress at the bike rental located near Doc's Motorworks...

If you're looking for excellent views of hill country, the skyline, or just an awesome place to watch the sunset this is the place to be. If you're heading southbound from 183 on 360 just before you reach the bridge there will be a dirt parking lot on your right. There are trailheads on the easts...

Every evening, just as the sun sets, you can watch the 1.5 million bats take flight into the evening sky. This is great family fun and a must if you visit/are new to Austin. Parking is easy and nearby, however it is paid. There is a separate lot located in the Austin American Stateman parking lot...

The Bull Creek Trail is an Out-and-Back trail along Bull Creek; it's a pretty beginner to intermediate hike. The trail follows along Bull Creek which runs between the hills of the Austin Hill Country. There are several waterfalls which can be found along the creek. The trail has multiple access p...

The University of Texas Walk is about a 3-mile loop trail around the University of Texas at Austin. Beginning at the LBJ Presidential Library, the trail loops around all of UT's most prominent landmarks, including the LBJ fountain, the Blanton Museum of Art and of course the renowned school tower...

The Spring Lake Wetland Walk is a 0.7 mile loop hike located in The Meadows Center for Water and Environment. It's a great walk with a self-guided tour purposed for learning about the surrounding nature, wildlife, and invasive species. This area is not particularly great for exercising or anythin...

The Bull Creek trail is a dog-friendly loop trail found in the Bull Creek Greenbelt area of northwest Austin, Texas. This trail, which may be confused with the South-to-North Bull Creek Trail, actually does not follow the creek and instead winds around the hills of the Austin Hill Country. The t...