Austin, the capital of Texas, and home to so much rich history as well as tempting recreation and entertainment options. Because of its proximity to key sights, the Zilker area is a popular place to visit. My husband and I stayed in the Zilker area and thought it served as a perfect home base for a stay in this intriguing city.
Austin is an entertainment hub serving as the home base for the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) conference featuring film, media, and music. Sometimes referred to as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” the city has plenty of live music options for all tastes. Interestingly, “Keep Austin Weird” is an unofficial slogan of the city and promotes buying locally (and not at large chain stores). This slogan pops up on t-shirts and bumper stickers throughout the city.
Our family stayed in a rental vacation home in the Zilker area which made it perfect to enjoy the area on foot, and it was an easy drive to downtown — a short ride away.
Zilker Highlights
Given the warm climate and the city’s popularity, you see a lot of people out and about. This is especially true in the Zilker area where there are abundant recreational options.
Here are my favorite activities in the Zilker area:
1. Walk or Jog Along Trails in Zilker Metropolitan Park
The park comprises almost 360 acres of land including trails for walking, jogging, and biking. Part of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, the paths are well-designed along Lady Bird Lake and have ample room for the many people who use them.
If you start off on the trail near Barton Springs Road and Azie Morton Road (at Barton Springs Bridge), you’ll see a small footbridge to cross the water (if you want to head towards Lady Bird Lake in the other direction) as well as spots to take in the skyline of Austin and watch kayakers glide by on the water.
If you continue on the trail along Lady Bird Lake — actually a reservoir feeding the Colorado River — heading south, you’ll pass some recreational areas and a statue of musician Stevie Ray Vaughan (a celebrated guitarist who lived in Austin) and arrive at the downtown area — right by the Hyatt Hotel that leads you up to the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. The downtown area is just across the bridge. Incidentally, that bridge is the one where lots of people flock (by foot, by scooter, by tour boat, and by kayak) to watch the emergence of thousands upon thousands of bats at dusk (more on the bats below!)
If you continue on the trail along Lady Bird Lake heading north, you’ll pass a lookout area (Lou Neff Point) which is nice for resting and taking in the views of the downtown skyline.
Staying in the Zilker area around the Barton Springs Road area, you’ll find ball fields, more trails, playgrounds, and Barton Springs Pool (more on that below). There’s also a small train that runs through the park; the ride lasts about 20 minutes (cash only). Find the train depot by the north entrance to Barton Springs Pool.
2. Swim in Barton Springs Pool
Located in Zilker Metropolitan Park, Barton Springs Pool is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Because the pool is spring-fed, it maintains a chilly 68 degrees year-round. Even in the summer, the water seems cold — very cold! — at first, but your body gets adjusted pretty quickly. When you’re in the pool, you’ll be able to enjoy a great view of the Austin city skyline in the distance. A large grassy area overlooks the pool, and it’s ideal for lounging and sunbathing after a dip in the water. There is an entrance free, although it is free early in the morning and in the evening. The pool has several lifeguards along its expanse.
One end of the 3-acre pool starts as a sandy beach, so that’s the gradual way to enter the water. The water depth changes due to the varying rock formations that create the base of the pool. The deep end is marked as 14 feet.
The water flows from an underground spring into the pool, then down into a creek just past a fence at the other end of the pool. On the other side of the fence, you’ll find dogs frolicking in the water while their owners toss balls or just watch their pooches having fun. Humans often join the dogs in cooling off in this area that, while free, does not have lifeguards.
Barton Springs Pool is an easy place to spend an afternoon or an evening. When going to the pool, bring along a towel, a blanket to sit on (as there are no lounge chairs), sunglasses, and sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to bring water shoes as the bottom of the pool can be slippery from algae (which is scrubbed weekly). Non-alcoholic drinks are permitted as long as they’re in plastic resealable containers with twist-top lids.
Kayak and canoe rentals (cash only) are available at Zilker Park Boat Rental just downstream from Barton Springs Pool on the north side of the creek. Bring a photo ID if renting.
A large park sits before the southern entrance of Barton Springs Pool (just off Azie Morton Road). Here you’ll find people practicing yoga, playing baseball, playing guitars and other musical instruments, running their dogs, or just enjoying the open space.
3. Wander through Zilker Botanical Garden
In Zilker Metropolitan Park, Zilker Botanical Garden features Japanese, rose, cactus, native plant, butterfly, and prehistoric gardens. There are meandering trails that take you past the plant collections, a waterfall, and woodland fairy gardens (designed and displayed by local Girl Scouts).
In addition, Austin Nature & Science Center is nearby and has exhibits of animals and plants of the area along with nature trails.
4. Grab a Bite and Brew Along Zilker Area Restaurant Row and Beyond
There are several restaurants close to Zilker Metropolitan Park that includes Chuy’s and the Shady Grove just east of the Barton Springs Road and Azie Morton Road intersection. As you probably know, Austin is known for its food trucks. There are lots of them — in the Zilker area and all over town. The point is that there’s good food to savor in Austin.
If you wander a little closer to the downtown you might want to try other highly rated restaurants and beer joints in the area. We enjoyed Terry Black’s BBQ (further down Barton Springs Road) for awesome BBQ. (Even our guests from San Antonio, with lots of good BBQ in their own city, raved about it.) Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company and Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden were great spots for beer. There are plenty more restaurant and bar options along Rainey Street and lots of fantastic live music there, too.
5. Watch the Bats Emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge
If you’re planning to visit Austin, some people may tell you that you have to see the bats emerge from under a bridge at dusk. That’s when they begin their nighttime feeding. The Mexican free-tail bats live under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, which spans the Colorado River, from early spring till late fall. When the bats migrate to Austin in the spring, there are about 750,000 pregnant females; while in town, the mothers each give birth to one pup which swells the population to about 1.5 million. (By the way, there are male bats in Austin, but the ones under the bridge are mostly mommas and their pups.)
The prime time to see the bats emerge is in late July and early August when the pups are flying on their own. Since the mothers no longer need to feed their young, all of them are emerging around dusk.
Why are the bats under the bridge, you wonder? Originally constructed in the early 20th century, the bridge was rebuilt in 1980. At that time, small gaps were added under the bridge. As it turned out, these crevices were perfect homes for migrating bats.
It’s best to find your viewing spot (along the bridge looking east) or along either side of the bridge on ground level. If you’re really interested in getting up close, you can catch a kayak tour or a riverboat cruise (one is Capital Cruises; another is Lone Star River Boats) and you’ll be situated just beyond the bridge. But be careful that you don’t get a gift dropped on you from above when the bats emerge; maybe a hat and/or jacket would come in handy.
As dusk approaches, a scout bat sticks its body out, senses the weather conditions, and gives the signal to the rest of the crew. They swarm out from under the bridge and fly over the river. At times, it can look like a dark cloud flying away in the distance as many stick together.
6. Visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum has more than 100 sculptures in a woodland setting and in the museum. The sculpture garden is close to the intersection of Barton Springs Road and Azie Morton Road.
Austin Overview
Austin, a vibrant city, is the state’s capital with almost one million residents; the median age of Austinites is 30 years. The city is named after Stephen Austin who was the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas; this was before Texas became a state in 1845.
A large number of international companies have headquarters or regional offices in Austin. A few — like Dell, HomeAway, and Whole Foods — were founded here. A large part of its economy is driven by the tech, pharmaceutical, and defense sectors; having Texas State University and the University of Texas (founded here in 1882) campuses in town helps companies find highly qualified employees.
The Zilker Area of Austin
The Zilker area of Austin — known for Zilker Metropolitan Park — a major recreational venue in Austin, hugs Lady Bird Lake and is named for a prominent businessman who lived there in the early 20th century.
Zilker Metropolitan Park began with the sale of land in the early 1900s from a local businessman, Andrew Jackson Zilker (who had an ice-making business along Barton Creek) to the city of Austin. Proceeds from the land sale went to a fund benefiting public school education. The land was developed over the years, in part thanks to the Civil Works Administration — a public works project in the 1930s to employ workers during the Great Depression.
Day Trips from Austin
If you have some extra time, consider some fun day trips from Austin. Each is about 80 miles away. Of course, San Antonio is always a big draw.
Also consider Fredericksburg, a charming small town with great museums, shops, and restaurants that oozes lots of German heritage pride. Nearby Fredericksburg is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with plenty of walking and hiking trails, endless vistas, and intriguing rock formations.
Final Thoughts
Austin was a central location for our family vacation, and we enjoyed the relative quiet and recreational facilities offered in the Zilker area. Since we had a car, we did venture to other spots for enjoying good meals and beverages. After our stay in Austin, we headed to Lake LBJ for a few more days together. We rented an amazing home on the water with amenities (pool, hot tub, dock, paddleboat, canoe) that everyone enjoyed.
To make sure you remember all the great experiences on your next trip — be it to Austin or somewhere else — take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. You’ll be glad you did!
If you want a picture in front of this sign, you’ll find it at 1720 S 1st St. Put it in your GPS, and head on over!
Comments?
Feel free to share your suggestions or ideas about a visit to Austin. Your thoughts could help other travelers. Thanks! 🙂
I know there is a lot of debate about BBQ in Austin but we loved Terry Blacks too. The sides were so good.
Yep, Lauren, it’s a perfect spot for delicious BBQ! 😁
Running along the trails in Zilker Metropolitan Park is great and the trees can provide a degree of respite from the sun in the summer months.
Yes, that was one of my favorite spots to take long walks on a recent trip to Austin. I appreciated the well-maintained, shady paths while still being able to catch a glimpse of the city skyline in between the trees.