The Complete Guide For Things To Do In Austin

Austin, Texas, is a vibrant city full of fun, food, and events. Keep reading to find the perfect options for YOU!

Table of Contents

Date Nights

Forget about the standard “dinner and a date” in Austin, a city that has so many interesting and fun things to do. From glassblowing to street art tours, and exciting games to daring activities, a date in Austin will never be boring!

1. Glassblowing at Glass Pepper Glass

Fan the flames of love by taking a glassblowing class together! Ghost Pepper Glass in East Austin has a ‘Taste Of Glassblowing’ workshop that’s perfect for couples. Offered on Friday and Saturday nights between 6 pm and 9 pm, you and your date will get 15 minutes of personal instruction and then go on to make your own beautiful glass-blown objects.

For a more intimate experience, you can take a private two-hour lesson. Whatever class you take, you’ll each have a unique memento of your time together!

2. Overcome a challenge together at The Escape Game

Find out if you and your date can overcome a challenge at The Escape Game Austin. Put your heads together to find a way out of a ‘locked’ room by solving riddles and puzzles. Each game has unique themes and multiple rooms in each game, The Escape Game will put your love to the test!

You can choose a game that suits your tastes. Do you both like thriller movies or books? Play Classified where you must hurry to stop a major international attack. Want to take on the most difficult game? Play Prison Break and rush to figure out how to break out of a jail cell in a 1950s prison!

With the last game of the night starting just after midnight, The Escape Game is a great place to go in Austin for a late-night date

3. Take a self-guided street art tour

Art lovers can spend a night viewing Austin’s street art on this self-guided street art tour. The murals are not just artistically inspiring but also provocative so you’ll have plenty to talk about if this is a first date.

Longtime couples who love to post their adventures on Instagram. Wrap up your date at the romantic "I Love You So Much" mural. Afterward, take a romantic stroll along the boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake.

4. Watch the sunset from Mount Bonnell

Head up to Mount Bonnell with your partner for a breathtaking sunset with panoramic views of Austin. Since the mid-1800s, Mount Bonnell has been a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike.

You can be sure that many date nights in Austin have taken place here. Unlike other date night activities, it's free to visit Mount Bonnell, making a sunset trip here one of the most romantic and cheap date ideas in Austin.

5. Go on a speakeasy tour

Want to know what bars to go to in Austin for a romantic night out? This speakeasy walking tour will show you where to go. This two-and-a-half-hour tour is led by a local craft bartender who takes you to several hideaways like bars located behind bookshelves, in basements, and in alleyways. Along the way, you'll learn about the history of speakeasies and what makes a bar a speakeasy.

The tour runs on Sundays and Tuesdays from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. On your next date, you can come back to your favorite spot and toast over newfound cocktails.

6. Take your sweetheart to the Museum of Ice Cream

At the Museum of Ice Cream, you and your sweetheart can indulge in all-you-can-eat ice cream while walking through 12 multi-sensory installations about this sweet treat! Try unusual flavors or different textures. Jump in the huge sprinkle pool together!

The museum’s late nights are Fridays and Saturdays, though it closes at 7 pm. If you’re planning a later date, skip the museum and head to one of Austin’s best ice cream shops like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Cold Cookie Company, Luv Fats Ice Cream, and Dolce Neve Gelato.

7. Stir up something good at a cooking class

If you are looking for first-date ideas in Austin, try a cooking class! You’ll be part of a group so there’s no one-one pressure. Instructors keep classes light-hearted so you and your date will have fun laughing off any food disasters you may make together.

Sur La Table’s Date Night cooking classes create the kind of environment that's just right for couples. The great thing about a cooking class is that for date number two, you can create your own meals with what you learned.

8. Dinner and a movie like never before

Simplify your dinner and a movie date at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Watch your movie while eating delicious food from their award-winning menu brought to your seat. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and microbrewery beers. The Alamo plays everything from current hits to classics, indie to foreign films.

For an old-fashioned dinner and a movie, head to a drive-in. The Blue Starlite Drive-In has two locations in Austin, one of which has a drive-in food stand. With so many screens to choose from, the odds are that you'll find a romantic movie playing on one of them.

9. Join a painting paw-ty

If you and your date have bonded over your love of felines, join one of Purr-fecto Cat Lounge’s “Sip and Paint Paw-ties”. You’ll have 70 minutes to work on a cat painting with the help of an art instructor. Plus 20 minutes to play with the kitties in the cafe. Cupcakes are provided and you can bring your own wine if you'd like. If you’ve been thinking of adding a little one to your household, consider one of the cafe’s fur balls!

10. See Austin’s bats on a sunset kayak tour

Austin’s well known for its colony of Mexican free-tailed bats that live underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Downtown Austin. The colony is over one and a half million strong, making it the largest urban bat colony in the world. Watching them fly out from their abode at sunset in search of food is an awesome sight. For an unconventional date idea, see Austin’s bats at sunset from a kayak!

Lone Star Kayak Tours’ Bat Bridge Kayak Tour starts at 6 pm and lasts two hours. Your tour guide will teach you about these nocturnal creatures and the role they play in the ecosystem. All the while you will take in the sparkling Austin skyline.

11. Try indoor skydiving

If watching bats fly isn’t your idea of a great date night, see what it feels like to fly yourselves at iFly Austin. You and your date will be able to experience the thrill of defying gravity from inside a manmade vertical wind tunnel just a few feet above the ground. If this date goes well, consider a next date with a real skydiving experience. Feel your love soaring to new heights!

12. Relax at a spa

For couples looking for a date weekend, head a half-hour out of Austin and make your way to the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. Located in Austin’s Hill Country, the resort is a great date getaway. Bask in the luxury of a full-service resort where you can enjoy golf, nearby hiking trails, an infinity pool overlooking the rolling hills, and much more.

If you prefer a simple spa day, you can book time at the resort's Mokara Spa and enjoy spa treatments, a rooftop pool, a steam room, a sauna, a whirlpool, and locker rooms for the day. treatments, salon services, restorative personal journeys, and more. On Fridays and Saturdays, the spa is open until 7 pm so you’ll have time for dinner afterward at one of the seven restaurants at the resort.

13. Discover new wines

Turn your date into a tasting tour of Austin's best wineries. The Austin Winery’s tasting room is open Tuesdays to Saturdays until 9 pm. Their wine flights get you three wines to try for $20. The friendly staff will help you pick wines that suit your taste. Since there are two of you, you can try twice as many wines!

For a longer date, Austin has wineries throughout the surrounding Texas Hill Country. You can use this map to find great wineries to stop at. If you prefer that someone else do the driving take an organized tour, like this Half-Day Hill Country Wine Shuttle Tour.

14. Gaze at the stars

What could be more romantic than a date under Austin’s stars? Your best bet for the clearest and darkest skies is at locations about two hours or more outside of Austin where the lights of a city won't interfere with your viewing. But there are some good places in or near the city.

On Wednesday nights during school semesters, the University of Texas hosts public star parties on the roof of Robert Lee Moore Hall. Within the Austin area, the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center hosts star parties periodically. Telescopes are provided and professional astronomers are there to answer any questions.

If you can spend time taking a much longer drive, South Llano River State Park offers a big Texas sky and you and your date will be awed by the sheer number of stars you’ll see. Combine your stargazing with some time in the park enjoying nature.

15. Ziplining at night

For couples who are adrenaline junkies and not afraid of the dark Lake Travis Zipline Adventures has what you need! They offer a three-hour nighttime zipline guided adventure that includes five ziplines, ranging from 250 feet long to over 2800 feet long. Their longest zipline is the longest and fastest zipline in Texas with a descent from a cliff as tall as a twenty-story building. Glowsticks and headlamps will be provided as will a memory that will long outlast your date night!

16. Go axe throwing

We admit this may not be the best idea for a first date, but if you and your partner know each other well enough to know that this is just for fun, then a Friday night date at Austin Axe Throwing is a fantastic idea!

Axe throwing has become one of the most popular recreational activities in the past few years, so you'll probably see other couples there. This would also be a fun idea for a double date and is a fun thing for couples to do in Austin.

Urban Axes is open on Tuesdays to Thursdays until 10 pm, Fridays and Saturdays until 11 pm, and Sundays until 8 pm.

17. Kayak at Lady Bird Lake

Located in the heart of Austin, Lady Bird Lake is a lovely spot to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. You can rent kayaks and canoes from the Texas Rowing Center, which also offers lessons. The Rowing Dock also has rentals and offers instruction for paddle boards, kayaks, and paddle boats.

No swimming is allowed here so if you are looking for a swimming experience, try a watering hole at Barton Creek Greenbelt (below) or the Barton Springs Pool inside Zilker Park.

18. Hike and swim at the Barton Creek Greenbelt

The Barton Creek Greenbelt has everything needed for a perfect outdoor date in Austin, especially on a hot day. Gorgeous and varied landscapes provide different difficulty levels of hiking trails. If you want to hike to a swimming hole, there are Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls. Dogs are welcome so if you don't feel like three’s a crowd bring Fido along!

19. Bike the Ann and Roy Butler Bike Trail

For a casual bike ride in a beautiful location, look no farther than this 10-mile bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. The terrain is primarily flat so if you are on a first date, you need not worry about breaking into an uncomfortable sweat!

20. Hold hands at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum

Another romantic place perfect for a daytime date in Austin is the idyllic UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum, filled with the charming works of American sculptor Charles Umlauf. If you are looking for something to do on an evening, look into attending one of the adult events as part of the UMLAUF After Dark series.

21. Stroll through Zilker Botanical Garden

Some call Zilker Botanical Garden “the jewel in the heart of Austin” -- sounds about right for a date! Stroll through the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Riparian Streambed. Listen to the delicate trickle of streams and small waterfalls and fish whooshing in the Koi-pond.

22. Date night restaurants

If you can spring for a fancy meal, Lenoir is one of the top romantic restaurants in Austin.

The menu is sublime, and the two seating options can help you create the date vibe you want. Sit in the outdoor wine garden underneath the paper lanterns for a casual experience or get more intimate inside the small bungalow with only a few tables.

A romantic date doesn't have to be expensive! QI Austin is date-night material! With delicious Chinese food, you and your date can slurp on amazing soup dumplings. The interior has a romantic ambiance so skip the patio.

While the setting of Halcyon may not be exactly ‘romantic’, sharing S’mores is! This coffee shop, which serves food and cocktails, is a good choice if you are looking for a low-key spot for a late date in Austin, as it is open until 2 am every night.

23. Bars and lounges

Lucille is a charming bar on Rainey Street that has both a cozy inside bar serving classic cocktails and local beers and an outside bar on the patio. On the patio, you can stretch out in hammocks and play classic outdoor games, making this a great Austin bar for an afternoon date.

House Wine, located in a 1940s home with plush, contemporary decor, is a smart choice for a no-pressure setting just right for first dates. It’s like being at someone’s house where you can even bring your dogs and sit out on the patio.

Cool, classic, and dark! The Roosevelt Room is where to get up close and personal with your date over swanky cocktails. It’s atmospheric and whips up drinks from bygone eras like Manhattans, as well as modern libations.

24. Live music venues

For all kinds of music in a comfy, historic bar, the Scoot Inn is a good choice.

Part dive bar, part music venue, The Skylark Lounge is low on pretension and high on quality Blues. The Elephant Room is a speakeasy with jazz every night in the basement.

25. Magnolia Cafes

These cozy little diners are essential pieces of Austin’s homespun, low-frills food scene. The original Lake Austin Boulevard location opened in 1987, and the South Congress Avenue restaurant opened the following year. The first is open 24 hours a day during the warmer months; the other is open 24/7 all 365. The Magnolia menu focuses on the classics — salads, tacos, pancakes, burgers, breakfast all day — sometimes with tangy little twists, like the mac & cheese with extra sharp cheddar, or the Tropical Turkey Taco.

26. The Color Inside

Since the 1970s, artist James Turrell has been creating what he calls Skyspaces — small, dreamy rooms with open roofs, allowing visitors a pleasant view of the sky and letting sunlight set the interior aglow. The Color Inside, his 84th Skyspace, was opened in 2013 on the University of Texas campus on the roof of the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center. The place is at its most alluring at sunrise and sunset, but you can pretty much expect a contemplative, otherworldly experience anytime you go.

Family-Friendly Activities

When in Austin with the family, you’ll have dozens of things to do with your children of all ages - from teens down to toddlers. Choose from exploring the city’s natural environs or going to amusement parks and game rooms. Austin also has several museums that your whole group will enjoy!

Here are 27 ideas for fun, family-friendly things to do in Austin.

1. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures

Do you have adrenaline junkies in your family? Head straight to Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. It has the longest and fastest zipline in Texas that starts from a 20-story cliff and travels 2,500 feet, reaching exhilarating speeds of up to 50 miles per hour! The three-hour hike to the cliff includes four other ziplines. Given the distance of the hike, this zipline park is not suited for young children.

2. The Escape Game Austin

If you are looking for some indoor fun with your kids in Austin, check out The Escape Game. In an escape game, your family will have only 60 minutes to find a way out of a ‘locked’ room. To succeed, you'll have to hurry to solve riddles, puzzles, and clues.

The rooms at The Escape Game are expertly designed to recreate the atmosphere that suits the unique and amusing game themes. Plus, the rooms have varying levels of difficulty so you can choose one that everyone in your family can play.

Younger children will thrive in the Playground escape room while your tweens and teens will do like Gold Rush or Classified. Regardless of the room, your family will have a fantastic time working and laughing together!

3. Inner Space Cavern

When your family enters the massive cave formed nearly 20 million years ago, they'll be amazed at the huge rock formations like stalagmites and stalactites as they walk along a paved walkway.

The experience is more than just awe-inspiring. Guides provide educational information about how such a natural wonder is formed. After the one-hour tour, younger kids can search for gemstones in the outdoor mining area or take the Saber Tooth tandem zip line ride.

4. iFly Indoor Skydiving

For family members who love a thrill, indoor skydiving at iFLY Austin is a thrilling thing for them to do! After a lesson from a skilled instructor, you’ll step into a manmade wind tunnel and experience what it’s like to defy gravity inside while just a few feet from the ground.

Kids as young as three are allowed to indoor skydive, though this activity may be best suited to older children and tweens. Then again, who’s to say at what age kids become fearless? Whatever your ages, your family will have a blast at iFly.

5. Go Karting

For the speed demons in your family, bring them to COTA Karting, where everyone in your group (12 and up) can race alongside the world-famous Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix Circuit of The Americas race track! Their rental karts can go as fast as 55 mph!

At COTA, kids must be 14 and at least 58” to drive or 48” to be a passenger in a two-person kart. On the Junior Kart track, your kids who are 12 years and up and at least 48” can drive on their own.

If you are traveling with kids under 12 and don't want to deprive them of the chance to put the pedal to the metal, take them to Pinballz Lake Creek where children six and older can kart.

6. Barton Springs Pool

Take the family for a swim in a natural spring-fed pool with an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long! The three-acre pool ranges between one to 18 feet deep so people of all ages can enjoy swimming here. Flotation devices are allowed and lifeguards are on duty during specific hours (check their website).

On a hot day in Austin, a dip in the springs will really cool you off!

7. Lady Bird Lake

No swimming is allowed at this reservoir which is part of the Colorado River. But is a perfect place for you and your family to go boating. For guided kayak tours, look into Austin Kayak Tours.

You can rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the Rowing Dock, Texas Rowing Center, or the Paddle Shack.

The Hike and Bike Trail is smooth and easy to bike. It’s also easy to push a stroller on making this an excellent thing to do with infants and toddlers in Austin. Look into renting bikes at Barton Springs Bike Rentals.

8. Mount Bonnell

You'll definitely want to see the panoramic views of Austin from Mount Bonnell. Fortunately, the hike to the vantage point is fairly short. Teens, tweens and children should have no trouble climbing up the steep stairs, though you'll have to give toddlers a hand.

9. Austin’s Famous Bats

Every night from April through October, there’s a sunset show at the Congress Avenue Bridge, also known as “Bat Bridge''. Witness a whopping 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats fly out from under the bridge to go hunting for food.

There are a few ways to see the show. You can watch from the bridge, stake out a spot at the bat viewing area at the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake or take a sunset river cruise or riverboat timed to see the bats fly!

This nightly event is one of the most popular things to do in Austin and is not like anything your family has seen before!

10. Drive-Thru Safaris

About a one-hour drive from Austin is the Exotic Resort Zoo which has over 700 animals of 45 different species. You and your family can stay in your car for a drive-through experience, though it might be more fun to take a guided tour on a tractor-led tram.

The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, also a one-hour drive from Austin, has 500 animals from 40 different species from around the globe. You can do a drive-through, or take a private guided tour in a small open-air shuttle for a closer look at the animals.

11. Zoos

Austin's a great place for anyone who loves animals! The Austin Zoo has animals one expects to see at any good zoo, like big cats, zebras, bears, monkeys, and more.

The Capital of Texas Zoo has a larger variety and is worth the 20-minute drive east of Downtown Austin. The zoo houses rare animals like white tigers and black leopards. For an extra cost, the zoo offers close-up encounters with some https://austinzoo.org/of the animals.

12. Austin Aquarium

With thousands of sea creatures, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even some mammals, the Austin Aquarium could keep your family enthralled for days!

What makes this aquarium a standout is that it offers guests more than just a view through the glass of some amazing wildlife and marine life. Through their interactive programs, guests can hand-feed sharks, birds, and fish.

The aquarium also has lemurs and sloths for your family members who prefer fur to fins!

13. Pinstack

Go one-stop shopping at Pinstack, 45,000-square-foot venue with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained! There are state-of-the-art bowling lanes and bumper cars for classic family fun.

Your gang can try out the 24-foot rock climbing wall or the high-ropes course suspended 20 feet above an arcade with 100 video games and simulator technology. A family-friendly menu with food like pizza, burgers, and nachos followed by giant milkshakes!

Pinstack is an ideal place to go if its a rainy day in Austin -- you'll never run out of things to do!

14. Peter Pan Mini-Golf

Generations of Austin families have been coming to Peter Pan Mini-Golf since 1946. There are two 18-hole courses with whimsical statues along the way. Your kids can play putt-putt surrounded by the characters from Peter Pan, like Tinkerbell and Captain Hook, as well as a giant Converse sneaker, a T. Rex, a clown, and other colorful characters!

15. Schlitterbahn Waterpark

From April to mid-September you and the family can have a day of fun at this enormous water park about a 90-minute drive from Austin. The park has four separate sections, each of which is as large as most other water parks. And there are also several rivers, some of which are powered by natural springs!

There’s a staggering number of rides to choose from including huge waterslides, wave pools, river rides, and more. Rides range in ‘thrill level’ so every member of your family will find an activity they’ll like.

Every section of the park has a swim-up bar, a not-so-lazy river, a children’s area, and unique rides. You can't go wrong at Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

16. Austin's Park

Less than a half-hour drive from Austin is the 23-acre amusement park Austin’s, Central Texas’ largest family entertainment center. The park has loads of fun rides and attractions including an indoor roller coaster and a tower drop.

There’s also bowling, laser tag, rock climbing walls, virtual reality rides, arcade games, go-karts, miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, and a carousel for the little ones. Dine on Austin’s famous artisanal pizzas and Tex-Mex cuisine.

17. Museum of Ice Cream

You’ll hear no complaints from your kids at this museum where your family can eat unlimited ice cream as you move from immersive activity to activity. There is an educational aspect as 12 multi-sensory installations explain the history of ice cream. The best part? Jumping in the museum's world-famous sprinkle pool!

18. Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms

At this living history museum, visitors learn about authentic frontier life in Texas from costumed volunteers who guide guests through farms and towns built to recreate actual structures from the second half of the 19th century.

Six themed historic areas include working farms, a rural village called Sprinkle Corner, and a Native American encampment. Not only will your family hear stories about Texas’s past, but they will also get to ride in horse-drawn buggies, pet barn animals, and even learn how to churn butter!

19. Austin Street Art

Why head inside a museum when some of Austin’s most famous works of art are free to see on the city streets? Giant murals on walls and even the side of big buildings can be found throughout Austin, many in SoCo (district South of Congress Avenue).

Take a family photo in front of the iconic “Greetings from Austin” mural at 1720 S 1st Street that looks like a vintage tourist postcard. Look for Mister Rogers at the “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” mural at 1415 South Congress Avenue and Aretha Franklin at the “You Got To Have Soul” mural at 1315 South Congress Avenue. Use this guide to find the best murals in Austin.

If you are in Austin with teens, they will really like this tour as this art form is unconventional, exciting and Instgrammable!

20. Austin Toy Museum

You can bring out the child in the adults in your family at this small but cool museum. It’s filled with hundreds of toys and figurines from days gone by. Peruse the shelves and see Smurfs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel characters, Star Wars figurines, Ken and Barbie dolls, and many more.

The museum also has vintage video games that you can introduce your kids to, like Pac-Man, Spaces Invaders, and Donkey Kong. They are free to play with your admission ticket. You can also shop at the museum’s large comic book collection.

21. Pease Park

Near Downtown Austin is the 84-acre large Pease Park. It’s eight interconnected green spaces with a wide range of things to do for people of all ages. You can play volleyball, basketball, baseball, hike, bike, or have a picnic.

A big hit with families is Kingsbury Commons. Here your younger kids can splash in an interactive water feature, enjoy a state-of-the-art playground, and climb a one-of-a-kind treehouse. There’s even a life-sized chessboard!

22. Dinosaur Park

Going to see realistic life-size dinosaur statues is certainly a unique thing to do with your younger kids! As you walk along this outdoor museum’s nature trail, you’ll pass by dinosaurs ranging in size from 2 feet long to the 123-foot-long Diplodocus, the longest dinosaur that ever lived.

Along the trek, your children will learn about the giant creatures who roamed the earth 150 million years ago. Your kids can also dig for fossils, romp around in the playground and find their favorite dino-toy in the gift shop.

23. Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve

Mayfield Park is a fantastic place to bring younger kids who want to discover nature without them having to hike along arduous trails. The park has a 21-acre preserve and two acres of pristine gardens.

In the less manicured areas of the park, your kids can fish in small ponds, look for wildlife, and navigate easy trails paved with stone. Plus, you and your kids will be delighted by the wild peacocks that roam the grounds freely.

24. Patterson Park

Patterson Park in East Austin is a nice spot to take the family. Kids of all ages will find something to enjoy. There are two Little Tykes playscapes, one geared toward toddlers and another for kids ages five through 10.

Family-Friendly Things To Do at Night in Austin

Your Austin vacation days can easily be filled. But what about the nights? Below are a few family-friendly entertainment ideas. For even more, read here.

25. Drive-In Movie Theaters

Going to a drive-in movie is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Austin at night. Sit on the hood of your car and munch on popcorn. Enjoy the nostalgic feeling of an American past-time from the 1950s and 60s.

Doc’s has movies six nights a week so you should be able to go during your trip even if it’s just a few days long. Blue Starlite Mini Drive-in has three locations offering a wide selection of family-friendly movies.

26. ZACH Theatre

The Zach Theatre is the longest-running theater company in the state of Texas. They have top-notch performers who put on shows for people of all ages. Your younger children will enjoy shows like The Cat in The Hat and Cinderella, while the whole family will like the selection of musicals and plays like Head Over Heels and Noises Off.

27. Austin Scottish Rite Theater

Founded in the same year Austin became the capital of Texas (1871), this theater is the oldest in the state. Younger children will love family-friendly productions like The Jungle Book and Pippi Longstocking.

28. Peter Pan Mini-Golf

Kitschy, goofy, and endlessly Instagrammable, Peter Pan has been a beloved Austin landmark since 1948. Oversized animals populate its two 18-hole miniature golf courses, characters from fairy tales, a T. rex, and all kinds of crazy things. The giant Converse sneaker is especially photogenic. It’s a family-friendly place, but it’s also BYOB, so there’s nothing wrong with caddying your cooler from one hole to the next (this is Texas, after all). Most nights, you can putt-putt to your heart’s content until 1 a.m.

29. Amy's Ice Creams

Sweet genius Amy Simmons opened her first little ice cream shop in Austin in 1984. Fast forward to the present, and Amy’s Ice Cream has locations all over town and beyond, and a reputation for inventive, sometimes crazy flavors. What’ll it be this time? Bee Cave Crunch, Guinness Gingerbread, or Sweet Potato Pie? Or maybe you want the Wasominic (dark chocolate, Oreos, and wasabi) or the Hatch Chili Peach (featuring, among other things, strawberries and corn). In all, Amy’s got some 350 varieties in her bag of tricks, and she rotates them in and out of the lineup on the regular.

30. Pinballz Arcade

Chuck E. Cheese is all about the kids. Dave & Buster's caters mainly to a (young) adult crowd. Sometimes it seems like family fun centers don’t really have the whole family in mind. Pinballz aims to challenge that, with food and games that should appeal to everybody. In addition to the titular pinball machines, this mini-chain — with two locations in Austin and another in nearby Buda — offers skeeball and video games, but also laser tag, bumper cars, escape rooms, and more. The original location at 183 & Burnet is BYOB, while the other two offer beer and whiskey. All three will serve you pizza, tacos, mozzarella sticks, etc.

31. Food Truck Parks

Thanks to its (mostly) pleasant weather, Austin is pretty much packed with outdoor dining options all year long. For something quick and chill, swing by one of the city’s many food truck parks. Populated by a few trucks, a couple of picnic tables, and a tornado of windswept napkins, these little lots are like rustic little food courts. If you’re not feeling the chicken and waffles, check out the biscuits and gravy at the next truck, or the vegan chorizo tacos at the one after that, and so on. It’s so Austin.

32. Mount Bonnell

The rocky, grassy peak of this stately little mountain used to be called “the highest point in Austin,” but the city’s borders have expanded over the years, so it’ll have to settle for “prettiest view in town.” Indeed, a short trail climb up Mount Bonnell allows visitors a breathtaking panorama of the city, the Colorado River, and beyond. It’s also a nice place to have a picnic or propose to your sweetie.

33. Mt Playmore

The first thing you notice about this family fun center is the sheer enormity of the place. Youngins spend hours in Mt Playmore’s “Texas-sized indoor playscape” — a colorful obstacle course littered with nets, monkey bars, and bouncy floors to climb, crawl, and clamber over. Meanwhile, you’re chilling in the middle of the couch with an iced tea and a smile. If the kiddos still aren’t exhausted after all that, there’s also the arcade games, amusement rides, party rooms, and the Hungry Yeti Café, where kids eat free.

34. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Austin sits this enormous botanical garden and arboretum run by the University of Texas. With its many manicured gardens and untamed meadows teeming with plants and trees native to the region, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is an ideal place for blissful strolling and picnicking. After that, head into the air-conditioned Central Complex to learn all about the ecological research going on there.

Things to Do With Teens

1. Street Art And Graffiti Tour

Austin’s street art scene is well-known, and seeing it up close is one of the best things you can do with your teen. Teenagers can relate to street art and murals in a way that no other kind of art can, as the vivid colors and political or humorous messages speak to them.

The Street Art and Graffiti Tour with the Color Cartel brings you straight to the famous murals and off-the-beaten-path gems.

If you prefer to find them on your own, use this guide to the best art murals in Austin.

2. The Escape Game Austin

Playing an escape game is an exciting thing to do in Austin with your teen. Escape games are popular with teenagers as they are not just fun, but also stimulate their creative thinking skills as they race against the clock.

Your group has just 60 minutes to solve challenging clues and riddles to find the way out of a ‘locked’ room. Each room at The Escape Game Austin has a unique theme and is designed perfectly to recreate an environment that reflects that theme.

The Escape Game is a family-friendly activity, and everyone will have a blast working together to escape the room in time. Visiting The Escape Room Austin will be a memorable part of your visit!

3. The Austin Bats

Ok, here’s a sort of weird thing to do with your teens -- see the Austin bats fly out from under the Congress Bridge at sunset. This is, in fact, the most popular tourist attraction in the city! The Congress Avenue Bridge in Downtown Austin is home to the biggest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats.

Every night at sunset, from mid-March to early November, the bat colony flies out from under the bridge to look for food. The sight is captivating as the small black-winged creatures fill the sky and then dart off rapidly.

Find out more ideas on things to do at night in Austin after the bat show is over!

4. iFly Indoor Skydiving

Indoor skydiving at iFLY Austin is just the thing your adrenaline-seeking teen will love! It’s a gravity-defying experience that takes place safely inside a manmade wind tunnel a few feet off the ground.

If your teen wants to go to the next level and skydive from an airplane, look into skydiving companies in Austin, like The Skydiving Company and Texas Skydiving.

5. Inner Space Cavern

In this cave, formed about 20 million years ago, there are nearly 5 miles of passageways, much of which the public can tour. For those who have never been inside such a large cave, it’s a magical experience. Huge rock formations fill the massive cavernous spaces. It’s like being on another planet.

The “Adventure Tour” is an hour long and follows a paved walkway. Your guide takes you to the largest, most spectacular spaces with stalagmites, stalactites, cave drapery, and other formations.

On the much more exciting “Hidden Passages” tour, a guide leads you through a newly opened section of the cave on an undeveloped trail. Visiting the Inner Space Cavern may be the coolest thing you and your teen can do in Austin!

6. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures

For teens who like swinging from the trees at top speeds, this may very well be the best thing to do with them in Austin! At Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, guests get to zipline a 20-story cliff, traveling 2,500 feet at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. This is the longest and fastest zipline in Texas!

This is the grand finale, though. Travis Zipline likes to build the anticipation before the thrills. A guide leads guests on a 3-hour hike to reach the pinnacle, and along the way, four other zip lines weave their way through canyons and above inlets.

After the ziplining is over, you can relax at their private lakefront property. Take a dip in Lake Travis, play beach games, or swing on a hammock.

7. Zoos and Drive-Thru Safaris

There are two zoos in Austin, as well as ranches with exotic animals where you can go on a ‘safari’ without traveling to Africa! At the Austin Zoo, guests see big cats, bears, zebras, monkeys, and so many more species.

The Capital of Texas Zoo, 20 minutes east of Downtown Austin, houses a variety of rare and beautiful animals like white tigers, black leopards, and lions. The zoo offers close-up encounters with some animals for an extra cost. Meet some lemurs, watch cat feedings, and swim with otters!

A one-hour drive to San Antonio is the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, with over 500 animals across 450 acres of beautiful rolling hills. The Exotic Resort Zoo, about a one-hour drive from Austin, has 45 different species of animals and over 700 animals. You can do a drive-through in your car or take a guided tour on a tractor-led tram.

8. Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs Pool is a natural spring-fed pool with an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long! No matter when you visit Austin, you and your teens can hop in and swim.

It’s in Zilker Park, a 351-acre park right in the middle of Austin, so it is very convenient to reach. Zilker Park has lots of recreational activities. There’s a Nature and Science Center, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Zilker Hillside Theatre, which hosts concerts of all genres.

9. Mount Bonnell

For a short hike with a breathtaking view, head to Mount Bonnell. This is an excellent thing to do with teens who want to get a panoramic view of Austin, but don’t want to hike too far to get there. The viewing area is a steep climb up stone steps. The effort is well worth it.

10. Lady Bird Lake

The first thing people often notice about the long, and not especially round, Lady Bird Lake is that it looks an awful lot like a river! It is, in fact, part of the Colorado River, but it is named for former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson because of her efforts to beautify the shores along this waterway.

Lady Bird Lake is open all year long, and while there is no swimming allowed, even in the summer, there are lots of kayak tours to take. Try Austin Kayak Tours, which offers a Skyline tour, a Bat Bridge tour, and a Sunset tour.

If you prefer, you can rent your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from one of these places: the Rowing Dock, Texas Rowing Center, or the Paddle Shack.

11. Barton Creek Greenbelt

Barton Creek Greenbelt is immensely popular with the locals because of its gorgeous, diverse terrain, and it’s just a few minutes from Downtown Austin. This is an ideal place to bring your teens who like all outdoor activities!

There are nearly 13 miles of gorgeous trails to hike or bike. You can rent bikes from Barton Springs Bike Rental. When water levels are high enough, there are swimming holes to cool off in. Hike half a mile to the pretty Twin Falls and another mile past it to Sculpture Falls.

12. Austin Bike Tours

This tour company offers unique tours of Austin with excellent guides, making this one of the most entertaining things you can do with your teens. Their flagship tour includes a bit of everything — history, scenery, and main attractions like Lady Bird Lake, the Texas State Capitol, and iconic murals.

How about a “Taco ‘bout Austin” tour? You’ll bike around the city to the best taco spots while seeing some of the sights included in the flagship tour and even more.

Lastly, their Haunted Boo-Cycle Tour takes guests to Austin's haunted spots while guides share tales of Austin’s darker side.

13. Austin Detours

Your teens will love this tour and so will you! You'll be driven around Austin in a Mercedes van for two hours and get a city overview.

Your luxury van stops at landmarks and lesser-known spots known only to locals while an enthusiastic guide tells you about Austin’s art and music scene, culture, history, famous people, and more!

14. Austin Duck Tour Adventures

See Austin from both land AND water from the same vehicle. Duck tours use amphibious Hydra Terra vehicles to go to Austin’s main attractions in 75 minutes.

This guided tour covers city highlights like the State Capitol Building, the University of Texas campus, Historic Sixth Street, and Congress Avenue. Then the tour moves onto the water with a 15-20 minute tour on beautiful Lake Austin.

15. Segway Tours of Austin

Your teens will get a hoot out of seeing Austin on these funny-looking two-wheeled contraptions. Segways are easy to use and a fun way to see the city.

Segway Tours of Austin offers three tours to choose from: a morning historical tour, an evening ghost and bat Segway tour, and two short sightseeing tours.

16. Pinstack

Pinstack is Austin’s one-stop shopping, where you and your teen can have loads of fun and great food under the same roof. Pinstack is a 45,000 square-foot venue with state-of-the-art full-size bowling lanes, a two-level laser tag arena, a 24-foot rock climbing wall, bumper cars, and a high-ropes course suspended 20 feet above 100 of the newest video games and simulator technology.

17. QuestATX

For teens who love fast water sports, take them wakeboarding at this awesome cable wakeboarding park in Southeast Austin. Cable wakeboarding is like a combination of skateboarding and water skiing!

Instead of being towed by a fast boat, riders are towed by an overhead cable. Like a skate park, ramps along the cable path allow riders to practice tricks. It’s an easy sport to pick up, and a visit to QuestATX comes with instructions and equipment.

18. Typhoon Texas Waterpark

Though Austin has so many water activities to enjoy, some teens aren't fans of nature and would prefer a place like Typhoon Texas Waterpark. The 23-acre waterpark has a huge activity pool with several slide towers, a wave pool, and a 1,000-foot-long lazy river. Of course, there are chairs to sunbathe and plenty of snack bars. On a hot day in Austin, make this waterpark your number one destination!

19. Museum of Ice Cream

Eat unlimited ice cream and other treats as you make you and your teen make your way from activity to activity. Learn about the history of ice cream from 12 multi-sensory installations. Jump in the museum's world-famous sprinkle pool - an instant Instagramable moment your teens will love!

20. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum

Right near Barton Springs, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden has more than 50 sculptures by American sculptor Charles Umlauf. The garden itself is lovely and is a nice way to spend some relaxing time with your teens.

21. Blanton Museum of Art

Choose from 21,000 works to see at this excellent museum that houses the University of Texas art collection. Works are spread across genres so your teen is sure to find some works of art that intrigue them. Check out the marvelous European paintings, and the modern American, Latin American, and African American art.

22. Museum of the Weird

This Ripley’s Believe It Or Not-type museum fits right in with Austin’s unofficial logo, ‘Keep Austin Weird’. This museum is only for teens who don't get squeamish seeing oddities like shrunken heads, taxidermied animals, or skeletons. There are some cool wax museum items and displays of mythic creatures like Bigfoot.

23. The Domain

If your teens want to shop 'til they drop, take them to The Domain. There are 400 stores, including many popular chain stores your teens will recognize, like Urban Outfitters, Free People, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, and many more. Plus, there are both sit-down restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory and fast food joints like Shake Shack. Does the forecast predict rain in Austin? The Domain can keep you and your teens occupied - and dry- for hours!

24. South Congress Avenue

Strolling along South Congress Avenue (known as SoCo) is one of the most interesting things to do in Austin with your teens. The shopping is both fashionable and unique. It’s a bustling street with shops, restaurants, and music venues, so you can hear music playing as you wander the Avenue.

Head to Allen Boots for cowboy boots, which make for a fantastic souvenir for a trip to Texas. For other souvenirs, try Parts and Labour, with one-of-a-kind items. If you have teens who like to roam through stores with loads of unusual but cool items, Uncommon Objects is where to go.

Finish off your afternoon on South Congress Avenue with a stop at Big Top Candy Shop, which carries over 3000 wrapped candies and over 400 bulk candies. Your teens will have no problem finding a candy they love!

25. Moody Center

The Moody Center is the arena for big concerts and major sports events in Austin. Both the men’s and women’s Longhorn basketball teams play here.

26. Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits is the longest-running televised music series in American history. Every week, musicians and bands of every genre, from legends to newcomers, play in front of a live studio audience at the Moody Theater.

27. Bass Concert Hall

The “Broadway in Austin” series presents touring Broadway shows that change every week. Your teens can enjoy top shows that are touring the country and making a stop in Austin.

The “Texas Welcomes” series has contemporary bands, comedians, and family shows.

28. Bat Watching

Something unexpected happened when Austin renovated the Congress Avenue Bridge in 1980: A bunch of bats moved in. And they kept coming. At last count, some 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats are currently hanging out under the bridge. Now the bridge and the bats have become one of the city’s most iconic attractions, as crowds of tourists gather on summer nights to watch the creatures emerge en masse to fly loop-de-loops and eat bugs as the sun sets on Lady Bird Lake. Don’t miss this.

Best Attractions for Adults

1. Race go-karts on a Formula 1 Track

Only Austin offers you the chance to race go-karts on a Formula One racetrack, the only Formula 1 track in the United States. F1 racing has become more popular than ever due to Netflix’s Drive to Survive series. F1 is the premier auto racing series in the world, with drivers reaching speeds of 150 miles per hour or more.

At the Circuit of the Americas, you can race go-karts on the very same track the daredevil F1 drivers race! Experience the thrill of racing around a track with 15 hairpin turns at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. This is surely one of the most fun things to do when you are in Austin!

2. Play detective at The Escape Game Austin

For adults who dreamed of being Nancy Drew or Hercule Poirot as a child, playing an escape room at The Escape Game Austin is an exciting thing to do! You'll have just one hour to escape a ‘locked’ room by cracking codes and deciphering clues.

Each room has a unique theme of varying difficulty levels. In Classified, you and your group are assigned a covert mission to stop a massive international threat by gathering critical information about an impending attack.

The most difficult game is Prison Break, which consists of two rooms, upping the ante! Participants have to work together across prison cells to escape a 1950s prison. Because The Escape Game can accommodate multiple players, it’s the place to go in Austin for a group of adults looking for a fun time!

3. Go on a zipline adventure

Adrenaline junkies looking for things to do that will get your heart racing, ziplining in Austin is the perfect thing to do! Lake Travis Zipline Adventures has the longest and fastest zipline in Texas and the 9th longest in the world!

Your three-hour adventure starts with a short boat ride followed by a hike to reach this zipline that launches from a 20-story cliff and travels 2,500 feet, reaching up to 50 miles per hour! Along the way, there are four shorter but still exciting zip lines. Your ticket also includes access to a private lake to swim, picnic, and swing in hammocks.

4. Watch a bat colony go out to dinner

Every sunset from April through October, the crowds come out to the Congress Avenue Bridge (the “Bat Bridge'') to see 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats leave their home under the bridge to go hunt for food. This nightly event is not like anything you’ve likely seen before, and it is one of the coolest things to do in Austin.

To see the show, stake out a spot at the bat observation area at the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake or stand on the bridge itself. It can get very crowded as it is a top attraction in Austin. You might want to opt for a sunset river cruise or riverboat timed to see the bats fly!

5. Try indoor skydiving

If you've wanted to experience the feeling of jumping out of an airplane but have not mustered up the courage, check out indoor skydiving at iFly Austin. After receiving training from an instructor, you’ll step into a manmade wind tunnel and learn what it feels like to defy gravity inside while only a few feet off the ground. If you are ready to try real skydiving, look into Skydive Spaceland in San Marcos, TX, about an hour’s drive from Austin.

6. Catch some live music

With more live music venues per capita than any other city in the U.S., no wonder Austin is called the “Capital of Live Music"! From rock to country, hip hop to jazz, there’s a live gig somewhere in the city every night of the week.

Austin City Limits is the longest-running televised music series in American history, presenting some of music's most famous performers. Be part of the audience at the Moody Center.

The Far Out showcases local bands while the Little Longhorn Saloon has honky-tonk country music. The Paramount Theatre, which opened in 1915 as a vaudeville house, has live music of all genres.

7. Discover the culinary genius of Austin’s food trucks

Grabbing a bite from one of the city’s many food trucks is one of the top things to do in Austin for tourists and locals alike. Head to the food trucks of Rainey Street. With more than a dozen food trucks, the offerings are abundant.

Try authentic Mexican tacos, Venezuelan empanadas, grilled artisan cheese sandwiches, barbecue pulled pork, Greek food, Indian food, you name it, they've got it! Top it off with mini-donuts from Little Lucy’s. You can also find more food trucks at The Picnic Food Truck Park. Snack on Thai food, tacos, Mediterranean dishes, Tex-Mex food, gelato, and more.

8. Spend a night out on Sixth Street

Austin’s Sixth Street is one of those “love it or hate it” places. It depends on what kind of atmosphere you like. Referred to as the Dirty 6th by the locals, Sixth Street has been compared to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street.

With numerous dance bars, live music venues, microbreweries, and tattoo parlors, Sixth Street is very much an adult place to go in Austin. It’s noisy, rowdy, and a whole lot of fun.

9. Explore Austin’s street art

There’s no need to go inside a museum when you can find masterpieces on the streets of Austin! One of the things that locals appreciate about Austin is the free access to art, in the form of murals. It’s not just locals who appreciate it, as now Austin’s street art has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. There’s no denying that Austin’s large, colorful murals are highly Instagrammable. If you are in town with teens, they will love discovering the unconventional art form!

Pose in front of the iconic Greetings from Austin mural that resembles a vintage tourist postcard at 1720 S. 1st Street. Dig Aretha Franklin at the You Got To Have Soul mural at 1315 South Congress Avenue. Say hi to Mister Rogers at the Won’t You Be My Neighbor? mural at 1415 South Congress Avenue. You can use this guide to locate the top murals in Austin.

10. Get a panoramic view of Austin from Mount Bonnell

Mount Bonnell, a 784-foot-high promontory along Lake Austin, has been a popular attraction since the mid-1800s. Every year, thousands of visitors climb 106 stone stairs from the parking lot to the summit of Mount Bonnell to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the lake, downtown, and the western hills of Austin. Be warned, the stairs are a bit steep, so bring some energy for this mini-hike!

11. See more of Austin in less time on a bus tour

Seeing Austin by bus is a fantastic thing to do on hot days, rainy days, or days when you want to sit back and relax. If you are looking for an overview of Austin, then taking a sightseeing bus tour is the right thing to do. AO Tours offers bus tours on custom-outfitted, glass-top, convertible Mercedes tour buses! Talk about a smooth ride!

Their 2.5-hour Austin + Hill Country Panoramic Tour takes you to see both hip and historic neighborhoods as well as the surrounding Texas Hill Country. The Best of ATX Panoramic City Center Tour is 90 minutes and focuses on Downtown Austin and nearby areas. Both tours are led by entertaining guides.

12. Kayak at Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake isn't a lake; it's actually a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River that is located in the heart of downtown Austin. No swimming is allowed here, but non-motorized boating is, making it a perfect place to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard.

On the north shore of the lake, kayaks and canoes can be rented from the Texas Rowing Center, which also offers lessons. On the south shore, the Rowing Dock offers rentals and instruction for paddle boards, kayaks, and paddle boats. For guided kayak tours, look into Austin Kayak Tours.

13. Bike along the Ann and Roy Butler Bike and Hike Trail

This path is over 10 miles long and makes a full circuit around Lady Bird Lake. Because the trail is mostly flat and made of crushed granite, it’s an excellent choice for an easy bike ride in beautiful environs.

Look into renting bikes at Barton Springs Bike Rentals. The trail is open to pedestrians as well, so adults who aren't up for a bike ride will find taking a walk on the trail a pleasant thing to do in Austin. For more bike trails, look here.

14. Hike in the Barton Creek Greenbelt

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a popular place to go for many things to do: hike, bike, walk, swim, and simply enjoy the wonders of nature. The Greenbelt travels through South Austin and has 12 miles of trails that are accessible from several access points.

The Twin Falls access point is a good place to start a relatively short hike to reach one of the Greenbelt’s two swimming holes (provided water levels are high enough). It’s a half-mile hike to Twin Falls and another mile more to Sculpture Falls. For some heavy-duty hiking, climb the infamous Hill of Life from the Trail’s End access point. It’s a 300-foot ascent in a half mile to the top!

15. Swim Year-Round at Barton Springs Pool

One of Austin’s gems, the Barton Springs Pool, should be on your list of attractions to visit. This natural spring-fed pool has an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long! No matter when you plan to visit Austin, bring a bathing suit!

The pool is inside the 350-acre Zilker Park, one of Austin’s most popular outdoor green spaces, where one can enjoy an array of things to do, like art events, sporting activities, and just enjoying the great outdoors.

Barton Springs Pool is an ideal place to go if you are on a family vacation in Austin!

Austin Museums and Attractions

Below is just a small sampling of the best museums in Austin. Some others to consider are the Mexic-Arte Museum, the Texas Memorial Museum, The Contemporary Austin, the Elisabet Ney Museum, and the Austin Museum of Popular Culture.

16. Bullock Texas State History Museum

The Bullock Texas State History Museum does an amazing job covering the Lone Star State's history from when it was still part of Mexico until today. The museum’s exhibits educate in an interactive and entertaining way.

Topics covered include the Battle of the Alamo, the discovery of oil, the lives of Texas Comanches, and Austin’s famous local music scene. A highlight is the hull of a French ship, La Belle, that sank off the Gulf Coast in 1686 and changed the course of the state’s history.

17. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum

Less of a museum and more of a charming garden in which to stroll, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum features more than 50 of American sculptor Charles Umlauf’s works.

The museum exhibitions change during the year, displaying work by contemporary sculptors and Umlauf’s peers. The garden is lush, with mature live oak trees providing shade as visitors walk along the garden paths, admiring the sculptures.

18. Blanton Museum of Art

This excellent, compact museum houses the University of Texas’s art collection of 21,000 works. One won't be overwhelmed on a visit here and can instead dive deep into the art on display.

The work covers many genres: early Renaissance paintings, Roman-era pottery, Native American, Latin American, and African American art. The museum's superb modern art is housed in the contemporary gallery.

19. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Austin. Its permanent exhibition tells the story of former President Lyndon Johnson’s life, including his time in political office.

The Library has more than 45 million pages of historical documents from Johnson’s 35-year career in politics. Temporary exhibits touch upon issues of today, such as civil rights in America, a cause Johnson championed.

20. The Moody Center

The Moody Center is the arena for big concerts with top bands from around the world. In addition to contemporary bands like Arctic Monkeys, blink-182, and Beck, lots of bands from the 1980s and 90s play here, like Duran Duran, Madonna, Foreigner, and more.

21. The Moody Theater

Not to be confused with the Moody Center, the Moody Theater is home to the TV series Austin City Limits, the longest-running televised music series in U.S. history. This 2,750-person capacity venue hosts around 100 concerts a year.

22. Moody Amphitheater

Yet another Moody venue, this outdoor amphitheater in Downtown Austin has year-round concerts, dance performances, and community programming like the Movies in the Park series.

23. Blues Venues

Austin’s music scene is steeped in the Blues. Seeing live music here is one of the best things to do at night. Some blues greats got their start in Austin, like legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and others. First and foremost, the legendary Antone's Nightclub. Opened in 1975, this world-famous venue is considered “Austin’s home of the blues”.

Next up is the Continental Club, the oldest continuously operating venue in Austin. The Elephant Room features blues and jazz performances in a speakeasy-type atmosphere that makes for a special experience.

24. ATXCursions

If you like your “lazy river” experience extra lazy, check out this tried-and-true tubing company. They’ll have you and your friends floating down the San Marcos River in style and comfort for about three hours without a care in the world. In addition to dropping you off at the start and scooping you up at the end, they provide the tubes, the floating coolers, and the ice, too. That’s right — the cooler gets its own tube. (Note: It’s BYOB, so bring your own B. And food and sunblock, too.) ATXCursions runs most weekends from March to October, when the waters are usually a refreshing 72 degrees.

25. iFLY Indoor Skydiving

If you want the thrill of skydiving without (all) the terror, iFLY has you covered. Instead of jumping out of a plane, you just suit up and step into a wind tunnel where, after a little practice, you’ll be floating, spinning, flipping, and laughing your face off. (At least that’s the vibe we’ve gotten from watching videos; kids, seniors, everybody seems to be having a fun, safe time. We haven’t tried it yet because we’re scaredy cats.) Watch the iFLY calendar for Ladies Night, Tunnel of Love, and other themed flying experiences, and if you’re feeling extra crazy, look into the virtual reality options, wherein you trick your brain into thinking you’re actually skydiving or base jumping.

26. Wacky Walks

Somewhere between a scavenger hunt and improv comedy, this scavenger hunt-style tour will have your group of friends darting around Austin, striking goofy poses, and solving site-specific riddles. (It’s not just Austin; there are versions of this “adventure game” series in lots of cities all over the U.S. and beyond.) Before you go: Charge your smartphone, stay hydrated, put on some comfortable shoes, and, most importantly, leave your dignity at the door. If you’re too cool for school, you won’t have fun, and neither will anybody else.

27. Austin Ghost Tours

Austin’s got more than its fair share of spooky places and creepy true stories — i.e., the so-called Servant Girl Annihilator stalked its streets with an ax in 1885 — so it’s no surprise that several “haunted walking tour” companies have emerged to lead you around town. With its reasonable price ($23) and 25+ years in the biz, Austin Ghost Tours is the perfect fit.

28. Urban Axes Austin

If you’re not familiar with competitive axe-throwing, picture darts with a greater chance of catastrophe. JK. This increasingly popular pastime is actually pretty safe thanks to some well-placed walls and rubber mats. Besides, an Urban Axes instructor will run you through the dos and don’ts before putting the hatchet in your hand. It’s a fun, weird, exhilarating little group sport that requires minimal strength and no experience. The Austin location is BYOB.

29. Jester King Brewery

Inspired by old-school European farmhouse breweries, Jester King’s philosophy calls for things like “mixed cultures of yeast and bacteria” and “spontaneous fermentation.” Bottom line: They make good beer. That’s why so many Austinites hike out to Hill Country to sip Jester King’s porters, “barrel-aged wild ales,” cherry wines, etc. Well, that and the place is gorgeous, 165 acres of pastoral views and blissful nature. While you’re there, take a tour of the place to see how they’ve started using solar power and homegrown fruits and veggies to expand their horizons even further.

30. Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum

Sculptor and UT professor Charles Umlauf was Austin through and through, so it’s no surprise that he donated his home, art studio, and 168 of his creations to the city he loved. Austin, in turn, built a museum and a four-acre sculpture garden in Umlauf’s honor. Throughout, visitors can see up close the artist’s works in bronze, stone, and wood that were sometimes realistic and other times abstract and expressionist.

Work Party Ideas

Austin, TX, is a great place to throw a company party or fun corporate event. With lots of things to do in Austin, you can find any kind of activity and event venue that suits your needs.

From outdoor adventures to gaming bars, creative gatherings to group tours, you’ll have no trouble choosing something that everyone in your group will enjoy!

1. Reunion Ranch

Reunion Ranch is a great way to spend the day with your work buddies. This event venue offers a variety of options for both corporate events and casual office parties. Situated on 116 acres of beautiful Texas Hill Country, the ranch has 40+ activities suited for all ages. Play classic team games like kickball, tug-of-war, volleyball, and more. There’s swimming and pedal boating in the lake.

Your event will include an all-you-can-eat barbecue, and you can even roast marshmallows in a campfire pit. This is one of the top things to do in Austin for corporate events that include employees’ families, because kids will love this place!

2. Play an escape room at The Escape Game

If you want to have an unforgettable work party, play an escape room at The Escape Game Austin. Playing an escape room game with colleagues is a fun activity that encourages everyone to come together to find the way out of a “locked’ room with just 60 minutes on the clock! Solve puzzles, riddles, and clues to escape in time!

The Escape Game Austin has five challenging and uniquely themed escape rooms. Each room is fully immersive and features multiple rooms to escape from per game. Each room can have 8 players, but if you are a larger group, up to 43 players can play simultaneously using all five rooms available. Combine your game with a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant like Moonshine Grill, Iron Works Barbecue, or Cafe Blue to round out your work party!

3. Spend time in the Great Outdoors

For companies with active employees, plan a work party in Austin’s great outdoors, where you can go hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and take in all the city’s parks have to offer. At Lady Bird Lake in Downtown Austin, you can kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. For guided group kayak tours, look into Austin Kayak Tours. One of Austin’s most beautiful outdoor spaces is the Barton Creek Greenbelt, where your group can hike, bike, walk, swim, and enjoy the wonders of nature together. It has two swimming holes, making it an ideal place to spend a hot day in Austin.

4. Get messy at Painting with a Twist

A paint-and-sip party is a colorful way to bring colleagues together outside the office. A party at Painting with a Twist lets coworkers socialize in a relaxed setting, which can be especially valuable for those who don't work closely together on a regular basis. The collaborative nature of a paint and sip party can also be a team building exercise.

Participants can work together to create a larger painting or provide feedback and encouragement to each other as they work on their individual pieces. The “twist” in the company’s name means that you can bring in wine and other alcoholic beverages if you’d like. But it’s not a requirement for your work party to be a blast!

5. Swing from the trees

Ziplining is a thrilling activity that can provide a memorable experience for colleagues to bond while having fun. Throwing a work party or corporate event at Austin’s Lake Travis Zipline Adventures may seem unconventional, but your coworkers will love it! With five zip lines ranging in length from 250 to 2800 feet (including one of the longest zipline courses in Texas), everyone can experience breathtaking views of Lake Travis and the surrounding landscape.

Traveling at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, this is one exhilarating ride that you'll never forget. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures also offers a variety of other activities, including a challenging ropes course, a fun water obstacle course, and a stunning hike through the Texas Hill Country.

For work parties or corporate events that are family-inclusive, ziplining at Lake Travis is an activity that your

9. Check out street art

Austin is known for its vibrant street art scene, and there are many colorful and creative murals and other forms of public art scattered throughout the city. Seeing these murals can be a fun and unique way to explore the city with your colleagues and appreciate the creativity of local artists.

Some popular areas for street art include South Congress Avenue (also known as "SoCo”), which is home to some of the city's most iconic murals, including the "I love you so much" mural and the "Greetings from Austin" postcard mural. East Austin is known for its eclectic mix of street art, with murals covering everything from buildings to fences. Use this guide to the best art murals in Austin. After your self-guided group tour, stop in for a drink or bite to eat to round out your work party!

10. Create your own team graffiti mural

Do more than just see murals - create them! During a private event with the Color Cartel, your crew will learn about - and then create - graffiti art! First, a local street artist will teach you the fundamentals of graffiti, and then you’ll spray paint a wall as a team! The session provides you with a white wall prepared with black outlines similar to a coloring book. Then everyone will grab a spray paint can and release their creativity in the spirit of collaboration. You can bring your drinks (alcoholic or not) to liven up your painting experience.

11. Do a scavenger hunt

Imagine the Amazing Race combined with a tour of Austin. That’s what you do when you play the Urban Adventure Quest scavenger hunt! It’s relatively simple to play and lots of fun!

Split your group into teams that will race against each other to make their way to well-known Austin locales. All teams need is a smartphone to download clues. No live guide is involved, which saves money and enables you to schedule your scavenger hunt party on any day and time you want.

Choose from two quests: Downtown Austin or Austin Trails. The Downtown Adventure takes along Congress Avenue and then 6th Street. The quest continues to famous hotels, interesting landmarks, and food carts. The Austin Trails takes you along Lady Bird Lake to discover famous monuments, tributes to Austin musicians, hidden art, and great natural views.

12. See a comedy show

What could be better than having a lot of laughs with colleagues? Austin’s comedy scene offers a lot with several top-notch clubs to choose from. The Cap City Comedy Club has been a staple of the Austin comedy scene for over 35 years and has hosted some of the biggest names in comedy. The club offers shows several nights a week, as well as open mic nights and special events.

Esther's Follies is a unique blend of sketch comedy, magic, and musical performances. The venue has been a fixture of Austin's entertainment scene for over 40 years and is located on 6th Street in downtown Austin. The Velveeta Room is another long-running comedy club in Austin, with shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The club is known for its intimate atmosphere and has helped launch the careers of several successful comedians. Read more about Austin's comedy clubs here

13. Learn to do movie stunts

The Stunt Ranch is a one-of-a-kind outdoor activity center that offers guests an exciting experience. Your team can learn stunt techniques, including sword fighting, high falls, fire breathing, and more. They can blow stuff up by detonating a safe amount of explosives (talk about blowing off some steam!)

The ranch has ziplines, target shooting with airsoft guns, and an archery range. Plus, there’s a paintball course where your coworkers can battle it out for bragging rights! End your event with a fireworks show for an unforgettable ending to your party!

14. Fun and games at Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social is one of the most popular places in Austin for work and social gatherings. There is a wide variety of activities that cater to different interests, so no one from your office will be left sitting on the sidelines. You can bowl, play ping pong, shuffleboard, and vintage arcade games. There’s even karaoke -- a perennial work party favorite!

You can nibble on food from the full-service kitchen and imbibe a wide selection of cocktails, beer, and wine. Punch Bowl Social has eclectic decor, colorful furnishings, murals, and art installations that create a festive atmosphere. It's open until 12 am on weeknights and 2 am on weekends. Plus, after 10 pm every night, it's 21+, so it's a good option if you are looking for a place that's for adults without having underage people sharing Punch Bowl Social with you.

15. Brewery Tours

Austin is well known for its thriving craft beer scene, with over 60 breweries and counting. Many of Austin's breweries offer tours and tastings, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process and a chance to try a variety of beers. This can be a fun and educational experience for the beer lovers in your company.

Brewers who are passionate about their craft and eager to share their knowledge with visitors will keep your group entertained while they sample craft beers with unique flavors. Many breweries serve food or have a food truck on site, so your group can enjoy both food and drink together! A few of the most popular breweries to visit in Austin include Hops & Grain, Jester King, Austin Beerworks, and Live Oak Brewing Company. Here’s a list of 22 Austin breweries.

16. Fair Market

Fair Market is a versatile and stylish event space with a range of amenities that can accommodate a variety of events and occasions. The space comprises two main areas, the Main Hall and the Annex, both of which can be rented together or separately.

The Main Hall is a large, open space with high ceilings and exposed brick walls, making it ideal for hosting large-scale work events. The Annex is a more intimate space that can accommodate up to 200 guests. It features a lounge area, a built-in bar, and a sound system, making it perfect for hosting smaller office parties.

17. Circuit of The Americas

If you are looking for large corporate event venues in Austin, then Circuit of the Americas is a great option. With multiple outdoor and indoor event spaces, the venue can accommodate corporate groups of all formats and sizes. You can check out venues at Circuit of Americas, such as the Event Center, Velocity Lounge, Pit Lane Garages, Private Suites, and the Germania Insurance Amphitheatre.

You can also delight your guests with add-on experiences such as the zipline, COTA Karting, or sports car racing. The Circuit of The Americas culinary team is ready to cater to your guests with world-class menu selections and drinks.

18. The Eleanor

The Eleanor is known for its chic and contemporary atmosphere. The venue boasts a spacious indoor area with an open floor plan that can accommodate up to 300 guests. Additionally, there is a mezzanine level that overlooks the main floor, providing a great spot for guests to relax and mingle.

There is also an outdoor patio area with string lights, comfortable seating, and a bar area, making it a great spot for coworkers to socialize and unwind. The venue has a full bar with a selection of craft beers, wine, and signature cocktails. Additionally, they offer catering services and can work with you to create a menu that meets your specific needs and preferences.

19. The Roosevelt Room

The stylish Roosevelt Room has several features that make it an excellent choice for a work party. It is a versatile space that can accommodate both small and large groups. Plus, there are several private areas that can be reserved for more intimate gatherings or meetings.

The Roosevelt Room's cocktail menu is another standout feature. The bartenders specialize in creating classic and innovative cocktails. There is also a range of catering options, including hors d'oeuvres, small plates, and shared platters, that are perfect for office parties.

20. The Line Austin

The Line Austin Hotel could be a great place for an office party, depending on your needs and preferences. The hotel offers several event spaces, including a ballroom, meeting rooms, and a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the city. If trendy is the vibe you seek, then this is an ideal venue. The hotel also has a range of catering options, including a restaurant and bar, which could make it easy to plan your event.

21. Let's Roam

Let’s Roam is a great team-building scavenger hunt option for Austin. The most useful feature of this app is the fact that you can customize every aspect of your hunt. A dedicated event planner is assigned to your cause at booking, who creates an exclusive city-wide puzzle just for your company. Integrate company trivia, inside jokes, and references into the scavenger hunt to test your team’s knowledge. Add pit stops and drinking breaks in the middle to keep things interesting. Get to know your coworkers better as you evaluate their strengths and deepen your understanding of who they are. Collaborate with every member of your team and put your minds to the test in this fun scavenger hunt adventure. Compete with rival teams for the high score and win bragging rights for the rest of the year! Learn more here.

Nighttime Activities

1. Hear great live music

Austin’s known as the 'live music capital of the world' and for good reason. With more live music venues per capita than any other city in the nation, there’s a gig somewhere in Austin every night of the week. Plus, you’ll find every genre of music in Austin. As soon as you step off the plane, you are greeted with free live music as some shops and restaurants host live bands! You can get a sense of the music scene on this Austin live music crawl tour.

One of the most famous music series, not just in Austin but around the country, thanks to their televised performances, is Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater. ACL hosts a wide range of musical genres from the very top talent, some well-known and others up and coming. It may be hard to get tickets for some shows, but it’s worth trying -- seeing an ACL concert is one of the very best things to do at night in Austin.

2. Play detective for the night

Put your detective cap on and get ready to race the clock to break out of an escape room at The Escape Game Austin. You’ll get 60 minutes to solve challenging puzzles and complicated riddles to find the way out of a uniquely themed ‘locked’ room. Each game has a distinct mission and difficulty level. Unlike other escape games, each game has multiple rooms to explore to find the way out.

One of the most popular games, The Heist, tasks you with stopping a maniacal museum curator from committing the crime of the century. Retrieve a stolen priceless painting from his office, or it will be lost forever. Playground, the least difficult game (but still tough!), is a light-hearted take on school assignments. These assignments aren't like anything you have encountered before, and if you don't complete them, you’ll be stuck in school for the summer!

Gold Rush has you rushing to find a hidden stash of gold. Your mission in Classified is to gather critical information to stop a major international attack. In Prison Break, you've got to break out of a 1950s jail cell. Whatever game you choose, you’ll have a blast finding the way out!

3. See the famous Austin Bats

One of the must-sees in Austin at night is the departure of the city’s colony of Mexican free-tailed bats flying out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. The colony is over one million strong and is the largest urban bat colony in the world! From April through October (when the bats are hunkered down in Austin), the bats head out at dusk in search of food.

Crowds come out to see this famous event, and you can be there to see this incredible natural phenomenon. You can stake out a spot at the bat observation area at the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake. Another option is to stand on the bridge itself, though it can be fairly packed. Wherever you go to see the sight of the huge black streak across the Austin skyline, this is one of the best free things to do in Austin at night!

4. Hang out in the Rainey Street Historic District

The Rainey Street Historic District is one of the most chill areas for a night out in Austin. There’s a bit of a hipster atmosphere, but generally, the bars, cafes, pubs, and restaurants are unpretentious and welcoming. Many have big outdoor patios to eat and drink at, which is lovely on a warm Austin night. The area is a lovely place to go for a romantic date night in Austin.

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden is a popular spot that serves a creative variety of sausages and has over 200 taps of beer and cider. If you have a more sophisticated palette, try Emmer & Rye, one of the best restaurants in Austin. It has a menu that changes daily with a focus on seasonal and local cuisine.

For drinks, Lustre Pearl is a casual spot for a beer. Half Step serves creative cocktails and has an outdoor patio with lawn games and live music. Once you are ready to wrap up your night, make a stop to get one of Austin’s best late-night snacks at Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts, open until 2 am every night of the week!

5. Take a haunted walking tour

If you are looking for an unusual night activity in Austin, take a 90-minute Ghost Walking Tour and learn about the city’s dark past. Your engaging guide will take you to haunted sites and tell you tales of murder, mystery, and the ghosts who linger on. If you love the macabre, then this Austin night ghost tour is for you!

If you are looking for something darker, the Austin Murder Walk is sure to satisfy. The Murder Walk tour is 1 hour and 45 minutes and centers around America’s first serial killer, who stalked the streets and alleys of Austin by night in 1885.

The killer was nicknamed the “midnight assassin”. He was never caught, and his identity remains a mystery, though, on this tour, you’ll learn about the fascinating theories on who this killer may have been. The tour covers 2 miles of historic Austin, including West 6th Street, Guy Town, the Warehouse District, and a stop at the iconic Driskill Hotel for a drink.

6. Catch a flick

Seeing a movie is an easy choice for things to do at night, and Austin is an awesome place to do so. The city has loads of movie theaters and even a few drive-ins! The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is where to go if you want to have a meal with your movie. They serve food from their award-winning multi-course menu, and it's delivered right to your seat. The Alamo also serves beers from local microbreweries and artisanal cocktails. Movie screenings include current blockbusters, indie films, foreign films, and cinema classics.

Texas loves its drive-in theaters, and Austin is no exception. From the comfort of your own car, take in a movie and munch on popcorn. Blue Starlite Mini Drive-in has three locations and shows mainstream movies, both old and new, as well as cult classics and arthouse. If you like classic movies from every genre, check out Doc’s, which has movies six nights a week! Plus, it’s known as a place for its family-oriented environment, making a trip to Doc’s one of the best family-friendly things to do in Austin at night.

8. Immerse yourself in light

Wonderspaces is an incredible ongoing exhibit of immersive and interactive artworks from a line-up of exciting contemporary artists from around the globe. Dazzling light shows and virtual reality films will captivate and inspire you.

Arc is an audiovisual installation inspired by the artist’s experience riding the subway as a child. Into the Breath is a Chinese dragon made of teabags that visitors enter into a calm, meditative environment. Submergence is an immersive installation made up of 8,064 points of light. As visitors walk through, the lights change colors in response.

Wonderspaces is fascinating for people of all ages, so this is one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Austin at night. It is open Sundays through Fridays until 10 pm and Saturdays until 11 pm.

9. Party on 6th Street

Located within Downtown Austin, this stretch of Old 6th Street (between Congress Avenue to the West and I-35 to the East) is known fondly by locals as the “Dirty 6th”. You may be able to guess from the name what this area is all about…partying hard. It’s been compared to Bourbon Street in New Orleans and is one of those “love it or hate it” neighborhoods.

The Dirty 6th is where locals go to party, and there are plenty of places to get loud and rowdy. There are plenty of music venues, dance clubs, bars, microbreweries, and a scene that overflows into the streets. It's a popular place for a Girls' Night Out for those who want to dance the night away!

10. Fun for the family at Austin’s Park

Just a 30-minute drive from Austin is the incredible Austin’s Park, Central Texas’s largest family entertainment center. It’s 23 acres of fun rides and attractions. For the family, there’s an indoor roller coaster, a tower drop ride, virtual reality rides, arcade games, rock climbing walls, go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, and a carousel for the little ones. You can bowl, play laser tag, and enjoy a round of miniature golf. When the gang gets hungry, you can dine on Tex-Mex cuisine and artisanal pizzas.

For adults looking for things to do in Austin, there's the REVL Social Club, part of the complex. It’s a bar and restaurant with several big-screen TVs to watch sports, plus billiards, darts, ping pong, and street curling lanes. You name it, Austin’s Park has got it!

11. Scoot Inn

The historic Scoot Inn is believed to be the oldest bar in central Texas, having opened in 1871! This landmark began hosting live music shows in 1955, making it one of Austin’s first venues. Hosting performers across genres most nights of the week, the Scoot Inn is a must-visit when in Austin.

12. The Continental Club

The Continental Club is another historic music venue that opened its doors in 1955 as a private supper club but grew into one of the best spots for live music in Austin and is known worldwide for its amazing line-ups over the decades. Music of every kind can be found here every night of the week.

13. The Moody Theater

The Moody Theater is home to Austin City Limits, a live music television program that helped make Austin known as the "Live Music Capital of the World". The show was created in 1974 and has been going strong ever since, hosting some of the most important performers of our time and introducing new ones to the world.

14. The Moody Center

Not to be confused with the Moody Theater, the Moody Center is where the biggest performers play. The center has a seating capacity of 15,000, which fills up easily when bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Beck play. Popular bands from the 1980s and 90s stop off here as well. Most notably, the Moody Center is home to the CMT Awards every year.

15. Mohawk

Showcasing some of the best local performers and touring bands as well, music is played across two indoor stages, an outdoor stage, and a roof deck! Hear great tunes while taking in the view of Austin’s skyline.

16. Antone's Nightclub

This world-famous venue is known as “Austin’s home of the blues”. Opened in 1975, this iconic venue has seen the likes of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, James Brown, Ray Charles, and so many others.

17. Stubb's Bar-B-Q

Beer, brisket, and song! While Stubb’s is known for its out-of-this-world barbecue, it’s also known as a hotspot for sizzling music and a renowned Sunday gospel brunch. Watch music in a large outdoor amphitheater while chowing down on great food!

18. Emo's Austin

Emo's has its origins in the punk rock scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, you can hear edgy, progressive music on Emo's two stages, one inside and one outside. There’s a beer garden and bar for those 21 and older. Fortunately for Austin’s youth, Emo’s has an 18+ entry policy, making this one of the best things to do at night in Austin for the under-21 crowd.

19. Moody Amphitheater

Yet another Moody venue, this outdoor amphitheater hosts year-round concerts, dance performances, and community programs like the Movies in the Park series.

20. Pinstack

Pinstack is one of Austin’s most popular places for a night out. You can do it all here at Pinstack’s 45-square-foot entertainment center. Bowl on state-of-the-art lanes, play laser tag on a two-level arena, climb a 24-foot rock indoor climbing wall, ride bumper cars, and do a high-ropes course suspended 20 feet above the arcade with over 100 arcade games! Pinstack is also a perfect place to throw a work party in Austin!

21. Peter Pan Mini-Golf

Among the many family things to do in Austin at night, a round of mini-golf at Peter Pan’s is one of the most fun! Austin’s families have been coming to Peter Pan Mini-Golf since it opened in 1946. The two 18-hole courses are decorated with whimsical statues like the characters from Peter Pan, like Tinkerbell and Captain Hook. Play putt-putt around a T. Rex, a giant Converse sneaker, a clown, and a cast of other characters!

22. Cidercade

There are lots of arcades in Austin, but none are like Cidercade. The name is a combination of “cider” and “arcade,” and Cidercade has plenty of both! There are more than 150 arcade games, including classics like Super Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros, Asteroids, Donkey Kong, and more!

In addition to all the great games, Cidercade serves 14 hand-crafted homemade hard ciders by Bishop Inc. as well as hard seltzers. Have a bite before going there, as they don't serve food, though you are allowed to BYOF (bring your own food) or order in delivery. Food trucks serving delicious fare are just outside as well.

23. Go-Karting at Circuit of the Americas

On Wednesday and Thursday nights until 10 pm, Austin offers you the chance to race go-karts on a Formula One and NASCAR racetrack! It’s the only Formula 1 track in the United States. At the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), experience the thrill of racing on a track with wide turns, S-turns, and harrowing hairpin turns at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.

For an indoor go-kart experience, K1 Speed is the top place in Austin and is open every night of the week. On Friday nights, K1 takes on a disco-like atmosphere as the LED lighting along the track turns bright neon colors and pop and rock music is played. It is open Sunday to Thursday until 10 pm, Friday and Saturday until midnight.

24. Broken Spoke Dive Bar

Established in 1964, this Texas-style dancehall is famous for its throwback cowboy décor, its tangy barbecue, and its hot lineup of live local bands most nights of the week. Usually, there’s no cover and the bands play for tips. Come early to sign up for two-step and western swing dance lessons. If you want a taste of what it’s like to be a true-school Texan, head to the Broken Spoke, order the chicken-fried steak, and do the Cotton-Eyed Joe.

25. The White Horse

Every night’s a party at this honky tonk bar and music venue in East Austin, where locals and tourists eat, drink, mix, mingle, and dance. The White Horse’s calendar is wall-to-wall with live country music by bands with names like Johnny Dango & the Stinkin’ Roses, the Saddle Sores, and the Texas Tycoons, and most shows are either free or five bucks. If music’s not your thing, you should still swing by the White Horse for a rousing happy hour and some Tex-Mex grub by Bomb Tacos.

26. The Continental Club

From 1955 on up through the present, this cozy little club on South Congress Avenue has been hosting notable punk, rock, and country acts, usually before they’d peaked: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sonic Youth, Roky Erikson, Wanda Jackson, The Replacements, The Killers, Arcade Fire, the list goes on and on and keeps on growing.

Girls' Night Out Options

1. Pamper yourselves at a spa

C’mon, you know you all deserve it! So pick one of these great Austin spas for facials, massages, and pedi/manis! Each one of these spas has its own unique offerings and atmosphere for you and the girls to enjoy. A top-rated Austin spa is Milk + Honey, where you can enjoy a full array of your favorite treatments, plus they have a salon for hair and makeup services. At Hiatus Spa + Retreat, try a purifying foot soak ritual and their signature hand and foot massage, along with aromatherapy.

If you can manage it, treat yourselves to a weekend at Lake Austin Spa Resort. It’s a luxury wellness retreat with health and wellness programs, spa treatments, and recreational activities in a peaceful and beautiful natural setting. Plus, you can use the heated outdoor pool! Then dine at the resort’s restaurant that serves healthy and delicious cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients.

2. Bring out your inner Veronica Mars

Is your circle of friends filled with mystery fans? Any of them who wanted to be Nancy Drew when they were growing up? Playing an escape room at The Escape Game Austin gives you an exciting way to unleash your inner sleuths! With just 60 minutes, you’ll have to put your heads together to solve riddles, crack codes, and decipher clues to find a way out of one of five themed escape rooms. Art lovers will love The Heist. You must recover a priceless Monet from the evil museum curator turned thief!

In Classified, you and your fellow military personnel are sent on a covert mission to stop a major international attack. In Prison Break, the most difficult game, you've got to sneak to the warden’s office and back if you want to escape from a 1950s jail cell in time. For a light-hearted time, complete all your assignments in Playground, or you’ll be stuck in school for the summer! Scramble to find a hidden stash of gold in Gold Rush!

Before or after your amazing escape room experience, dine at nearby restaurants like Moonshine Grill, Iron Works Barbecue, and Cafe Blue. Or stop off for dessert at Voodoo Doughnut (they don't close until after midnight!)

3. Spend a night out on Sixth Street

If you are looking to party hardy on your Girls’ Night Out, then Austin’s Sixth Street is for you! It’s got fantastic bars and music venues, microbreweries, and tattoo parlors if your crew wants to memorialize your friendships!

Here are some of the best spots to try on Sixth Street.

For dancing, head to Barbarella, known for its disco-themed dance parties, Elysium for alternative and electronic dance music, or The Parish, which hosts DJ sets and dance parties.

For drinks, try the Summit Rooftop Lounge. You’ll get great views of the city along with a dance floor and bar. The Blind Pig Pub has a laid-back vibe and offers a wide selection of beers on tap, including local craft beers. Maggie Mae's is a very popular spot on 6th Street. It also has a rooftop patio with views of the city, plus multiple stages for live music performances throughout the week.

See what else is happening on Austin’s Sixth Street.

4. Learn the Texas Two Step

For the honkiest-tonkiest time, go to Austin’s iconic Broken Spoke to learn how to do the 2-step and line dancing. The Broken Spoke was featured on the oh-so-popular Netflix series “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” so it must be a fabulous place to go out! Whether you're a seasoned dance pro or a complete beginner, you'll find a place on that dance floor.

The regulars are friendly and welcoming, and they'll be happy to show your group the steps if you're not sure what you're doing. If you want to take lessons before hitting the dance floor, you can join a class from Wednesday through Saturday from 8 pm to 9 pm for just $10. So gals, grab your cowboy boots and boogie down!

5. Shop ‘til you drop

Turn your Girls' Night Out into a day of retail therapy! It’s always helpful to have your gals nearby to tell you what looks flattering on you or which clothes you should pass on. Austin has some different shopping areas with their own sense of style, so choose the neighborhood that fits your style.

The pedestrian-friendly South Congress Avenue is known for its small shops and boutiques. Check out Cove, a clothing boutique created by Austin women for Austin women! Prototype Vintage and Lucy in Disguise are great for one-of-a-kind second-hand clothes. Maya Star has trendy women’s clothing, jewelry, and handbags. When you are done with your shopping, be sure to make a pit stop at the famous Amy’s Ice Creams for a sweet treat.

Austin’s 2nd Street District is an endless row of boutiques, both locally owned and familiar brands.

The Domain Mall has 400 stores, including both high-end designer boutiques and well-known chain retailers. With this many stores, as well as restaurants and an iPic movie theater, the Domain is perfect for a rainy day in Austin.

6. Discover Austin murals together

Get your phone cams ready for selfie-mania in front of Austin’s iconic murals! The city is known for its inspiring, colorful street art, and a walk around town to see its mural walls is a fun group activity. You’ll be inspired to take lots and lots of group photos, perfect for posting on social media. Here are the must-see Austin murals:

7. Join a Paint and Sip Party

Make your own art at a paint-and-sip party! These gatherings are a perfect opportunity to connect with your friends while unleashing your inner artist and enjoying drinks. Surrounded by colorful paints and upbeat music, you’ll have an uplifting experience discovering your artistic side. A friendly and experienced instructor guides you through the painting process, step-by-step, making sure you feel confident and supported.

And of course, there's the "sip" part of the party! You can enjoy a glass of wine or your favorite beverage while painting, which adds a fun and relaxed vibe to the whole experience.

Paint and sip parties are offered in several art studios in Austin. Join an already scheduled session, like Painting With A Twist’s Girls Night, or have a private party at The Art Garage, where you can try your hand at other arts like glass fusion, mosaics, and pottery. Whatever class you take, you’ll have a great time together chatting, laughing, and creating something truly unique!

8. See live music

This is a logical choice for your Girls' Night Out - Austin is, after all, the Capital of Live Music! With so many venues hosting every kind of band, you’ll have no trouble finding a love gig that all of you can sing along to. The Moody Theater is home to the famed Austin City Limits music series, and The Moody Center is for bands that fill up arenas and put on spectacular concerts. The historic Scoot Inn hosts performers of all genres most nights of the week.

Another legendary Austin venue is the Continental Club with top-notch line-ups. Emo’s has two stages, one inside and one out, with progressive and punk bands. Lastly, for the blues, Antone's Nightclub is the spot to go. This world-famous venue has seen the likes of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, James Brown, Ray Charles, and so many other greats. Find out about Austin’s music venues here.

9. Spend time outdoors at Lady Bird Lake

One of the most wonderful outdoor spaces in Austin, Lady Bird Lake, is the place to go to do a bit of everything! Grab your friends for some outdoor fun in the sun out on the water. Rent a kayak or canoe and explore the lake.

There is a 10-mile trail for hiking and biking that travels through beautiful scenery, including parks, bridges, and the Downtown Austin skyline. For an unusual -- yet incredible -- activity, take a stand-up paddleboard yoga class! Private classes are 90 minutes long and include 60 minutes of guided yoga instruction and then 30 minutes of free time on your paddleboards. Swimming is not allowed, but you can swim at the Barton Springs Pool.

10. Swim at Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park

Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed pool, is a gem of Austin. With an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long, it’s perfect for a swim with your friends. It's the place to go in Austin on a hot day.

The pool is inside the 350-acre Zilker Park, one of Austin’s most popular outdoor green spaces. Bring some food along for a picnic or visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens.

The Zilker Hillside Theatre hosts concerts ranging from jazz to country. In the summer, you can see Shakespeare in the Park performances.

For a Mom's Day Out that includes the kiddos, Barton Springs Pool is family-friendly! Besides swimming, the kids can frolic at the Zilker Playscape and go to the Austin Nature and Science Center.

11. Go out in the Rainey Street Historic District

This part of town is a lot calmer than Sixth Street but still has plenty of entertainment for a fantastic night out in Austin. The Rainey Street Historic District is known for its unique collection of bars and restaurants housed in charming renovated bungalow homes. The nightlife is lively, eclectic, and diverse, making a night here one of the most fun things to do in Austin at night!

Some of the popular bars in the Rainey Street district include Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden, which serves up a wide selection of craft beers and sausages, and the Container Bar, an outdoor spot with an eclectic vibe and unique decor.

Other popular spots include Lucille Patio Lounge, Half Step, and Craft Pride. Also, there are a bunch of terrific live music venues, and both casual restaurants with a relaxed vibe, and upscale, trendy dining. Top the night off with a stop at Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts, open until 2 am every night of the week!

12. Catch a Rom-Com

You can sit at home with your gal pals and stream a movie, or you can make a night of it at one of Austin’s awesome movie houses. At the Alamo Drafthouse, you can get award-winning food and artisanal cocktails served right to your seat! The Alamo plays current hits, classics, foreign films, and independent movies.

At the Austin IPIC Theater, choose from the latest movie releases and watch with your friends from a custom-designed Pod. Dine in the dark and sip on drinks during your flick. For old-fashioned fun, head to the Blue Starlite Drive-In and pass around buckets of buttered popcorn and candy! See what's playing in Austin right now.

13. The Peached Tortilla

This trendy restaurant with modern decor and a welcoming vibe has an open kitchen, a full bar, and a spacious dining area with both indoor and outdoor seating. The cuisine meshes Asian and Southern flavors with brunch dishes like the Korean Steak & Eggs Bowl and the Char Siu Breakfast Bowl. If anyone in your group has dietary preferences, the restaurant also offers a range of vegetarian and gluten-free options. And it wouldn’t be brunch without a Mimosa or Bloody Mary, both of which are on the menu!

14. Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

With a laid-back atmosphere and creative menu offerings, Better Half is a fine choice for a brunch with your girlfriends. Some of their most popular dishes are their breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, and chicken and waffles. They also serve sweet and savory pastries, as well as fresh juices and smoothies.

Cocktails include the brunch standards, though try their signature cocktail, the Better Half Paloma. In terms of ambiance, Better Half has a comfortable and stylish interior with plenty of natural light and indoor and outdoor seating options.

15. Foreign & Domestic

The restaurant has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, with wooden tables and a minimalist decor. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and are happy to make recommendations or accommodate any dietary restrictions. The brunch menu at Foreign & Domestic features a range of inventive dishes that showcase local ingredients and seasonal flavors.

One popular brunch item is the "Biscuits & Gravy," which consists of buttermilk biscuits topped with house-made sausage gravy and a fried egg. Another standout dish is the "Duck Confit Hash," which features tender duck confit, crispy potatoes, peppers, onions, and a poached egg. For those looking for something sweet, the "French Toast" is a must-try. It's made with brioche bread and vanilla custard, topped with seasonal fruit and maple syrup.

16. Halcyon

Halcyon is a perfect spot for either coffee, cocktails, or both!! This coffee shop/lounge has two locations in the city - one on 4th Street in Downtown Austin and another on Mueller Boulevard in the Mueller neighborhood. Halcyon has a cozy and eclectic atmosphere with comfortable seating, ambient lighting, and an outdoor patio. One especially sweet offering at Halcyon is their s'mores kits, which you can roast over the tableside fire pits. There are also live music performances and other events throughout the week.

17. The Tigress Pub

This intimate pub is small with just a few tables and a bar, making it a great spot for a night out with your closest friends. The bar is known for its classic cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan, as well as more inventive creations like the "Myopic Mary," which features tomato juice, sherry, and cucumber-infused vodka. Special events take place periodically, making The Tigress an interesting choice for drinks.

18. The Rooftop on Sixth

This lively bar is located on the rooftop of a building on Sixth Street and offers sweeping views of the city skyline. There’s both indoor seating and outdoor seating on a spacious rooftop patio decorated with string lights, umbrellas, and other stylish touches that create a welcoming and festive ambiance. Enjoy beer, wine, cocktails, and frozen drinks, as well as a selection of pub-style food such as burgers, tacos, and appetizers. The bar hosts special events including live music, DJ nights, and themed parties.

19. The Library

Are you and your friend avid readers? You’ll love The Library bar! As the name suggests, the bar has a library theme, with shelves of books lining the walls and plenty of cozy seating areas for patrons to settle in and enjoy a drink. It’s a two-story venue with plenty of tables and booths, as well as a large outdoor patio area for enjoying drinks in the Texas sunshine.

In addition to wine, draft beer, craft cocktails, and frozen drinks, The Library has an extensive selection of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch, with over 50 different selections! There’s live music on Fridays and Saturdays. When you all get hungry, snack on charcuterie boards, cheese plates, and gourmet popcorn!

20. Austin Live Music Crawl

Austin claims to be the Live Music Capital of the World, and it’s hard to argue with that, given the countless concerts and festivals that take place there every year. This BYOB bus tour through downtown offers a glimpse into that world, delivering visitors to three different clubs to watch local bands perform. And, oh yeah, the bus has its own house band, playing live and answering questions as you cruise down the street. Sing-alongs are encouraged.

Downtown Activities

Downtown Austin is the heart of the city. From food to music to art, it’s the place to be. It’s a hub for culture and entertainment with a little something for everyone. Whether you're looking for the funky side of the city or a more traditional experience, Downtown Austin has it all.

1. Texas State Capitol Building

With its majestic rotunda, pink granite edifice, and Renaissance-style columns and vaults, the Texas State Capitol is probably the most striking structure in town. Modeled after its counterpart in Washington, D.C. and placed on a hilltop in the middle of downtown, Elijah E. Myers’s masterwork — and the Goddess of Liberty statue at its peak — continues to outshine the modern high-rises that have sprung up around it. Though the Capitol is a busy government hub, tours are free and frequent, each one starting every 30 to 45 minutes or so during a normal business day. Check the schedule for specialty tours, too, with titles like African American Trailblazing Texans and Heroes of the Texas Revolution.

2. The Escape Game Austin

When you play an escape room at The Escape Game in Downtown Austin, you can expect lots of ‘wow’ moments and lots of fun! You’ll be put to the test as you race the clock to find a way out of a ‘locked’ room. Each of the five rooms has been meticulously designed to match its unique theme with a realistic atmosphere, even if it’s a 1950s prison cell!

Every game has multiple rooms to explore as you hunt for clues, solve riddles, and puzzles. Stop an art thief in his tracks, hunt for a hidden stash of gold, or prevent a global catastrophe! Whatever the challenge, you’ll have a blast!

3. ACL Live at the Moody Theater

ACL stands for Austin City Limits, which is the name of the longest-running televised music series in American history! Musicians come from around the country and world to play in this intimate theater. The show is one of many venues that’s helped shape Austin’s reputation as the “live music Capital of the world”. Seeing an ACL show is by far one of the best things you can do at night in Austin.

4. Blanton Museum of Art

One of Austin's finest museums is located near the University of Texas campus, which the Blanton houses. The collection is impressive, with more than 18,000 pieces of art. The museum itself, however, is not overwhelming, and guests can see and contemplate works from many historical eras and regions.

The Blanton boasts the most comprehensive collection of Latin American art in the country. The modern art collection is impressive with works from European masters, but also many Americans like Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and many more. Located at 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

5. Congress Avenue Bats

Austin is known by many for its colony of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats! You can see them fly out from their home underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge every sunset, though the colony is somewhat smaller in cooler months. Still, there are more than enough to delight any time of the year! The sight of these tiny winged black creatures streaking across an orange sky is marvelous! Stand on the bridge or stake out a spot at the bat observation area at the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake.

6. Austin Visitor Center

Be sure to make a stop at the Austin Visitor Center to grab maps and brochures and avail yourself of the vast knowledge of Austin, the friendly staff has to share. They can point you to music venues, outdoor activities, restaurants, museums, shopping, and more! Just ask…they will have an answer! Located at 602 E. Fourth St.

7. Downtown Austin Walking Tours

Offered by the Austin Visitor Center, these public Downtown walking tours are designed to help you feel connected to the city’s history, culture, and cityscape. Guides are Austin experts, and the tours usually run on Thursday and Friday mornings and last 90 minutes. The cost for adults (ages 13 and older) is $20 per person, and for children (ages 12 and under), $10 per person.

8. Lady Bird Lake

This “lake” is actually a reservoir that is approximately 4.5 miles from the Colorado River that runs through Austin. Still, you can do just about everything you can do at a lake except swim or use motorized boats. Join the locals who love to kayak, canoe, and paddleboard. Boating through Downtown Austin lends a unique perspective of the city. You can rent equipment from the Waller Creek Boathouse located at 74 Trinity St.

9. Antone's Nightclub

This self-proclaimed “Austin’s home of the blues” has some legitimacy to that claim, having hosted legends of the genre since 1975. Just a few of the performers who have graced the stage are B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Muddy Waters. Antone’s intimate atmosphere and stellar line-ups make it an excellent place to hear the blues and a nice place to spend your date night in Austin. Located at 305 E. 5th St.

10. SFC Farmers' Market

This weekly farmers’ market is sponsored by the Sustainable Food Center (SFC) of Austin. It’s the highlight of the week for Austinites who want to purchase high-quality foods from local farmers, ranchers, and food producers from around Central Texas. Ready-to-eat foods are there for trying, like local coffee, Mexican food, baked goods, and many other tasty bites!

Even if you aren't interested in food, you can browse artisan crafts from local vendors or listen to live music that is scheduled once a month. The market is open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm and is located at Republic Square, 422 Guadalupe St.

11. Austin Street Art

Austin’s street art scene is a dynamic one, and large-scale murals are found throughout the city. Several of the best murals can be seen in Downtown. Check these out -- and have the camera ready for these Instagrammable moments!

Howdy, Austin at 601 W 6th St.

The Beauty and Liberty of Equality at 111 E Cesar Chavez St.

Tau Ceti at Brazos & Second Streets

Willie Nelson & Janis Joplin Mural at 407 E Seventh St.

Spaceman with Floating Pizza at 1209 Red River St.

Big Chiller Blues at 601 E Fifth St.

Mexic-Arte Museum Mural at 419 Congress Ave.

Historic 6th Street Mural at 582 N. IH-35 Frontage Rd.

…and last but not least, the incredible The Beauty and Liberty of Equality

111 E Cesar Chavez St, which is 11 stories high, and is painted on the side of the LINE Austin hotel by world-renowned mural artists Sandra Chevrier and Shepard Fairey.

12. Waterloo Records

When this record shop opened in 1982, there were no such things as CDs or MP3s - just vinyl. And today, Waterloo Records still sells vinyl records to customers who gobble them up! They’ve branched out, of course, and sell all forms of music recordings! Waterloo carries books and movies, too. You can catch a live music show from local artists in the shop, so check the calendar when you're in town! Located at 600 N Lamar Blvd.

13. Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

This 10-mile scenic urban path runs along Austin’s Lady Bird Lake and passes through a few neighborhoods, including Downtown. People come to walk, run, and bike along the water's edge. The surrounding views are lovely, with both natural environs and the skyline with Austin's skyscrapers. If you don't have a bike, you can rent one from Barton Springs Bike Rentals.

14. Austin Bus Tours

One way to get an overview of Austin and the downtown area is to take a comfortable bus tour.

AO Tours transports you around town in glass-top, convertible tour buses! There’s a live guide to tell you the history and culture of the sights you’ll see. Tours last between 90 minutes and 3 hours. The Best of ATX Panoramic City Center Tour is 90 minutes and shows you Downtown Austin and other nearby neighborhoods.

The tour visits the East Sixth Street area, Historic Congress Avenue, the University of Texas campus, the 2nd Street District, Lady Bird Lake, the Seaholm District, the Warehouse District, and East Austin (including the African American Cultural Historic District). After your tour, you will know which areas you’d like to spend more time in. If you are in Austin on a rainy day or a hot day, a bus tour is the answer!

15. Bullock Texas State History Museum

Even though you are only in Austin, you may want to take the time to learn the story of Texas overall. With fascinating artifacts, interactive exhibits, and multimedia presentations, the state’s complex history is brought to life. Plus, there is an IMAX theater! When so much of Downtown is geared toward adults, a visit to the Bullock is an ideal activity for families visiting Austin. Located at 1800 Congress Ave.

16. Warehouse District

This vibrant neighborhood just west of Congress Avenue is filled with historic buildings that were once used as warehouses and distribution centers. Over time, these buildings have been repurposed and transformed into art galleries, live music venues, restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

17. Austin Toy Museum

Small but very cool, the Austin Toy Museum is jam-packed with hundreds of toys and figurines from eras past and present. See Ken and Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, Star Wars figurines, Marvel characters, and many others. There is a roster of rotating exhibits with hands-on activities in both the display cases and the arcade. Play vintage video games in the arcade like Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Centipede, and Donkey Kong. Games are free to play with your admission ticket. Shop the museum’s large comic book collection. Located at 314 1/2 Congress Ave.

18. The Driskill Hotel

The iconic Driskill Hotel was built in 1886 by cattle baron Colonel Jesse Driskill and has since become an Austin landmark. It is certainly one of the most luxurious hotels in Austin (if you like Romanesque architecture mixed with modern decor!)

It’s widely regarded as haunted and, as such, is a stop on any Austin ghost tour. You don't have to stay here to get a taste of the hotel’s charm or spirits. Have a drink at the Driskill Bar, warmly furnished with rustic leather couches, cowhide barstools, and even cattle-branded custom carpet! Located at 604 Brazos St.

19. Sixth Street

Old 6th Street, fondly known as Dirty 6th, is the original entertainment section of the street, including those venues between Congress Avenue (to the west) and I-35 (to the East). With a rowdy, loud vibe, bars with doors wide open, live music heard from the street, and tattoo parlors, a night here is one of those things to do in Austin for adults only!

20. The Contemporary Austin

This contemporary art museum showcases thought-provoking and innovative works by both established and emerging artists. It has two locations, with the Jones Center downtown and a sculpture garden called Laguna Gloria north of downtown. The exhibitions at the Jones Center rotate, so there’s always something new and exciting to see. The building is sleek and modern, setting the tone for the works contained within. One wall is devoted to mural art with changing artists. Located at 700 Congress Ave.

21. Paramount Theatre

Built in 1915, The Paramount is a cultural landmark known for its beautiful architecture and eclectic line-up. The theater hosts live performances like concerts by both local talent and international talent, comedy shows, children’s theater, and even live podcast recording sessions. The Paramount also has film screenings, with an annual classic film series now running for nearly 50 years!

22. Museum of The Weird

Austin’s unofficial logo is, Keep Austin Weird’ and this museum certainly supports this! Imagine PT Barnum meets Ripley's Believe It or Not, and you can anticipate what's on display in this small museum. Among the oddities are shrunken heads, taxidermy animals, a life-size wax figure, displays of mythic creatures like Bigfoot, and an original animatronic from Gremlins! Located at 412 E. 6th St.

23. Mohawk Austin

This multi-level music venue and bar is beloved by Austinites who appreciate awesome music and strong drinks. Mohawk showcases local performers and touring bands across three stages, two indoors and one outdoors. There’s also a roof deck so you can listen to great tunes while taking in Austin’s skyline. Located at 912 Red River St.

24. Stubb's Austin

Stubb’s gives you the chance to eat Texas BBQ and catch great music at the same time! Known for its unbelievable barbecue, Stubbs hosts amazing bands of all genres. Some of the bands to grace the Stubb’s stage over the years are Wilco, The Killers, Death Cab Ffor Cutie, Joan Jett, Snoop Dogg, Dwight Yoakam, and many more. The Sunday gospel brunch is a popular event in Austin, and while it may be hard to get in, it’s worth it.

Stubb’s is an all-ages venue. So if you are visiting Austin with teenagers who want to see live bands but aren't allowed in the city’s 21+ music venues, Stubb’s is a destination for you! Located at 801 Red River St.

25. Mexic-Arte Museum

Since 1984, this excellent community museum has dedicated itself to enriching and educating the community with exhibitions and education programs about Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art. The museum frequently holds festivals and special events, like its “Day of the Dead” parade, which is the largest and longest-running Dia de los Muertos celebration in Texas. Located at 419 Congress Ave.

26. Punch Bowl Social

Part restaurant and bar, part entertainment center, Punch Bowl Social will keep you busy and having fun for hours. There’s bowling, ping pong, shuffleboard, vintage arcade games, and private karaoke rooms to rent. Punch Bowl Social has a full-service kitchen and a bar serving a wide selection of craft cocktails, beer, and wine. If you are looking for a place to host a work party in Austin, look into Punch Bowl Social. Located at 522 Congress Ave.

27. Esther's Follies

With all the contemporary art and music being heard around Austin, one would expect a vaudeville theater. Well, Esther’s Follies is proof that this unique style of performance is alive and kicking.

For over 40 years, Esther’s Follies and its comedy troupe have been cracking up audiences with comedy sketches, political satire, Vegas-style magic, and hysterical musical tunes. This intimate theater presents two performances nightly, and they can fill up, so go early! Located at 525 E. Sixth St.

28. Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

More than just a comfy place to see the latest blockbuster, this classic, two-screen movie house in Austin’s hopping 6th Street District is a reliable source of indie flicks and special programming, a decent place to get a beer and a burger, and the flagship location of a popular theater chain. The Alamo Drafthouse is always digging up forgotten favorites for parties, brunch screenings, matinees, and more. And we fully endorse their strict “no talking during the movie” policy.

29. Austin Art Walk

This friendly little walking tour packs a lot of color into its 1.2-mile trips through “one of the edgiest neighborhoods in town” — a section of East Austin chock full of history, and tattooed with all manner of murals and graffiti by Blek le Rat, Meres1, JonOne, and other street art legends. Husband-and-wife tour guide team Doug and Eileen Barber are known for their passionate, personable storytelling. (P.S. On the really hot days, they’ll even pass out some frozen towels to help you cool off.)

30. Franklin BBQ

There are lotsa places in the Austin area to pick up some sweet meats and a side of slaw, but only Franklin holds the title of “best barbecue in the known universe.” That’s according to Texas Monthly; Obama, Bourdain, and Jimmy Kimmel have all sung its praises, too. Run by husband and wife team Aaron and Stacy Franklin, this 11th Street joint offers brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and more, all slathered in their tangy, bangin’ homemade sauce.

31. Austin's Iconic Murals

When you’re strolling through Austin, don’t miss the city’s many eye-catching, selfie-inspiring murals. You might spot Willie Nelson (at 1315 S. Congress Ave.), Bob Dylan on the side of the Hole in the Wall music venue (2538 Guadalupe St.), and Mister Rogers (at 1423 S. Congress Ave.). There are several pieces painted by or inspired by recently departed outsider musician/artist Daniel Johnston, most notably the Hi, How Are You mural (408 W. 21st St.). Plus, there’s Spaceman with Floating Pizza, When You’re Strange, Smile Now Cry Later, and lots more added all the time. Lastly, and maybe this one isn’t a mural per se, but it’s hard to deny the stirring simplicity of seeing I Love You So Much written in red cursive on the green wall of Jo’s Coffee (1300 S. Congress Ave.).

Rainy Days

1. Learn about the history of Texas

Just because you are not seeing Austin due to the rainy weather, you can still get to know a lot about Austin at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Bullock Museum does a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the Lone Star State from the time it was still a part of Mexico up to the present. Some of the subjects the museum explores are the discovery of oil, Austin's famous local music scene, and the lives of the Texas Comanches.

2. Challenge yourself at an escape room

Get rid of the rainy day blues by playing an escape room at The Escape Game Austin. Put your detective hats on if you want to escape a ‘locked’ room in just 60 minutes! Solve riddles and crack codes to find a way out of one of several escape rooms. Each room has a unique mission of varying difficulty levels. In the most difficult game, Prison Break, teammates work across two cells to escape a 1950s prison. In Classified, you must gather critical information to stop a major international attack. Turn those raindrops into an exciting adventure at the Escape Game Austin!

3. Learn the Texas Two-Step

Learn to dance like a local by learning the Texas Two-Step at The Broken Spoke, one of the most fun indoor places in Austin, TX! A popular spot to learn this classic line dance is The Broken Spoke, which opened in 1964! Its slogan, hanging on the outside of the dance hall, is “The last of the True Texas Dance Halls, and damn sure proud of it!” Lessons are on Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 pm-9 pm. Be sure to sign up in advance. After your lesson, dance the night away confidently!

4. See Austin by bus

Stay dry and see Austin on a rainy day by taking a sightseeing bus tour. These tours are typically between 90 minutes and 3 hours and provide a nice overview of the city along with stories and facts from an entertaining and knowledgeable guide. AO Tours has tours offered in a glass-top, convertible Mercedes tour buses. The Best of ATX Panoramic City Center Tour is 90 minutes long and covers Downtown Austin and nearby areas. When the sun is back out, you can go back to sights and attractions that piqued your interest. By the way, if the bad weather you are facing is high temperatures, a bus tour is just as effective as staying cool on a hot day in Austin.

5. Tour a brewery

If you like the idea of a tour and love a good beer, take a brewery tour. Austin has dozens of fantastic breweries that offer tours and tastings. The ATX Beer Bus has a few tours that include 3-4 stops. If you want to go straight to the source, here’s a list of 20 Austin breweries to check out. Unlike other bus tours, this one is strictly for adults in Austin!

6. Immerse yourself in color and light

Wonderspaces is an incredible immersive art show located in cities across the country that presents amazing artwork from international artists. Some of the current pieces include “Spheres”, an interactive interstellar journey where space is filled with music. “Submergence” is an immersive installation comprising 8,064 individual points of light. The lights change colors continually, as does the corresponding music, as visitors walk through.

7. See some sea creatures

On a rainy day, the Austin Aquarium will keep you dry while its residents are literally wet all over! The aquarium has thousands of sea creatures, as well as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and even a few mammals. This aquarium offers so much more than viewing incredible aquatic life in tanks. The Animal Encounters allow guests to hand-feed fish, birds, and sharks. You can interact with mammals like lemurs and sloths. For a unique Instagrammable moment. Schedule a photo with one of the aquarium’s “mermaids”!

8. Visit the Texas Governor's Mansion

Since 1856, this gorgeous Greek Revival-style historic home has been the official residence of Texas governors and their families. It is the fourth-oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the United States! The Texas Governor’s Mansion has a storied past, and you can learn about its history and that of the state of Texas through a free 20-minute tour. Tours are offered on select dates and are reserved one week in advance. Find out more here.

9. Attend Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits is the longest-running televised music series in U.S. history. Every week at the Moody Theater, bands and singer-songwriters play in front of a live studio audience. ACL showcases legends to newbies from every musical genre. Whether it's rainy or not, going to Austin City Limits ACL should be on the to-do list of every music lover.

10. Catch a flick

Going to a movie is always a good choice for a rainy day, but in Austin, it’s a great choice! At the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, your movie is served up with delicious food brought right to your seat! The theater also serves handcrafted cocktails and beers from local microbreweries. The movie selection includes blockbusters, independent films, classics, and foreign films. What a great way to spend a night indoors in Austin! Check the schedule in advance to make sure that “Singin’ in the Rain’ is not playing when you want to go!

11. Blanton Museum of Art

Art lovers with a taste for every era will love the Blanton. The museum houses the University of Texas’s collection of 21,000 pieces of art, including Roman-era pottery, early Renaissance paintings, modern art, and Native American, Latin American, and African American art. The museum is not overwhelming, though, and visitors will have ample time to pass the hours on a rainy day at this top-notch Austin museum.

12. Museum of Ice Cream

This Austin museum might just make you happy that it's rainy outside! Explore 12 multi-sensory installations that educate guests about the history of ice cream. Along the way, enjoy unlimited ice cream. The best part? Have your camera ready for a jump in the sprinkle pool! This museum is sure to be a hit with your teenagers in Austin because it's so darn Instagram-worthy!

13. Texas State Capitol

The seat of the Texas government resides in Austin in an enormous three-story Renaissance Revival-style building, the largest capitol building in the United States. It was completed in 1888 and was modeled after the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., but it is even taller by 15 feet! A visit is a must when in Austin, so it's a perfect indoor destination on a rainy day. To gain insight into the building and the politics taking place within, you can take a free tour. Be sure to stop by the Capitol Visitors Center, where you can see exhibits and movies about the Capitol’s history, and a LEGO Capitol made from 65,000 LEGO pieces.

14. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

One of Austin's most popular tourist destinations is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. Former President Lyndon Johnson's life, including his tenure in political service, is chronicled in the museum’s permanent exhibition. The Library has more than 45 million pages of historical documents from LBJ’s 35-year political career. Tough-provoking temporary displays address contemporary problems like civil rights in America, a cause Johnson fought for during his presidency.

15. Mexic-Arte Museum

Since 1984, this museum has been collecting artworks, cultural objects, and literature by people born in the United States with Mexican heritage. The museum’s collection is vast, but the museum itself is small. Its mission is to “enrich the community through education programs, exhibitions, and the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture for visitors of all ages.” Accordingly, the museum has a casual and welcoming feel and hosts festivals and special events.

16. Elisabet Ney Museum

Highly-regarded Texas artist and sculptor, Elisabet Ney (1833-1907), moved from Germany to Austin, where she spent the final 20 years of her life. In her studio, she sculpted famous Texas public figures like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. The life-like busts she mastered are arguably her best-known works. Many are on display in such prominent places as the U.S. Congress and the Smithsonian Museum. The Elisabet Ney Museum houses the largest collection of her work. This Austin museum is free.

17. Pinstack Arcade

One of Austin’s best indoor arcade and entertainment centers, Pinstack has loads of activities in its 45,000-square-foot venue. The arcade has 100 video games and simulator technology games. Twenty feet above the arcade is a high-ropes course for an exciting challenge. There’s also a 24-foot rock climbing wall, bumper cars, and state-of-the-art bowling lanes. A menu features pizzas, burgers, and oversized milkshakes. Not a bad way to spend a rainy day in Austin!

18. K1 Go Karting

Brighten up your rainy day by heading to the indoor go-kart circuit K1 Speed Austin. You can race at up to 45 miles per hour in the K1 go-karts thanks to their karts' 20-horsepower electric motors! On Friday nights, the LED lighting that lines the track flashes bright neon colors, and the music is lively. It's like go-karting in a disco!

19. iFly Indoor Skydiving

Check out indoor skydiving at iFLY Austin if you've always wanted to feel what it's like to leap out of an airplane, but haven't yet mustered up the courage! First, you’ll receive training from an instructor. Then you’ll head into a man-made wind tunnel, strapped in, and then feel what it's like to defy gravity safely from just a few feet off the ground! This is a thrilling way to pass some time inside in Austin when the skies are gray!

20. Top Golf Austin

This three-floor entertainment complex has more than 100 all-weather, covered hitting bays. You can play a variety of games, the most popular being “Topgolf.” It’s like driving-range target practice, but instead of aiming for a hole 500 yards away, players aim for giant targets around the range. Scores are tallied based on the accuracy of shots and the distance of the target. Make a reservation as soon as you can so you don't have to wait in line.

21. Indoor Rock Climbing

If you feel like you are missing out on Austin’s great outdoors, you can be active at the Austin Bouldering Project, where you can try indoor rock climbing. Plus, their state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot facility offers a full range of fitness activities. Take one of their yoga classes for all levels of skills, even beginners. Work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center. A day pass gets you a full day and, for first-time visitors, free climbing shoe rentals.

22. Austin's Park

Less than a 30-minute drive from Austin is this 23-acre amusement park that offers both indoor and outdoor fun and games. There’s an indoor roller coaster and a tower drop as well as bowling, rock climbing walls, virtual reality rides, laser tag, arcade games, and more. When it stops raining, there are plenty more things to do at Austin’s. Outside activities include miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, and more. With great food like artisanal pizzas and Tex-Mex, you could keep occupied inside for hours!

23. Hear Live Music

One of the best things to do at night in Austin is to see live music. It is, after all, known as the "Live Music Capital of the World"!

The legendary Antone's Nightclub, opened in 1975, is known as “Austin’s home of the blues”. The Little Longhorn Saloon has honky-tonk country music, and Elephant Room hosts jazz and blues bands.

The historic Paramount Theatre, which opened in 1915 as a vaudeville theater, has live music of all genres. The Continental also hosts music of all kinds, including country, jazz, blues, and rock.

The Moody Center is Austin’s arena for big concerts with a seating capacity of 15,000+ seats. Top performers from around the world roll into Austin and play here.

24. See Performing Arts

The Bass Concert Hall, a venue for theater, dance, comedy, and other types of performances, hosts touring Broadway productions that change every week as part of its "Broadway in Austin" series. The “Texas Welcomes” series showcases contemporary bands, family shows, and comedians. Examples of the kinds of performances you might see here are top-notch comedians like Trevor Noah or the Broadway hit, “Pretty Woman”.

25. Blanton Museum of Art

Striking and spacious, this museum on the southern edge of the UT Austin campus boasts almost 18,000 works in its permanent collection. There’s plenty of modern and contemporary art, but the Blanton also makes room for pieces from Europe, Latin America, and (especially) the American West. The biggest and most eye-catching piece in the collection is surely Austin, Ellsworth Kelly’s gleaming white and vaguely igloo-ish building in the grass outside the museum.

26. Waterloo Records

There are a lot of reasons Austin’s become known as a music Mecca, and this popular downtown record joint is one of them. Founded in 1982, Waterloo helped build the scene with in-store performances, strong support of local artists, and rack after rack of new and used music in multiple formats and genres. There’s a decent selection of books and movies, too. While other record stores are struggling to stay afloat, Waterloo appears to be sailing along just fine due to its friendly vibes and community spirit.

27. Harry Ransom Center

This free-admission art museum on the University of Texas campus has an impressive and wildly eclectic collection. The Harry Ransom Center has a Gutenberg Bible and a Frida Kahlo self-portrait. Albert Einstein’s unpublished notes and Robert De Niro’s archive of scripts, props, and costumes. Jack Kerouac’s On the Road notebook and three copies of the Shakespeare First Folio from 1623. Edgar Allan Poe’s writing desk and a manuscript of The Canterbury Tales from the year 1450. If that’s not enough, keep an eye on their events calendar for movie screenings, tours, temporary exhibitions, and more.

Hot Weather Activities

1. See Austin on a bus tour

Just because it's steamy outside, you don't have to miss out on seeing Austin's attractions. Taking a sightseeing bus tour in an air-conditioned bus is one of the best choices of things to do in Austin on a hot day. You’ll get an overview of Austin while a knowledgeable guide tells you about the city's past and present. Sightseeing bus tours typically last between 90 minutes and 3 hours.

AO Tours takes you around in a glass-top, convertible Mercedes tour bus. Talk about cool comfort! Their Best of ATX Panoramic City Center Tour is one and a half hours and visits Downtown Austin and the surrounding areas. When the temperature drops to a comfortable level, you can go back to any attractions that interest you.

2. Play an escape room

Escape from a hot day at The Escape Game Austin, where you’ll have to use your very best sleuthing skills to discover a way out of a ‘locked’ room! You'll race the clock to escape one of several uniquely themed escape rooms in just 60 minutes! Each game has multiple rooms to explore, looking for clues. Choose from a variety of themes and difficulty levels.

In Gold Rush, you’ll make a mad dash for a hidden stash of gold. In Classified, you must collect critical information to prevent a major international crisis. The most challenging game is Prison Break, where you’ve been wrongfully imprisoned in a 1950s jail. Can you escape in time? Whether you do or don't, you will have fun trying!

3. Explore a 20-million-year-old cave

So this isn't exactly something to do indoors in Austin, but the Inner Space Cavern will keep you cool on a hot day. The Inner Space Cavern is a colossal cave formed nearly 20 million years ago. It’s one of the best-preserved caves in Texas and has breathtaking rock formations, including massive stalagmites and stalactites. The cave is a constant 72 degrees, making it one of the best indoor places to head to in Austin on a hot day if you are visiting the city!

4. Enjoy games galore at Pinstack

Pinstack Arcade is a fantastic place to be when Austin temperatures are boiling over. This air-conditioned 45,000-square-foot recreational center and arcade has loads of activities to do, in addition to playing more than 100 video games and simulator technology games. There are bumper cars, bowling lanes, a 24-foot rock climbing wall, and, twenty feet above the arcade, is a high-ropes course! With a menu featuring American classics like burgers and giant milkshakes, Pinstack will keep you cool, entertained, and well-fed!

5. Immerse yourself in light and sound

Wonderspaces is an astonishing immersive art show located in various cities across the country. The show comprises 14 exceptional art installations that use lights, video, and even 3-D printing to create a magical experience.

Current installations include “Submergence,” which consists of over 8,000 individual points of light. As visitors walk through, the colored lights and corresponding music change in response to the movement in the space. Plus, there’s a full bar, making this a great indoor activity in Austin for adults.

6. See an indoor sports event at The Moody Center

The Moody Center, built in 2022, is home to Austin’s hottest concerts and the University of Texas athletic teams, the Texas Longhorns men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Moody Center is one of the ‘coolest’ places in town, thanks to its innovative air-conditioning system that pushes cool air under every seat! Attending a game or event here is one of the best things to do in Austin at night.

While the AC is great, the packed calendar of events is even better. In addition to the many sports events, you can also attend the city’s biggest concerts with top bands from around the world. Plus Monster Truck jams, and Bull Riding events make Austin’s Moody Center a fun indoor place to be when Austin is too hot to handle!

7. Try indoor rock climbing

When it’s too hot to go hiking in Austin’s great outdoors, you can still get a healthy workout inside the air-conditioned indoor rock climbing facility, the Austin Bouldering Project. Not only can you give indoor rock climbing a try, but you can also take full advantage of the state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot facility that offers lots of fitness activities.

8. Indulge in all-you-can-eat ice cream

The Museum of Ice Cream will cool you down when temps are high! It has 12 multi-sensory installations that teach visitors about the history of ice cream. The museum experience also includes unlimited ice cream and a big sprinkle pool to jump in.

If you want to skip the museum part and go right to the sweets, Austin has many ice cream shops to choose from. Here are just a few of them: Amy’s Ice Creams, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Lick Honest Ice Creams, Luv Fats Ice Cream, Dolce Neve Gelato, Frozen Rolls Creamery, and Cold Cookie Company.

9. Catch a flick

Whether you are a movie lover or not, seeking refuge in an air-conditioned movie theater is one of the very best indoor activities in Austin. At the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema multiplex, you can see a wide array of film genres, from classics to blockbusters, and enjoy great food and drinks served right to your seat!

The independently-owned Violet Crown Cinema shows classics as well as current hits and has a full bar. For the ultimate experience, go to the Moviehouse & Eatery, which has 11 dine-in theaters, plush recliners, and a full-service bar. Austinites know how to enjoy their movies! The most family-friendly movie theater is Galaxy Theatres, where classic movie snacks are served -- and no full bar, just beer!

10. Go indoor skydiving

One of the most fun things to do indoors in Austin is found at iFly Indoor Skydiving. There, you can experience the thrill of skydiving from the safety of their manmade wind tunnel. Without going anywhere near a plane, you can experience what it's like to defy gravity while only a few feet above the ground. You’ll stay cool in the air-conditioning and will even catch a breeze!

11. Shop ‘til you drop

Going to a shopping mall is one option for something to do inside on a very hot day in Austin. The air-conditioned Domain Shopping Center is so big that you could kill several hours there. There are 400 stores, including both popular chain stores and upscale designer shops. You’ll recognize names like H&M, Zara, Aeropostale, and more. If you don't mind breaking the bank, you can indulge at Tory Birch, Gucci, Ted Baker, and other high-end boutiques.

Plus, there are sit-down restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, and Shake Shack. For an extra-cooling treat, stop by The Yard Milkshake Bar for ice cream, frozen yogurt, and milkshakes.

12. Visit the Austin Aquarium

If you are looking for indoor activities for families in Austin, the Austin Aquarium will keep you and your kids interested and comfortably cool. The aquarium has thousands of sea creatures as well as reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even a few adorable mammals. For an extra fee, you can participate in one of their Animal Encounters, which allows visitors to get up close with fish, birds, lemurs, sloths, and even sharks! See other family-friendly things there are to do in Austin.

13. Arcade fun at Cidercade Austin

With more than 150 games, Cidercade is one of Austin’s best arcades. They have both new and classic video games, pinball machines, racing car games, and more. They have a menu featuring artisan thin-crust pizzas, wings, salads, and delicious desserts. The bar serves dozens of hard ciders and hard seltzers.

Cidercade is open every day from 10 am to 12 am, so that’s a whole lot of cool time indoors! Admission is $10 for a day pass, which includes unlimited play on all their games. That’s a pretty sweet deal considering that hours of air-conditioning are part of the package. Cidercade is 21+ only after 8 pm, so it's a perfect place for adults to let loose.

14. Texas State Capitol

The seat of the Texas government is located in Austin in a massive three-story Renaissance Revival-style building. Its construction was completed in 1888 using the U.S. Capitol as a model. The Texas State Capitol outdid the U..S Capitol by being 15 feet taller! The Capitol offers free tours, making a visit here one of the best free things to do in Austin on a hot day.

Stop off at the Capitol Visitors Center, where the staff is friendly and happy to answer any questions about things to do in Austin. Check out the several exhibits about the Capitol’s history and a large LEGO Capitol made with 65,000 LEGO blocks.

15. Blanton Museum of Art

The air-conditioned Blanton Museum of Art houses the University of Texas’s art collection, which consists of more than 21,000 pieces of art. The collection has excellent works, including Roman-era pottery, early Renaissance paintings, modern art, and Native American, Latin American, and African American art.

16. George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center

By preserving and exhibiting works and objects of African-American culture, history, and artistic expression, this museum celebrates the accomplishments of the African-Americans.

Permanent exhibits explore the Texas communities of freed slaves as well as the history of Juneteenth (the holiday originated in Texas). The Children's Gallery covers famous Black inventors, including George Washington Carver, who created the concept of crop rotation and developed 300 uses for peanuts!

17. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Learn about the Lone Star State and Austin itself at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. This museum chronicles the state’s history from the time it was part of Mexico up to the present day. Some of the topics the museum covers are Austin's famous local music scene, the lives of the Texas Comanches, and the discovery of oil.

18. Texas Toy Museum

This small museum is jam-packed with more than 20,000 toys and figurines, some dating back to the early 1900s! As you scan the shelves, you’ll see Ken and Barbie dolls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel action figures, Smurfs, Star Wars characters, and many, many more figurines. The museum also has vintage video game consoles like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat, and Space Invaders. The museum has a large comic book collection with some for purchase.

19. Mexic-Arte Museum

This community museum has been gathering works of art, cultural artifacts, and writing by Chicanx (Americans of Mexican ancestry) since 1984. Although the museum is small, the collection it houses is quite good. The Mexic-Arte Museum aims to “enrich the community through education programs, exhibitions, and the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture for visitors of all ages.” The museum has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and frequently holds festivals and special events.

20. Texas Governor’s Mansion

Since 1856, the official home of Texas governors and their families has been this stunning Greek Revival-style mansion. It's the fourth-oldest governor's mansion to be inhabited continuously in America! A free 20-minute tour of the Texas Governor's Mansion will teach you about Texas's illustrious past. Tours are offered only on certain dates and must be reserved one week in advance.

21. Thinkery

This is Austin’s children’s museum, and it’s a fine example of hands-on educational experiences for kids. Different spaces in the museum teach children through play. The Move Studio allows children to practice coordination, while the Innovators’ Workshop combines science with art. The “Smile Here” photobooth lets kids become part of the museum, and the Story Nook hosts story times.

22. Texas Music Museum

Austin is referred to as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” so a music museum seems necessary here. This free museum does an excellent job of telling the story of the local musicians who helped give Austin its reputation.

Using live music videos, exclusive recordings, rare photographs, and historic posters, one exhibit focuses on the musical contributions of East Austin’s African-American community. Another exhibit, the “Texas Music Pioneers”, features over 60 Texas musicians from 14 musical genres, including blues, country, gospel, jazz, pop, rock, and others.

23. Barton Springs Pool

Taking a dip at this natural spring-fed pool is one of Austin’s best things to do when it's hot out. The pool isn't icy cold, though - it's an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long due to the natural source of water. Most people find this temperature ideal, and you can expect that the pool will be busy.

24. Lady Bird Lake

Named for former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, this lake is a perfect place to cool down on a hot day in Austin. Though there is no swimming, you can engage in water sports like kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Texas Rowing Center offers rentals and lessons on the north shore of the lake, while The Rowing Dock offers rentals and instruction on the south shore.

25. Schlitterbahn Waterpark

About a 90-minute drive from Austin is this mammoth water park. The park is divided into four separate sections, each with its own waterpark, larger than most local water parks! Each of the four sections of the park has a children's area, a ‘not-so-lazy-river’, unique rides, and a swim-up bar.

With a long list of rides, towering waterslides, wave pools, river rides, and more, this is where you want to be on a hot day in Austin, especially if you are in Austin with teens, who will love it here! Schlitterbahn Waterpark is open from April to mid-September.

26. Sculpture Falls in the Barton Creek Greenbelt

If you don't mind some hiking with a refreshing swim at the end, Sculpture Falls is for you. Tucked away in the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, this swimming hole has clear, cool waters that are about 70 degrees (provided that the water levels are high enough to swim).

The Barton Creek Greenbelt travels through South Austin and has 12 miles of trails. It’s one of Austin’s gems as it provides an opportunity to enjoy nature inside the city limits. It’s also one of the most dog-friendly parks, so if you brought along a furry friend, bring them along.

Perfect 2-Day Itinerary

Austin is THE place to visit in Texas to revel in fun and unique things to do. This 2-day Austin itinerary will show you where the locals spend time eating amazing food, enjoying the outdoors, and having fun at night.

Day 1: Morning

Try a breakfast taco

There’s no better way to start your visit to Austin than with a breakfast taco. Locals don’t bother with fancy omelets when they can get their egg, bacon, and cheese fix tucked into a flour tortilla. They are cheap, filling, and portable for those on the run!

Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop has been in business for more than 60 years. That probably has to do with the excellent Tex-Mex food they serve up. Prepare to stand in line, but it is well worth the wait. Stick with a basic bacon/egg/cheese breakfast taco. It’s simple but delicious!

For the ultimate breakfast taco experience, head to Valentina's Tex-Mex BBQ, serving a blend of Austin's best foods: Tex-Mex and BBQ. Try the brisket breakfast taco for a sample of how well these cuisines go together.

Get to know Austin’s history

Austin has a rich history that warrants some of your time. An entertaining way to learn about its history and culture is to take a bus tour. Sightseeing tours help you become oriented to the city while giving you an overview of Austin.

AO Tours offers a range of tours lasting between 90 minutes and 3 hours. You’ll see the sights from inside their glass-topped, convertible tour buses! The 2.5-hour Austin + Hill Country Panoramic Tour covers both historic neighborhoods and trendy ones, as well as Texas Hill Country. The Best of ATX Panoramic City Center Tour is 90 minutes and shows you Downtown Austin and some nearby areas.

If you find yourself in Austin on one of those days when the temperatures are too high, a bus tour offers you a comfortable way to see the city!

If bus tours are not your thing, the Bullock Texas State History Museum provides a nice overview of the Lone Star State's history from when it was still part of Mexico to the current day. Learn about the oil’s powerful influence on Texas’s progress, the Battle of the Alamo, and more.

The Texas State Capitol Building is the seat of the state’s government. It’s the largest capitol building in the United States! It is bigger than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., albeit by just 15 feet. The building is stunning, the free tours are interesting, and the Visitors Center is really cool. It has a mini-Lego Capitol made from 65,000 LEGO pieces! If you are traveling with kids, they’ll love this!

Day 1: Afternoon

Lunch and shopping in SoCo

After your morning adventures, head to SoCo (short for South Congress Avenue) for some light shopping and lunch.

The popular Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds sells costumes and vintage clothing. Uncommon Objects is a treasure trove of antique collectibles and quirky curiosities. Blackmail Boutique has a mix of artisan clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Big Top Candy Shop is a SoCO must! This shop sells all kinds of candy, including nostalgic treats. How about a pair of cowboy boots as a souvenir? Head to Allen’s Boots!

For lunch, head to Home Slice Pizza, whose New York-Style pizza can be ordered by the slice or pie. Order up traditional pies like classic margherita, pepperoni, white clam, or choose your own toppings. Dine in or sit at one of the outdoor picnic-style tables.

Day 1: Evening

Get a flavor for Austin's nightlife in Downtown Austin. All of the fun things below can be enjoyed in any order!

Escape the tourist track at The Escape Game Austin

Playing one of five uniquely themed escape rooms will transport you to a thrilling adventure where you have an hour to race the clock to find a way out! Crack codes, solve riddles, and decipher clues in games like Classified, where you are assigned a secret mission to prevent an international attack. Break out of a 1950s jail cell in Prison Break. Stop a rogue curator from getting away with the theft of a masterpiece in The Heist. The Escape Game can accommodate from 8 players in any one room, and up to 43 players playing multiple rooms simultaneously, making this a great activity if you are planning a work party or corporate event in Austin.

Dinner at Moonshine Grill

For a modern take on comfort food classics served in a friendly, folksy atmosphere, Moonshine Grill is a great choice. The space features a 19th-century carriage house turned bar, a patio, and a cozy indoor dining room. Main dishes include such delectables as cornbread-stuffed rainbow trout, chicken and waffles, and jalapeño hanger steak. Save room for the Peanut Butter Mousse Pie!

Late-night fun on Austin’s 6th Street

With an atmosphere similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, the neighborhood is known locally as the "Dirty Sixth". There are plenty of music venues, dance clubs, and bars that stay open late. Plus, if you feel like getting a tattoo, you’ve come to the right place! Given the rowdy, noisy vibe, spending time here is a fun thing to do in Austin for adults not traveling with kids.

Seasonal: Sunset with Austin’s bats

From April through October, at sunset, head to the Congress Avenue Bridge to see 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats head out from under the bridge to go hunt for food. Stake out a spot at the bat observation area at the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake or stand on the bridge itself, though it can get crowded. There are also sunset bat-watching cruises! Read more here.

For other options for after dark, see our article on things to do in Austin at night.

Day 2: Morning

Breakfast at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

Start your day right with a scrumptious breakfast/brunch with Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, French Toast with toasted coconut and mascarpone, or a simple, fluffy omelet with hash browns, perfectly crisp bacon, and toast.

Austin’s Great Outdoors

Work off your hearty breakfast in the sprawling 350-acre Zilker Park, one of Austin’s most popular green spaces. Here you can check out the city’s gem, Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed pool with an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees all year long.

Explore the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. It’s over 10 miles long and fairly flat, making for a leisurely ride. You can rent bikes at Barton Springs Bike Rentals.

For a peaceful time admiring flora and fauna, visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens. Zilker Park hosts concerts of all genres as well as Shakespeare in the Park performances in the summer.

For the more adventurous types, go to Lady Bird Lake on the other side of town.

Kayak, canoe, or paddleboard with equipment you can rent from the Texas Rowing Center or the Rowing Dock, which offers rentals and instruction for paddle boards, kayaks, and paddle boats. For guided kayak tours, look into Austin Kayak Tours.

If you prefer spending much of your day outdoors, the Barton Creek Greenbelt is the place to go to do it all! Hike, bike, walk, swim. Traveling with a dog? They are allowed here!

Day 2: Afternoon

Lunch at a food truck

Austin has a terrific food truck scene! If you are at Zilker Park, the Picnic Food Truck Park is right there. Vendors sell Thai food, tacos, Tex-Mex food, gelato, and more. If you are at Lady Bird Lake, you'll be closer to the food trucks of Rainey Street.

Discover Austin’s street art

Austin is known for having some of the best street art and large-scale murals in the country. Austin’s murals are incredibly Instagrammable -- making a street art tour one of the best things to do in Austin that teens will love!

A must is to pose in front of the iconic “Greetings from Austin'' mural modeled after a vintage tourist postcard at See Mister Rogers at the “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” mural. If you are a couple in Austin for the weekend, pose together in front of the "I Love You So Much" mural. Use this Guide to the Best Austin Street Art: Graffiti, Murals, and More.

As an alternative, or if you need something indoors on a rainy day in Austin, visit one of Austin’s many museums. The Blanton Museum of Art is a superb museum housing the University of Texas’s art collection.

The Blanton is not large, but it does pack a punch. Works on display include European, American, Asian, and Latin American art and more. Museum Visitors get free admission every Tuesday!

Day 2: Evening

Dine and dance at the Broken Spoke

Get ready for a night out at this honky-tonk that is an official Texas historical landmark! The restaurant serves steaks, pizza, burgers, and more. The standout dish is its chicken-fried steak. Do not leave Texas without trying this staple of Lone Star State food.

After dinner, you can learn line dancing in the Broken Spoke's dancehall. The dancehall has hosted the likes of Willie Nelson, The Chicks, Sturgill Simpson, and others during its 60 years. You can join a lesson on Wednesdays through Saturdays, between 8 pm and 9 pm. After your lesson, dance the night away! Line dancing is one of the best things to do for a girls’ night out in Austin!

If you prefer to dance to love music, you are in the right city. Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World"!

The historic Scoot Inn has been hosting live music shows since 1955. The Continental Club also opened its doors in 1955 and hosts music of every kind. Antone's Nightclub is an iconic venue for fans of blues and jazz.

Finish your evening at a rooftop bar like The Rooftop on Sixth, a bustling bar on Sixth Street with fabulous views of the city skyline.