April 16, 2024

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

🌳 Meet us at the park

Crystal clear water with rock overhang, and hills in the background at Bull Creek Park.

Visitors to Bull Creek Park often swim, fish, or hike alongside the stream that cuts through the center of the park. | Photo by @oozoo_

Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Austin contains ~400 parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of Bat City’s best.

Bull Creek District Park, 6701 Lakewood Dr.
This 48-acre park is split by a stream often used for swimming and fishing. Hikers can access the Bull Creek Greenbelt, a two-mile out-and-back trail.

Barton Creek Greenbelt, Multiple locations
The Greenbelt is one of Austin’s most cherished attractions and stretches ~7 miles through south Austin. The natural area offers several swimming holes, including Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls, perfect for a post-hike dip.

Rocks in the foreground, framing water in the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Behind the water, you can see a hill rising. — The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a cherished local natural areas.
|
Photo by @roamtheouterspace

Alliance Children’s Garden, 1000 Barton Springs Rd.
This one-of-a-kind playground contains climbing walls, a sand pit, a splash pad, interactive music features, and tunnels. As an added bonus, it’s nestled right off of Barton Springs Road with gorgeous views of the Austin skyline.

Red Bud Isle, 3401 Redbud Trail
Dogs can run off-leash on the entirety of this 13-acre island on Lady Bird Lake. Access the island via car or via the water, but make sure to check on the status of the lake’s blue-green algae, which can be toxic to dogs when blooming.

A dog standing in front of the water on Red Bud Isle, wearing a yellow bandanna — Pups can roam free on the entirety of Red Bud Isle.
|
Photo by @lemon.sheepadoodle

Emma Long Metropolitan Park, 1600 City Park Rd.
Pups will love the Turkey Creek Trail, a nearly three-mile long off-leash hiking trail that weaves over creek beds and through a secluded, forested patch of the Hill Country.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 N. Lamar Blvd.
This north Austin park boasts 293 acres of hiking, swimming, and sports facilities. Bring the kids for the park’s castle-like playground, and bring the pup for a run around the off-leash dog area.

16 more parks

Asked

What is your favorite park activity to do in our city?

A. Walking my dog
B. Spending time with the kiddos
C. Jogging or working out
D. Other

Let us know

Events

Tuesday, April 16

Glass Beach | Tuesday, April 16 | 8 p.m. | The Far Out Lounge & Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $20 | Head to south Austin to hear this Seattle-based rock band live.
Night at the Flamingo | Tuesday, April 16 | 8 p.m. | Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. 6th St., Austin | $10 | Have a laugh — or several — at this 21+ comedy show.

Wednesday, April 17

Vinyasa Flow with Collette | Wednesday, April 17 | 10-11 a.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | $15 | All levels are welcome to practice their flow alongside breathwork and sound bowls — remember to bring a mat.
Going Up with Sara Schaefer | Wednesday, April 17 | 8:30 p.m. | The Hideout, 617 Congress Ave., Austin | $20 | The Emmy-winning comedian known for “Nikki & Sara Live” will perform Downtown as part of the Moontower Comedy Festival.

Thursday, April 18

Third Thursday: Revitalize & Relax | Thursday, April 18 | 5-7 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin | Free with admission | This month’s Third Thursday lineup includes origami workshops, flower mandala workshops, and aromatherapy.
Amplify LIVE | Thursday, April 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St., Austin | $35-$250 | Ben Kweller, Kalu and The Electric Joint, and THEBROSFRESH will perform at this concert benefiting local nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here.

Friday, April 19

Austin Reggae Fest | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $20-$420 | Check out Mellow Mood and The Human Rights at this event, which began as a Bob Marley tribute in 1994.

Saturday, April 20

Field Guide Festival | Saturday, April 20 | 1-5 p.m. | Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., Austin | $120 | Celebrate local farmers and the food they make at this event featuring live talks, kid-friendly programming, artisan vendors, and, of course, lots of food.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

▼SPONSORED▼

Try This

A staycation at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

A view of the Omni Barton Creek lawn and golf course with a Texas flag to the left.

It’s hard to beat the views of the hill country from the resort deck. | Photo by ATXtoday

ATXtoday team member + Austin native Dalton Phillips here, fresh off my best spring break since 2017, thanks to an unforgettable weekend stay at the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa.

What we tried

My fiancė and I brewed custom cocktails at the St. Paddy’s-themed Mixology Class, oohed and ahhed our way through some of the best fine dining I’ve ever enjoyed at the Blind Salamander, and soaked up the spring sun in the adults-only infinity pool. Oh, and did I mention free putt-putt?

Putt putt greens with gravel between them. — The mini golf course was totally free — we just walked up and started swinging.
|
Photo by ATXtoday

Sunny season at the Omni

Our spring break escape gave us a taste of the resort’s upcoming Summer in the Hills event series, which features kid-friendly activities (just about every hour), local market vendors, live music, and a whole lot more.

In the 24 hours we spent at the resort, we saw water balloon fights, smores + games on the lawn, and kids going absolutely bananas on the bouncy house (you better believe I snuck on there for a bounce in the morning).

Keep reading to hear about our modern suite with views of the golf course and how to experience this yourself.

What not to miss

News Notes

Closed

The 130-year-old Cele Store, which was featured in the 2003 reboot of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” is now closed until further notice. The Manor shop has been known for live music, no-rub barbecue, and other film features. (Eater Austin)

Civic

The Historic Landmark Commission unanimously voted to turn a 110-year-old home at 3110 West Ave. into a local landmark. The house was home to lauded photojournalist Russell Lee and his wife Jean, a journalist and pioneering political campaign manager. (Austin Monitor)

Biz

Tesla Giga Texas Cybertruck employees will now work slightly shorter shifts, the Austin-based company announced yesterday, alongside plans to lay off 10% of its global workforce. It’s currently unclear how many of the company’s ~23,000 local employees will be impacted. (KVUE)

Open

Retro-style dive bar Busty’s Bar and Jukebox is now open at 6214 Cameron Rd. The space employs 60s- and 70s-inspired decor — including a real upside down 1969 Corvette car — to complement draft cocktails and truck stop-like food including crispy ribs, biscuits, and burgers. (Eater Austin)

Announced

Jeannie Leavitt, a retired major general and the US Air Force’s first female fighter pilot, will be this year’s UT Austin commencement speaker. Leavitt, also a UT graduate, logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time during her 31 years of service.

Sports

What will four-star quarterback Husan Longstreet bring to Aggie football? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas A&M Aggies with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Wellness

Did you know Austinites can receive medical marijuana for 150+ qualifying conditions? Texas Original, the state’s leading medical cannabis dispensary, makes the process easy. Here’s how.*†

Home

Lower your energy bills before summer. Renewal by Andersen^® will replace old windows with beautiful, energy-efficient windows — get a free quote and shop a limited-time spring savings event.*

†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. Texas Original advises consumers to read the company’s terms and conditions, consult a physician before trying products, start only with small amounts, and to not consume products before driving or before a drug test. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ATXtoday.

Answered

🥾 Take a walk

The Congress Avenue Bridge as seen from the hike and bike trail along the water.

There’s no shortage of beautiful views from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. | Photo by ATXtoday

Half of ATXtoday readers use the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at least once per week, according to a recent poll. We can’t say we’re surprised, as the trail is in the running to be named one of the best recreational trails in the US.

Our readers said they use the trail:

Almost every day — 25%
At least once per week — 25%
About every month or two months — 7%
Fewer than six times per year — 13%
Never — 30%

How about you?

The Buy

This sleek outdoor side table that doubles as a cooler, perfect for the warmer days ahead. Pop the top off to reveal ice and your refreshing beverage of choice.

Share ATXtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_5}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
London

From the editor

I’ve explored several local parks in the last year, and it’s made me so impressed by the range of experiences Austin parks have to offer. That said, there are still so many that I haven’t yet visited — where should I go next?

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

* This content is paid advertising, or contains links to our Six & Main marketplace, or affiliate partners which we may receive a commission from. ^ This content is created by our content studio.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | SHOP