We triple-dog-dare you to jump off the diving board at Barton Springs Pool. | Photo by ATXtoday
Summer in Austin is no joke, and when the temperatures rise, the whole city seeks a place to cool off.
That’s where we come in. We’ve curated a list of the best local swimming spots for every vibe, whether you want to sip a cocktail in a rooftop pool, hike to a limestone-laden oasis, or something in between.
Pro tip: Bookmark this page to plan summer weekends or spontaneous splash sessions. Bartholomew Pool
You might have to beg the kiddos to take a break from this pool’s massive water slides, but the diving board and wading pools provide plenty of fun too.
We dare you not to take a dip in this 21+ pool. | Photo by Garrett Smith
Hippie Hollow Park
Aptly named, this rocky shoreline on Lake Travis is famous for being the only clothing-optional public park in Texas.
The Liz Carpenter Splash Pad is a great place to get cool while visiting Auditorium Shores or walking on the trail. | Photo courtesy city of Austin
Liz Carpenter Splash Pad
Parents will enjoy sweeping views of the Downtown skyline, and kids will love cooling off after playing at the adjacent Butler Metro Park.
“For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again” | Today-Saturday, June 14 | Times vary | The VORTEX | $17+ | Take a seat in the community theater to watch this story of motherly love unfold.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” | 8 p.m. | Community First! Village | Free with RSVP | Bring your kids, dogs, and friends to experience this hero’s journey on the big screen.
Saturday, June 7
Clean Lady Bird Lake | 9-11 a.m. | Multiple locations | Free with RSVP | Soak up some sun while beautifying the lake — kayaks and paddleboards will be provided at some check-in sites.
Keep Austin Vintage Market | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Freddo ATX | Cost of purchase | Shop for vintage wares, groove to a live DJ, get a flash tattoo, and sip coffee at this pop-up market benefiting Austin Pets Alive!
Midsummer Festival | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Old Bakery and Emporium | Cost of purchase | This festival for Swedish American heritage will feature face painting, flower crowns, Nordic goodies, and more.
Electric Jellyfish Day | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Pinthouse Brewing - Ben White | Cost of purchase | Celebrate a decade of the iconic IPA with special can releases, food specials, a guided flight session, and a live painting demonstration.
Freedom + Juneteenth | 6-10 p.m. | Pease District Park | Cost of purchase | “Family Reunion” is the theme for this year’s celebration, so come ready to play games, enjoy food truck eats, and listen to live music.
Sunday, June 8
UMLAUF Family Day: PRIDE | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum | Free with admission | Bring the kiddos to enjoy a day full of crafts, music, scavenger hunts, and book readings.
Toast of Texas 2025 | 2:30-5 p.m. | Assembly Hall | $110 | Your ticket includes pours from 20+ of the best wineries in Texas, plus barbecue and more activities.
A dense plume of Saharan dust is expected to move into Austin as soon as today, linger through the weekend, and dissipate by Monday. Expect lower air quality, hazy skies, lower humidity, and vibrant sunrises and sunsets. (KVUE)
Number
81. That’s how many companies moved their headquarters to Austin between 2018 and 2024, according to a Visual Capitalist report. Austin ranked No. 2 in the US — only behind Dallas-Fort Worth — on the publisher’s list of metros attracting the most corporate HQs in recent years.
Shop
Loveweld, a jewelry brand specializing in permanent pieces, will celebrate the grand opening of its new Austin location on North Lamar Boulevard on Saturday, June 21. Stop in for 10% off select jewelry, giveaways + prizes, and a local vendor market.
Plan Ahead
Happy birthday, The Roosevelt Room. The Downtown cocktail bar is turning 10 years old, and to celebrate, 10 of its signature cocktails will be priced at $10 on Sunday, June 15. The party lasts from 2 p.m. until midnight, and both reservations and walk-ins are welcome.
Travel
Kimpton Fredericksburg, a new hotel planned near the town’s Main Street, is expected to open in 2027. It’s part of a 22-acre, mixed-use development aimed at driving weekday tourism in Fredericksburg. (Austin Business Journal)
Sports
Horns up, y’all. Texas football landed the No. 1 spot on ESPN’S Football Power Index rankings for 2025. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Correction
While Hormel Foods did make the Fortune 500 list, the company is based in Austin, Minnesota (not Austin, Texas, as we stated in yesterday’s newsletter). Thanks to reader Jesse S. for bringing this to our attention.
Drink
This season, with help from Deep Eddy Vodka, we’re elevating our cocktail recipes to make sure we’re sipping on the best sips. The best part? These recipes are easy to whip up, including the Deep Eddy Peach Bellini. Pro tip: Swing by the Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room for supplies.*
Jobs
Tired of wading through resumes from applicants that are states away? Ditch oversaturated national job boards for our locally focused ATXtoday Job Board. Get started at no cost — post unlimited job listings for free.
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The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Donut forget: Today is National Donut Day and The Salty Donut’s first day of business at Domain NORTHSIDE. Here’s a snap of what City Editor Figi and I tried when we visited; everything was delish. Have a super sweet weekend, y’all.
The Salty’s long-awaited location at The Domain serves coffee to go with it’s over-the-top donuts. | Photo by ATXtoday
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