Things To Do In Lakeway

10 Awesome Austin Places to Play

When it comes to free places to play, Austin has got you covered. There are parks, splash pads and shady playgrounds galore. If you want to venture out of your neighborhood and explore someplace new, here are ten local favorites worth checking out. Central: Butler Park - Hike up the spiral path at Doug Sahm Hill, enjoy a view of the Austin skyline, then roll back down to the bottom. Dust yourself off and head for a splash in the Liz Carpenter Splash pad. It's operational year round and if you stay past dark, you can enjoy a colorful light show! Whole Foods - Visiting the Whole Foods flagship store is an experience no Austinite should miss. Create your own lunch from the incredible selection of soup, salad and pasta bars and don't forget a tart or cupcake from the bakery. Then, head to the rooftop plaza for a casual picnic, while the kids monkey around on the small playground. After lunch, head across the street toBookPeople. The second floor is a wonderland for children, filled with reading nooks and a tunnel under the storytime arena. Zilker Park - Known as "Austin's most-loved park," Zilker Park offers351 acres to explore. Start on the massive playground, check out the exhibit in the Sheffield Education Center, hunt for turtles along Barton Creek, dig for dino bones at the Austin Nature & Science Center, and feed the ducks at Lou Neff Point. All for free! If you have a bit to spend, be sure to ride the Zilker Zephyr train, visit the koi at Zilker Botanical Garden, and take a stroll through Umlauf Sculpture Garden. North: The Triangle - Home to theSFC Farmers' Market on Wednesday afternoons year-round, this little park packs a big punch. After stocking up on fresh veggies, let kids get soaked in the seasonal splash pad and zip down a slide on the new playground. Bocce balls are also available to borrow from nearby Mandola's Italian Market. End your outing with a tasty gelato from Mandola's - you'll be glad you did! Central Market North - Central Market offers the perfect blend of parent and child entertainment. On Tuesdays after 5, kids eat free with adult purchase from the Central Market Cafe. Enjoy a glass of wine on the patio while the children burn off steam on the sprawling, outdoor playground. The patio stage offersfree live music Thursday through Sunday evenings. After relaxing for a while, walk off dinner by the duck pond. You may even spot a turtle or two. Play for All Abilities Park - With 51,000 square feet of fully-enclosed play area, kids and parents alike love this Round Rock park! Featuring several unique play areas - or pods - each built to develop specific skill sets in all children, there is plenty of ground to cover. The pods include Retreat Pod, Sensory Pod-Sand Box, Rock Band Pod, Rolling Hill/Performance Lawn, Sensory Pod, All Abilities Playscape, All Ability Swings, and a Brushy Creek Village life skills area. Be sure to bring along a bike or trike for kids to ride on the streets of the village! East: Mueller Lake Park - This park has it all: aSunday farmers' market, anamazing playscape, a lake, and miles of trails. As an added bonus, Mueller Lake Park is also home to Austin's brand new children's Museum, the Thinkery! The Thinkery has an amazing outdoor playground as well, plus indoor and outdoor water play areas. South: Children's Park - If you're looking for an old school playground, head south to San Marcos. Children's Park boasts wooden forts, slides, swings, and more. Kids will have a blast navigating tunnels, hiding in towers, and digging in the sand. Southpark Meadows - Nestled in the middle of a South Austin shopping center, you'll find this shady spot filled with play equipment for all ages. There is also a stage for the occasional live music performance and seasonal water bubblers to help kids cool off in the summer. Wrap up your outing with a treat from nearby Amy's Ice Creams. West: Amy's Ice Creams - ManyAmy's Ice Creams locations boast playgrounds and the newest Austinville 78750 location near Anderson Mill is no exception. Grab a burger at the neighboring Phil's Icehouse, a cup or cone from Amy's, and sit in the shade while the kids enjoy Austinville's shiny, new playscape.

Learn Anything You Ever Wanted To Learn In Austin

I graduated from UT a few years ago and figured it would be a while before I stepped back into a classroom. Once I was out of school I realized just how much I missed 'learning.' The cool thing about a class that you're not 'required' to take, is that it's most likely on a subject that you actually really want to learn about. Luckily, in Austin, there's a plethora of classes offered from various organizations that can help you master anything from properly using a kitchen knife to raising your own backyard chickens. Whole Foods Culinary Center & Central Market Cooking School: Both of these culinary centers offer classes for all skill levels, from the person who has never boiled a pot of water, to the household chef who wants to master the art of sushi. Some classes are set up so you can take a quick ‘lunch class,’ while evening classes tend to be more in depth. They tend to fill up quickly though, so sign up early if you see something that catches your eye. The North Door’s Informal Classes: This local bar/music venue recently started a series of really cool informal classes that change monthly. These affordable single visit classes cover topics such as hand-embroidery, ladies self defense, and raising backyard chickens. They're constantly bringing in new teachers, so you never know what will be on the schedule the following month. Most classes are one time classes, a few are offered over two consecutive weeks. University of Texas Informal Classes: The great thing about living in a city with a major University is that they often offer classes for those not enrolled in the school. The University of Texas Informal Classes topics include: language, travel, personal development, photography, exercise, painting, and many more. They simply want to provide a medium for you to enrich your life while you explore topics that interest you. Some of the courses offered, span four to six weeks while others are just one-time classes. Prices vary by class. Twin Liquors: Calling all cocktail lovers and beverage connoisseurs. Twin Liquors offers weekly classes that are sure to be right up your alley. Wednesday evenings (location changes each week) they offer a class on the basics of various beverages. You’ll learn a little bit of history, pairing possibilities, and even a few samples. Topics change by month, but you can expect to see everything from Sparkling Wine 101 to Craft Beer 101 throughout the year. The best part, classes are free but RSVP is required.

Austin Street Art Spots

Baylor Street Art Wall: (pictured above) Often called “graffiti park,” “art wall,” “castle hill,” or “the Foundation,” this is the mecca of graffiti spots in Austin. This property was once slated to be condos, and the foundation was poured but things never moved forward from there. Eventually, local artists used the blank concrete foundation as their canvas. Now it is constantly changing, and you're sure to find new works and old favorites covered up from visit to visit. Street art lovers will easily be able to spend hours exploring the plethora of works. Location: 11th & Baylor Street You’re My Butter Half Mural: Can we get a collective “awwwww?” This is hands down one of my favorite street art pieces in the city. You’ll see all types of people posing here, from couples, to people like me who pose with their pets. Either way, the colors and the message can't help but warm your heart. Location: United Way for Greater Austin Building - MLK and Alamo Smile Even If You Don’t Want To: You can’t help but smile when you see this mural. Your smile will be even bigger if you treat yourself to a cupcake while admiring this piece. Location: Hey Cupcake –1511 South Congress Welcome To Austin Postcard: This mural was originally completed in 1998 but was recently restored. It’s a South Austin staple, and has served as the backdrop to countless family photos, wedding announcements, print ads and more. Austinites, it’s worth the visit and taking a cheesy photo alongside of it. Location: South First Street & Annie I Love You So Much: This is another mural that has become a staple of Austin. You’ll find the famed "I love so much" on shirts, coasters, and in plenty of Austin related art. Tourists and locals always get a kick out of posing in front of the green wall with one of life’s simplest messages in the background. Location: Jo’s Coffee 1300 South Congress Hi, How Are You?: Most people love it because it's weird and very ‘Austin.’ But here’s a little background info: This piece was commissioned in 1993 and painted on the then Sound Exchange record store. The image is actually the album cover of one of artist Daniel Johnston’s albums. At the time, the image gained national attention as Kurt Cobain was often spotted wearing a t-shit with a “Hi, How Are You?” image on the front. Location: 21st & Guadalupe Street Lamar Street Bridge: This location serves as a billboard for Austin street art as it changes almost weekly featuring specific holiday related images to Lance Armstrong or Mathew McConaughey. Every time I head downtown on South Lamar, I catch my eyes wandering over to the wall to check out the latest attributions. Location: Northbound on Lamar before you get to 5th Street

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Healing Horse Ranch

Two Horseback-Riding Lessons at Healing Horse Ranch (70% Off)

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Austin Street Art Spots

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