Pflugerville, TX Outdoor Activities

Gliding Revolution makes it easy for visitors to explore the storied capital of the Lone Star State. Their tour guides pair patrons with easy-to-navigate Segways, orientating them to the apparatus’s settings and ticklish spots before leading them on any number of scenic jaunts. The Early Bird Special tour introduces riders to the city’s sites before rush hour, while the Capitol Pavement tour grants participants insider knowledge on Austin’s history with stops at the State Capital and Congress Avenue.

In 1928, Art B. Thomas opened a carnival in South Dakota in the hopes of luring locals with wholesome family fun and exciting spectacle. As the carnival’s popularity grew, so did its vagabond spirit, now touring across 10 states with a caravan of 50 rides, 50 games, and 15 food concessions.

Though the fourth-generation family members now running The Thomas Carnival work to retain the festive, family-centered ambiance of the original show, they aren’t afraid to complement their classic staples with more modern attractions. Near the vintage Ferris wheel, which follows the same grandiose climb and ascent as the original model built for the 1893 World’s Fair, stands the fast-paced bumper cars and a tilting and twirling spider ride decked out in futuristic green LED lights. Regardless of the era they evoke, all rides are kept in safe working condition by traveling maintenance crews and inextinguishable magic spells. Since 2004, the carnival has held a spot in the Circle of Excellence on its OABA quality assessment.

Known for his signature creole style that blends LA and New York salsa with a Cuban presence, master of ceremonies Troy Anthony shares his encyclopedic knowledge of salsa with guests at the third Capital City Salsa Festival. Over the course of the festival, he’ll introduce a lineup of instructors and performers like the Bronx-based Yamulee Dance Company and On2 World Salsa Champions Anya Katsevman and Luis Aguilar. Once students feel confident with their recently acquired techniques, they’re invited to sway their hips and ring their finger cymbals to the sounds of live musicians and DJ-spun Latin music.

Hosted by the Austin Automobile Dealers Association, the Austin Auto Show summons new, exotic, and pre-production models from a swathe of manufacturers at the Austin Convention Center. Attendees wander through the aisles, comparing vessels by price, specifications, and how they convert horsepower into humanpower. Vintage drag cars, including a 1923-T roadster, will be on display. View the display guide and attractions, which include a "Green Street" highlighting alternatively fueled vehicles, the University of Texas Solar Vehicles Team displaying one of their solar cars, and appearances by Captain America and Iron Man.

Just below the Four Seasons Hotel on the north shore trail of Lady Bird Lake waits the Waller Creek Boathouse, where first-time kayakers and paddling experts alike shove off into serene waters. Paddlers embark on hourly or half-day tours aboard easy-to-navigate water vessels, soaking in the lush scenery. The Congress Avenue bridge's reflection glimmers on the water, lined by thick foliage and towering trees. Throughout their trips, kayakers might find themselves floating alongside a family of ducks or beneath a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats, each of whom have signed a contract promising not to get tangled in paddlers' hair.