Round Rock, TX Outdoor Activities

As members of the NBA Development League, the Toros serve as the minor-league affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs, fostering the NBA's future stars from the moment they hatch from their locker-room cocoons. In 2012, the franchise won its first-ever D-League championship, spurred by the home crowd's raucous celebrations, which are led by the Capital City Dance Team and mascot Da Bull. As an extension of their commitment to developing young talent, the Toros also host youth development camps, providing players in grades 4–9 with the opportunity to develop their potential before high-school physics class teaches them that slam dunks are impossible.

With horrifying haunts designed to elicit new shrieks each year, House of Torment Haunted House keeps bones chilled well below room temperature. HauntWorld.com ranked House of Torment in its Top 13 Haunts in 2011, praising it as a "Dynamic and ultra-creative attraction" that is "widely considered to be one of the most innovated haunted houses in the country." Other rave reviewers include the Travel Channel and the Wall Street Journal, who call the haunted house, "20,000 square feet of terror." Though House of Torment's attractions change annually, its wall of shame exists as an immortal photo catalog of all those who have squealed in fright or received bunny ears on its premises.

With hands gripped to the wheels of karts capable of cresting 45 miles per hour, up to 12 racers hum around the hairpin turns and straightaways of K1 Speed's indoor track during adrenaline-spiking sprints toward the podium. This brand of excitement can be found at all 15 locations, where racers eschew the fumes and inflammatory skywriting of gas kart exhaust for European, eco-friendly electric karts designed to instantly accelerate out of curves, which are bordered by safety barriers that absorb impacts. To keep everyone in the chase, dialed-down junior karts (available at select locations) safely carry tiny drivers between the height of 48" and 58".

As the AHL affiliate of their big-league Dallas namesake, the Texas Stars spared no time claiming their birthright. In its very first season—2009–10—the team conquered the Western Conference, hoisting the Robert W. Clarke Trophy and earning a place in the Calder Cup finals. Since every faceoff was past the newborn Stars’ bedtime, they ultimately fell short of the league championship, but they continue to entertain crowds of up to 6,800 at the Cedar Park Center.

Local residents and Austin Eats Food Tours founders Andy and Lindsey pluck inspiration from their city’s abundant and encyclopedic assortment of cuisine, sharing their finds with locals and visitors. As they lead participants through the city in search of regional and international bites, they regale them with Austin history, such as how it became the capital city of Texas and why Austin-style pizza is shaped like a guitar.

City Chase packs a season's worth of The Amazing Race into up to six hours of frantic, fun-filled activity. After being handed a sheet of cryptic clues, you and your teammate will run, walk, hop, frolic, parkour, and use public transportation to navigate your way from ChasePoint to ChasePoint scattered throughout the UT Drag, the Red River, and other parts of the city. Each ChasePoint contains a challenge designed to tax the mind, body, and spirit—demanding every last dram of teamwork, resourcefulness, determination, and quick-wittedness you have. When even that won't suffice, it'll take phone calls to friends and fam, access to the Internet, or the kindness of strangers to persevere. Every year and every city boasts different challenges, but previous trials have included chopping raw meat, handling snakes, engaging in swordplay, sparring with a mixed martial artist, pole dancing, playing dodgeball, leaping from vertiginous heights, or diving into freezing water. The first team to complete 10 ChasePoints and cross the finish line wins and will get to compete in the national championship. Check out the FAQ and rules and regulations to make sure that you're adequately prepared for the completely unexpected. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the race begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., with a post-party and awards ceremony from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.