Courtesy of the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum.

1. Snap a selfie in front of one of Austin’s iconic murals. The wildly popular i love you so much mural is painted on the wall of Jo's Coffee on South Congress Avenue. Hi, How Are You features a bug-eyed bullfrog named Jeremiah near The University of Texas at Austin campus. The colorful Greetings from Austin postcard is a must-see in South Austin.

2. Pack a picnic and head to Zilker Park, a 360-acre oasis in the heart of the city that’s home to a variety of attractions, including leafy trails that lead to outdoor artworks at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum.

3. Explore the wildflowers and native Texas plants in the beautiful gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. See how native plants can be used to create sustainable landscapes. Bring the kids to play in a one-of-a-kind family garden, birdwatch on miles of wildflower-rimmed trails, and explore the stunning architecture reflective of Central Texas.

4. Immerse your family in Texas history at the pink granite Texas State Capitol, which is open daily, or explore the expansive grounds. Start at the Texas Capitol Visitors Center, housed in the 1857 General Land Office Building that now features a museum with fascinating exhibits on the history of the Lone Star State.

5. Watch movie classics inside an ornate, historic theater during the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series. It's an Austin tradition!

Lady Bird Lake. Credit Jared Tennant.

6. Get out on the water at Lady Bird Lake, which flows through Downtown Austin, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes from the Rowing Dock, Greenbelt Outdoors, and other outfitters. Take a guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour of the lake with Austin Kayak Tours, or kick back on a sightseeing cruise with Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises.

7. Don’t miss the sunset show at the Bat Bridge, when about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats pour into the evening sky from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. Watch from the bridge or stake out a spot at the Statesman Bat Observation Center, nightly throughout the summer. Bat Fest has become the biggest bat-viewing party of the year, held on the Congress Avenue Bridge on September 6, 2025. Expect live music, local food and drink, more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, and a bat costume contest (of course!).

8. Hike along the picturesque Barton Creek Greenbelt to reach Gus Fruh, a swimming hole known for its famed Urban Assault limestone rock wall that’s a favorite of climbers, as well as the hidden Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls areas.

9. Pack a picnic and hike up the stone steps of Mount Bonnell for a panoramic view of the Austin area, including Lake Austin. It’s a relatively short hike, with an amazing reward at the top. Be sure to check out nearby Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve, featuring lush gardens, colorful roaming peacocks, and scenic hiking trails.

Mount Bonnell. Credit Gabi Meit and Shanna Sciara.

10. Rent a bicycle from Barton Springs Bike Rental or Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop and bike the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail that skirts the glistening waters of Lady Bird Lake. Insider tip: Snap a selfie with the memorial statue of Austin music legend Stevie Ray Vaughan that’s stationed along the route.

11. Make like a cowboy and saddle up for a Texas Hill Country horseback ride around Lone Star Ranch with Texas Trail Rides. You’ll pass picturesque spring-fed lakes as you ride across Onion Creek and along wooded trails.

12. Cheer on Austin FC at a home match and feel the energy of Verde fill Q2 Stadium. Or visit during the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in July and watch the MLS All-Stars compete against Liga MX, with days of fun for fans surrounding the event.

13. Lake Travis is Austin’s largest lake, making it a favorite boating destination. Explore one of the many parks surrounding Lake Travis, including Pace Bend Park, known for its limestone cliffs. For an adrenaline rush coupled with an awesome view, Lake Travis Zip Line Adventures offers zip lines (one being the longest in Texas) to whisk you away on an exciting outdoor adventure.

Lick Honest Ice Creams. Credit Annie Ray.

14. Beat the summer heat with a frozen treat. Try the artisan ice cream (with seasonal flavors Very Strawberry and Tres Leches) served in a house-made waffle cone at Lick Honest Ice Creams. Or, sprinkle a scoop of popular Mexican vanilla ice cream with a creative topping like ginger snaps at Amy’s Ice Creams.

15. Sip a cocktail in the whiskey garden at Still Austin Whiskey Co., located at The Yard, a true grain-to-glass distillery where everything from mashing to barreling and bottling is done in-house. Take a tour to see how Still Austin whiskey is made.

16. Sip a farmhouse beer in the outdoor beer garden at Jester King Brewery, a 165-acre brewery and farm dedicated to spontaneous fermentation with a focus on local materials. The Hill Country brewery's spaces also include a goat pen and nature trails.

Guero's Taco Bar. Credit Richard Casteel.

17. Chill with a hand-shaken margarita or icy cold cerveza on the patio at Güero’s Taco Bar sided with a bowl of queso and warm, handmade corn tortillas. Thursday through Sunday, hear live music in the Oak Garden.

18. Enjoy a fun Sunday brunch in the expansive backyard at Stubb's Bar-B-Q, where you'll hear live gospel music and chow down on authentic Texas barbecue. Live music and bacon flights are a perfect pairing during the Sunday brunch held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden.

19. Post up on the patio overlooking Lake Austin at Mozart's Coffee Roasters and listen to live music with a Vietnamese iced coffee in hand as the sun dramatically sets over Lake Austin.

Blues on The Green. Credit Ryan Conine.

20. Pack up the kiddos and blankets and head to Zilker Hillside Theater to watch the free Zilker Summer Musical, performed under the stars. This summer, the 65th-annual season presents Bring It On: The Musical, running Thursday through Sunday evenings from July 11 – August 16, 2025. Blues on the Green is an annual (and free) outdoor concert series in August featuring talented musicians, local vendors and a fun atmosphere for the whole family.

21. Experience Asian Pacific American culture at the CelebrASIA festival, held on May 3, 2025, at the Asian American Cultural Center. Watch performances, eat authentic foods, visit vendors, and explore themed rooms.

22. Join in the Austin PRIDE Festival & Parade, held on August 23, 2025 at Fiesta Gardens. It’s the largest annual LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising event in Central Texas, with more than 200,000 attendees.

Krause Springs. Credit Haley Plotkin.

23. Kick back with a cocktail in hand at the 1950s-style Austin Motel pool in the trendy South Congress neighborhood. Discover other hotels offering swimming pool day passes.

24. Take a dip in one of Austin’s many spring-fed swimming holes. Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park maintains a refreshing temperature of 68 degrees year-round. Krause Springs, located in Spicewood, is a popular camping and swimming destination with 32 springs, plus manmade and natural pools.

25. Book a trip with Floaties Floatin' Saloon and see the sights while cruising around Lake Travis. Bring your beverage of choice and take your place at the 10-seat bar on the water.  

Scroll down to see the locations of these attractions, restaurants and sipping spots mapped out. To explore even more summer activities in Austin, visit our Events Calendar.