We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs!…read more First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best!

Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can…read morehelp you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great!

This small park sits on a hill overlooking the Colorado river right next to Highway 71. Apart from…read morea playscape and the picnic tables, the real Jewel of this park is the entrance to the Riverwalk on the Colorado river. There are three parking spaces at the park, one of them being handicapped. The paved path along the Colorado river is complete with benches and picnic tables. This would be a very peaceful walk in the woods if it were not for the noise of the traffic on Highway 71. Eventually, this trail leads to fisherman's park. Definitely a park and trail worthy of exploring. Check out the photos included below.

Just a block away from busy highway 71 you'll find this historical baseball field in Bastrop. It is…read moreringed on all four sides by residential homes. The field is very well cared for with plenty of lighting for a night game. There's two covered dugouts and a fair amount of bleachers. There's about a dozen parking spaces on Austin Street, 2 dozen on Hill St, otherwise it is street parking. There's an informative sign out front and two Porta potties on site.

I can't say enough about this place! The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with…read moreplenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails. But did you know they also have an event hall for rent? We booked it for a family gathering, and it was perfect. The space has a charming vintage look, with plenty of tables and chairs, clean restrooms, a spacious kitchen equipped with burners, a sink, a fridge, and enough trash bins. The concrete floors are a bit cracked, but that's hardly a dealbreaker when you're getting such a gem in the middle of a state park. Guests pay a discounted $3 entrance fee, but since we had an RSVP list, we purchased tickets ahead of time to make the process smoother for everyone. You receive the event hall key at 9 AM on the day of your event and can drop it in the designated box whenever your party ends. The space comfortably accommodates 70-80 guests, making it a great choice for gatherings. You're expected to leave the hall in the same condition as you received it, but the trash bins can be left as they are staff will come by later to collect the trash. It's that simple!

While on a meandering day trip, we came across the inviting entrance to Buescher State Park…read more We parked outside the small but organized ranger station, and I stepped inside to pay the fee. $3 per person if you choose to stay in your vehicle (driving through) or $5 per person is you get out to walk around. Affordable either way! There's also an area set up with mugs, stickers and such for sale. So glad we decided to drive through! A lot of different scenery, well-maintained and mostly empty roads, new undergrowth in burn areas, peaceful and quiet overall. We continued through what seemed a residential area with private houses, then onwards through Bastrop State Park, exiting there. Nice introduction to Buescher State Park. We'll return to hike in cooler weather.

Such a pleasant park. Perfect for a stroll around the lake. Stroller-friendly…read more Plenty of benches as well as grassy area for picnics or for kids to run around on. There's also a playground (across from The Thinkery). A huge amount of birds here. Ducks, pigeons, grackles. Even saw cormorants. A few food trucks near the parking lot although most were closed late Sunday afternoon.

Mueller Lake Park is such a pleasant park to walk around. It is away from the hustle and bustle of…read morethe Mueller district. You take in the beautiful lake as you meander around the lake. The hubs and I walked around the lake after our brunch. Such a pleasant walk...

They have just about everything you could want for a casual afternoon: a playground for the kids,…read morebasketball and volleyball courts, and big fields if you want to kick a soccer ball or throw a football around. There are also some nice, shaded walking trails and a butterfly garden, which is a nice touch if you just want to take it easy. One thing to keep in mind is that the bathrooms are just porta-potties, so plan accordingly, especially if you have little ones. But there are plenty of picnic tables and barbecue pits if you want to make a day out of it. Overall, it's a quiet, unpretentious community park that's well-maintained and never feels too crowded.

This is a lovely park. Tons of amenities. Baseball fields, soccer fields, Basketball court,…read morevolleyball net, playscapes, walking path, gathering areas, and bathrooms. There was some litter near the playscape area but otherwise pretty clean. They have a bubbler for both people and dogs, which was really nice. We came for a doggie meet and greet and it was perfect. Handicap parking available. This park was a nice surprise to come visit. I'll be back.

Multiple intricacies within the parks known as Town Lake Metropolitan. Waller Beach, the various…read moretrails and paths, the boardwalk, Ladybird Lake, etc. Such a peaceful and beautiful area to get in exercise (walking/running/leisurely strolling), enjoying the outdoors, year-round. Great to explore alone or with friends and family, or your furry friend. Different spots to sit and relax. Simply a beautiful piece of Austin for locals abs tourists alike.

You haven't explored Austin until you take a stroll through the series of parks through the Town…read moreLake areas. Covering multiple miles, you'll see parts of downtown alongside the colorado river. Along this pathway, you'll be lead to the Barton Springs municipal pool and the Zilker Park & Garden as you go west. Going east, you'll eventually find your way along the Boardwalk near the Town Lake apartments and then at some point, the peace point at lady bird lake, one of the chillest spots in Austin to zone out. Obviously you bike, jog, run, walk, dogwalk, skip, however you prefer to galivant along the way of this beautiful section of the capital of Texas. It's one of many reasons people love living here!

Lots of open area ! Did not have time or need to check the bathrooms. This would be perfect for a…read morechili or Q contest!

All kinds of good stuff at this park. Something for everyone! There's fishing, rodeo, camping, BBQ…read morepits, frisby golf, playground...and so on. Clean and well maintained from what I saw. Great stop for anyone nearby.