Mount Bonnell is the quintessential Austin spot for breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Austin,…read morethe surrounding hills, and some of the most impressive homes in the city. I usually visit here as a part of run club destination run as the sounding area is very hilly and a challenging running route. The best time to visit is around sunrise or sunset as the overlook provides plenty of opportunities for photos, whether you're capturing the water, the skyline in the distance, or simply enjoying the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. The trail itself is relatively short and manageable, though there are a few stairs to navigate. Parking can be limited during peak times, so arriving early is a good idea. Despite its popularity, the atmosphere remains peaceful and makes for a great spot to relax, reflect, or bring out-of-town guests for a memorable Austin experience. Whether you're a local or just visiting Austin, Mount Bonnell is a must-see destination that showcases some of the best views the city has to offer.

Mount Bonnell was a place that we were told we really needed to go when we were visiting Austin…read more You get on top of the ridge (at least this is a ridge to me as I was born and raised and lived in mountain states where the mountains are quite large) and you can get a great view of downtown Austin with it's cityscape and then you can also get a good view of the Colorado River and the neighborhoods across the river which are quite nice. The terrain is rocky on top so watch your step and there are a fair amount of people up here enjoying the view as well. I am sure sunrises and sunsets are beautiful and very impressive. We walked for a ways and got a few different vantage points of the views so if you are able to do that I definitely recommend doing so. It's a great place and indeed a place to go when visiting. The locals enjoy it too!

Trails from the park connect to Ann & Roy Butler trails…read more Large festivals and outdoor music events take place in the grounds. Great views. Easy access to Ladybird Lake. Picnic areas, basketball courts, Martin Pool, and playground on property. Park sits at Ladybird Lake.

There are a number of reasons why Austin is popular…read more Let's add outdoor activities to the list. This East Austin park runs along the Colorado River between I-35 and Lady Bird Lake, south of the Holly neighborhood. It's a decent-sized trail. I walked about a mile and a half before I decided to turn around. If I would have kept going, the trail would have taken me under I-35 and connected to another trail that would have taken me toward Waller Beach. You'll share the trail(s) with other pedestrians and some bicycles. I added an S because the main trail sometimes branches off for side quests. Those side quests usually take you a little bit closer to the city or towards a basketball court or picnic area. Back on the main trail, benches are strategically placed in case you want to take a break and / or enjoy the view. In fact, some scenic spots allow you to walk down to the river's edge. Besides the walking trail, there's plenty of green space. When the weather is right, this is the perfect place to unroll a blanket and read a book, plan a picnic, throw a frisbee or let the kids run around and burn off some energy.

My brother-in-law is visiting from Chicago, IL. He is the second of 11 siblings, while my husband…read moreis the seventh. Whenever he visits, we try to find new and fun things for him to do. Today, we took him to Woodlands Park in Austin, Texas. I have to say, this is one of the most pristine and well-maintained parks I've visited in quite some time. The grass looks like it belongs on a golf course...perfectly trimmed, lush, and vibrantly green. The grounds are spotless, with no stray litter in sight, and the trees and landscaping are healthy and beautifully cared for. Woodlands Park is a peaceful neighborhood gem, that invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment. Whether you're looking to meditate, read a book, or simply unwind, the tranquil atmosphere makes it easy to do so. Mature trees provide abundant shade, a welcome luxury during 90+ degree Austin weather. The walking trails offer a pleasant setting for a leisurely stroll, light jog, or dog walk. While the trail system is not large, it's well-maintained and perfect for a relaxing outdoor escape. The green spaces are ideal for picnics, badminton, tossing a ball around, or simply stretching out on the grass and enjoying the fresh air. My brother-in-law, my husband, and I spent a couple of hours there and thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Sometimes the best parks are ones to relax and reconnect with nature.

This is a nice little park located right across the street from the River Place Nature Trail on Big…read moreView Drive. There's a covered playground, a couple of small soccer fields (not full size but they do have goals for practicing), a couple of tennis courts, a covered pavilion with a big bbq grill, and picnic tables with bbq grills throughout the park. It's a cool place to chill out at or walk along the creek on the crushed granite trails. The trails are very moderate, with minimal incline and not rugged at all. Good creek views and mostly shaded. This is a good place to stop if you need to fill your water bottle before or after hiking the River Place Natural Trail. If you haven't done that one, you GOTTA check it out btw. Yes, they also have restrooms here.

Self-care Friday started with a leisurely walk in Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve. The hubs and…read moreI have started our walking routine again. This morning, the preserve was super peaceful and serene...a perfect way to start the day. The preserve has a nicely paved route which makes it very walkable.

Peaceful, lots of shade and a perfect walk to unwind! Once you've reached the end of the trail…read morethere's a nice overlook deck too! Love it

The Greenbelt is one of several within Austin. This one in Travis Heights connects Big Stacy Park…read morewith Little Stacy Park. It's an urban hikers dream because of the ample shade provided by trees, the flowing of Blunn Creek, and probably the fact that it's only a mile long. There are picnic tables and benches along the route. The paths are paved and gravel. Lots of open green space as well.

I needed to clear my mind after sitting in a meeting all day at work. Luckily, this nature preserve…read morewas nearby the hotel just located in South Austin. All the trails are flat, but not wheelchair accessible since they aren't paved. Some of the paths are rocky, muddy, dirt and covered in leaves. No need for trekking poles, just need some good hiking shoes with grip support. The best time to come out is by spring. You can see all the TX State flower, bluebonnets and other TX natives in bloom! The ones off the path aren't as vibrant in their blue color as the ones near the water supply of Blunn Creek. At the creek, the rocks are slippery with algae so be careful not to fall. I almost did, but thankfully caught myself before I had a medical emergency. The park rules says, "no dogs", but of course I spotted dog poop. That's two things pet owners aren't good about: following rules and picking up after their furry ones. I love how the trails are shaded and easy to navigate. All paths are well marked so it's fairly simple to not get lost. There's no parking lot, only street parking. I parked in a residential area behind a car dusted with pollen. During the week, the parking isn't crowded. A nice hike with secluded trails.

Great park and pool at the start of Southern Walnut Creek Trail. Boggy Creek cuts through the park…read morewhich is on Bolm Road (near Airport Blvd). The pool has recently been refurbished and renovated. There's a wading pool with sprinklers. The main pool has lap swimming options (certain times of day) and it has these really cool and modern shade pavilions. Located in the Govalle neighborhood, just a couple of miles from me. I've walked there and back once or twice but usually park and then go swimming & walk the paved trails. The park has a playground and picnic areas that have also been updated. For some reason, our dog really likes the paved paths. He gets a real prance in his step and he becomes sleek and aerodynamic on walks.

It was a beautiful park but a lot of construction going on right now and the trails led to the…read moreroad. Not really somewhere I wanted to go on a long walk with my baby.

The southwest part of the Mueller greenway trail and park system is an amazing and different type…read moreof park. There's no jungle gym, but there's plenty of mindfulness opportunities! The sensory garden is my favorite. Not only does it have a labyrinth (yes, it's small), but it has so many little trails with native plants to see and smell that it's like another labyrinth. There are little inlets with plants that all smell different when they are in bloom, plus a maze of plants that wildlife loves to inhabit. There are tons of different birds, lizards, butterflies and dragonflies. There are also lots of bees and some other flying things that will sting you but only if you mess with them...so don't! There's also a long trail that you can walk or run on. Sometimes people bike it, but that's less common. There are multiple huge sculptures that I enjoy seeing every time. You can also walk on a little unpaved trail by the pond if you don't want to take the sidewalk back. There's a great view of the skyline coming back towards the park. They do a pretty good job keeping the park clean, but everyone can help by not leaving trash or fishing line behind. *Please don't let your kids chase the ducks/geese, mess with the ducklings, or touch/take the eggs. Also, it's actually really bad for ducks/geese to eat bread. Feed them peas, corn, oats, or birdseed instead.*

I've been to over 30 skateparks across North America and the Pacific in the last year and this one…read morestands out. The concrete quality is smooth as butter. I didn't encounter any cracks or chips in the surface that required skating around or caught me off guard. Everything seemed brand new. I actually met a guy here whose profession involves creating pump tracks and he agreed the quality of the track was great. The park and pump track are situated in a residential area that has a safe feel. There were a mix of ages present when I visited- from old heads to teens and kids with parents. There's a great figure eight pump track off to the side which is perfect for beginners. The bigger pump track can be ridden in many different directions/combinations and feels pretty entertaining. Met some friendly folks here and had a great time stopping by. This is a park which can ensure people of any ability level have a good time skating! Be aware that hard wheels are gonna slide and squeal here, which may or may not be your thing.

Oh how I love walking the Greenbelt! It feels like you can go for miles and miles. Well, you can as…read moreit's for nearly 12 miles of trails. Our little furry guy loves a jaunt on the trail in his stroller, especially if that means stopping off for a swim along the way. Can't beat cooling off in natural watering holes during a hot summer in Austin. The Barton Hills entrance gets you to Campbell's Hole while 360 gets you to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls. I say do it all. Maybe not in one day...save something for the next time. Definitely a precious piece of Austin that we're so lucky to have.

WARNING: They break into cars here! They shattered our car window and stole my backpack. We called…read morea local car repair shop to fix the window and they said they receive constant business because of this! The hike was great with lots of shade. But I would seriously discourage you from coming here because of the vandalism and theft.