Good: Really good green area and a nice place for a stroll when you're not doing anything or just…read morewant a little break. Trails are relatively well-marked. The bad: do not go there at night and when it's rained. The ground gets really wet and there is zero light on the park to guide except the northern parts.

1978-79 I was 18 year old freshman living in a four-plex down on 30th and Speedway. Played hoops…read morealmost five times a week there. Now am headed to 66 years and still have great memories playing. "Haz" the resident 33 year old with English degree working as security gave me the nickname "Pitt" and told anyone when he introduced me that I "was All-City from Pittsburgh" even though when I spoke I was All-East Texan from Pittsburg, TX. Lots of memorable characters from the court. 6'7" law student that played in the first all white vs all black Dallas Thomas Jefferson vs Houston Wheatley game for the UIL State Championship , Mike who when he got mad took his ball we would play with and threw it in his trunk and sped off, so many others, and the aroma of marijauna from the guys waiting for next. I was definitely the youngest as most were well into their twenties or more but getting beers or listening to stories, best of times as was the basketball. A very cerebral game was always on display. I graduated from Texas A&M 4years later. Made a few trips back with all three of our daughters so they had to listen to me recall the hoops with a few exaggerations of course. Played Gregory n West Enfield a lot n Adams was the best.

This is a 6' x 100' sculpture located along Woodrow Avenue starting at St. John's Ave. It is a…read morefantastic example of artistic ceramic tilemanship. It was created between 2003 and 2008 with help from the residents of the Brentwood and Crestview neighborhoods. Every tile depicts, a family, a business, a school, a person, and churches along with 7 historical narratives. It depicts the history of this neighborhood area including many past and current businesses. Also found within this standing relief are some personal anecdotes that flow along most of the wall. If you're interested in learning some of the local history in this part of town, you should stop by and view this.

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.

This little gem on West 3rd & the Shoal Creek Greenbelt provides a welcome and shady space to rest…read moreyour tired dogs (especially after walking from Central East all through downtown). It's a shaded mini park with palm trees dedicated to Margaret Moser who passed away in 2017. Moser was a music journalist for The Austin Chronicle. She's also credited as the founding director of the Austin Music Awards. The plaza was created in 2014. Moser organized a crew of women dubbing their gang the Texas Blondes.

Need a break from busy downtown? Take one at Margaret Moser Plaza…read more This small area with benches, a historical marker and a fantastical kinetic sculpture (by artist Jim LaPaso) is usually shaded, thanks to some palm trees and surrounding tall buildings. And peaceful, as it's ideally placed where the street ends and a pedestrian/bike bridge begins. I walk by it often. The quirky sculpture moves whenever there's a breeze and always makes me smile! Margaret Moser was a celebrated Texas music journalist and an integral part of the Austin Music scene. In 2014, when she retired from both the Austin Chronicle and the Austin Music Awards, the city dedicated Margaret Moser Plaza where Austin Music Hall used to be. A fitting reminder of old Austin.

If you attend or attended the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) or an Austinite, you likely…read morehave heard of "The Drag". It is the strip of businesses that populate Guadalupe Street near UT Austin. They call Guadalupe Street the Drag because it's the main street where people (mainly students) use to walk, drive, and hang out. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the term "Drag" meant the busiest, most social portion of a city. When the UT Austin opened in 1883, Guadalupe Street ran directly along the west edge of campus and quickly became the most active street associated with UT Austin students...bookstores, cafés, bars, theaters, churches, and retail shops. Some iconic businesses on the Drag include the University Co-Op bookstore, Mile High Mo's, Kerby Lane, The Hole in the Wall (popular hangout spot for students when I attended UT Austin...still open) and Bevo's bookstore. Importantly, as The Drag has grown so has some its challenges. For example, parking can be quite challenging depending on the activities happening and the time of day or night. The Drag has long been a focal point of Austin's music, art and culture. Landmarks like the iconic "Hi, How Are You?" mural by Daniel Johnston remain a powerful indication of the Austin's unique identity ("Keep Austin Weird"). Other historic murals like "Austintatious" and "All Across Texas" murals provide a bridge that connects new students/visitors to Austin's past.

The Drag definitely isn't what it once was even back in the day when my boyfriend was a UT student,…read morethings were so different. An area for students and others to protest, express their thoughts through art and words, hang out, purchase necessities, etc. Thankfully some of the artwork still remains on some of the buildings. The Drag still caters to students but in a much different way than it was. It's definitely more of a commercial and "spend your money" kind of tourist area.

I've been going to these as often as possible since 2017 and have yet to regret it. The…read moreinstallations through the creek are always so creative and sometimes incredibly thought provoking. I love that they also have props for branded digital photos guests can take and share with others. It's a very Austin thing to do and I think everyone should go at least once. If you make it to where the live music is, music is always fantastic though food and drinks highly priced. Given that the show is free, I think that's quite alright.

Short but sweet! Wasn't clear where to park and the entrance was but able to figure out after…read morewalking around the block . Felt safe as there were security in the entrance section. Line wasn't too long and they let us in before the time slot indicated on the ticket. Perfect weather for the event. Snacks available near exit-recommended stop as well!

The city of Elgin sits about 20 miles east of Austin on Highway 290. This is still one of those…read moresmall Texas towns with that small town feel. It attracts tourists with its famous barbecue and historical downtown retail area. It also boasts of quite a number of spacious, well-maintained parks within its boundaries along with some historical cemeteries. Yes, you'll find the big box retailers along Highway 290 but the old downtown area is worth exploring. Instead of going into a long drawn out explanation, I thought I would include a link below, which offers up much more information about this small city. The photos below are of the City Hall location. https://www.elgintexas.gov/