Springtime in Austin is arguably one of the most beautiful times of the year. Austin turns into an outdoor paradise with the arrival of spring, making it the perfect time to explore this great city with the whole family. No matter if you are entertaining children, teenagers, or tweens, everyone in the family is bound to have a great time indulging in these local activities.
Check these top five things to do off your Austin bucket list this spring!
1. Enjoy the Beautiful Wildflowers
Make your way down to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to check out over 650 native Texan plant species in full bloom along nature trails and in gardens. Located in southwest Austin, this beautiful center is perfect for taking your family along to spend a day of fun amidst the blooming wildflowers. Or you can even make an entire day out of seeing stunning wildflowers in bloom at the Texas Hill Country, where valleys and meadows burst into a riot of colors to welcome bright bluebonnets every year in spring. Make sure to stop at Fredericksburg to visit the Wildseed Farms, which is a family-owned wildflower farm famous for its blooming fields.
2. Attend a Spring Festival
Some of the most exciting events in the city of Austin take place during springtime. The first event to check out is at SXSW, where you will see many up-and-coming bands and emerging films. This festival continues through to March 20, 2022, so make sure to mark your calendars. There's the Moontower Just for Laughs comedy festival, which is held over a period of ten days from April 13-24 and brings out some of the funniest comics from all over the country. There's the exciting Circuit of the American track, which will host NASCAR from March 25-27, 2022. The race weekend will include four series over a period of three full days of racing and incredible fun.
3. Take a Dip at a Local Swimming Hole
What's springtime without a fresh dip? The Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls areas located at the Barton Creek Greenbelt are some of the best guarded local secrets of Austin. You have to hike for about half a mile to reach Twin Falls. This place is known for its beautiful and relaxing shallow stream waters combined with rocky areas perfect for climbing. If you hike one more mile ahead, you will reach Sculpture Falls, which is another hidden gem when it comes to swimming holes in Austin.
4. Beat the Heat During a Museum Tour
One of the best things to do in spring in Austin is to explore the many museums the city has to offer. There's the Blanton Museum of Art that showcases a dazzling permanent exhibition of Ellsworth Kelly: Austin, which is a 2,715 foot stone building having brilliant colored glass windows and featuring a totemic wood sculpture. Also, at the Blanton, you can catch the Assembly: New Acquisitions by Contemporary Black Artists, which features paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, textiles, and many other works by black artists produced between 1980 to 2019. This can be viewed through to May 8, 2022.
You should also consider checking out the outdoor installation by world-famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei on display at The Contemporary Austin's Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at the Laguna Gloria. Located on the Lake Austin waterfront, you will need to make ticket reservations in advance to see this exhibition.
5. Dine Al Fresco
The best way to enjoy the beautiful weather in spring is to drink and dine outdoors. There's P6, which gives some of the best rooftop views of the city from the incredible LINE hotel. You can catch a live band performing as you enjoy a craft brew at the beautiful outdoor beer garden of the newly opened Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden at South Lamar. Or, if you are more of a barbecue person, then you should consider soaking in the backyard barbecue vibes at Loro. And to top it off, enjoy some of the city's tastiest tacos under the oak trees of the sprawling patio of the Fresa's South First, but better yet, come with reservations as the place fills up fast.
Are you new to Austin, Texas, or thinking about relocating here and needing some tips? Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for local insight and recommendations!
