Visit Austin’s Attractions

What you see and hear is true – The City of Austin has a lot to offer with its vibrant entertainment, art and culture, inspiring cuisine, and stunning outdoor experiences like no other. Austin lets you create a soundtrack that you can listen to all day, take a look around and put the Live Music Capitol of the World on your playlist.

Texas Capitol

The Texas Capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most distinguished state capitols. This granite Texas statehouse stands as a testament to the history of the Lone Star State. The Texas Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

LBJ Presidential Library

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum, also known as the LBJ Presidential Library, the 36th president of the United States (1963-1969). It is located on the grounds of the University of Texas at Austin, and is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The LBJ Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including the papers of President Johnson and those of his close associates and others. Since the Library was dedicated to President Johnson over 40 years ago, it has served as an incomparable venue for memorable events with Presidents, First Ladies, foreign heads of state, and other dignitaries and celebrities.

Mount Bonnell

Also known as Covert Park, is a prominent point alongside Lake Austin which is a portion of the Colorado River in Austin. Mount Bonnell has attracted thousands of tourists and locals since the 1850’s. The mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills. In 1969 it was designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, bearing Marker number 6473, and was listed on the National Register of History Places in 2015.

The Driskill

Built in 1886, the iconic Driskill hotel elegantly combines authentic Texas charm with modern sophistication. From the magnificent columned lobby with its marble floors and stained-glass dome, to the classic, newly revitalized décor of the guestrooms and suites, each unique space is steeped in history. Each local cuisine and dine on famous original recipes from the charming 1886 Café & Bakery, or delight in the refined atmosphere at The Driskill Grill as you savor an in-house dry-aged steak paired perfectly with a selection from the extensive wine list. Experience Austin’s vibrant culture from the heart of downtown with live music at The Driskill Bar, names Best Bar in Texas by Southern Living.

Congress Avenue Bridge

Congress Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Austin. The street is a six-lane, tree lined avenue that cuts through the middle of the city from far south Austin and goes over Lady Bird Lake leading to the Texas State Capitol in the heart of Downtown. Congress Avenue south of Lady Bird Lake is known as South Congress, often abbreviated to SoCo and is an increasingly popular shopping and rental district. It passes the historic Travis Hights neighborhood. Congress Avenue Bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in North America, between 750,000 and 1.5 million bats fly our near dusk, the best time to view this is between April through October.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Immerse yourself in the spectacular beauty and elegance of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin is the state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas is on 284 acers and is located 10 miles southwest of downtown Austin. The spectacular architecture and gardens featuring exclusively Texas native plants are nationally recognized for their beauty and sustainability. The center features more than 900 species of native Texas plants in both garden and natural settings and is home to a amplitude of educational programs and events.

The Circuit Of The Americas

Locally known as COTA, Circuit of The Americas can be found on 1,500 acres of Texas Hill Country, 15 miles southeast of downtown Austin. The 120,000 maximum capacity track was completed in 2012 and is regarded as one of the top venues in the United States for motorsports and entertainment. A purpose built venue specifically for Formula 1 Racing, COTA also provides fans and visitors with interactive programming of activities from regular tours and go-kart racing to outdoor concerts in the summer and a Winter Wonderland holiday festival and more.

Shopping

Austin may be known for crazy concerts, fun festivals and food trucks, but a trip to the city that keeps it weird wouldn’t be complete without a funky souvenir. From high-end malls with luxury stores to unique local spots with antiques. Austin offers shopping experiences for all styles and budgets. To help you shop until you drop, check out these shopping spots.

The Domain

Nestled in a beautiful park-like setting, The Domain is a family-friendly outdoor mall with 100 high-end stores, boutiques, restaurants and bars. You can spend the entire day here and you won’t run out of things to see or do, with a Macy’s, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton residing at The Domain you can also find shops like Bonobos and Austin favorites on the Northside of The Domain.

The Arboretum

The Arboretum is an outdoor shopping center located in northwest Austin and is one of the area’s top shopping destinations with over 40 national and local retailers and restaurants.

2nd Street District

Austin-owned boutiques, award-winning restaurants and exciting entertainment make the vibrant 2nd Street District one of Austin’s top destinations, especially for visitors. The 2nd Street District is just a few blocks away from Lady Bird Lake, making it the perfect stop to refresh and hydrate on your way to or from a long stroll exploring the city. From local cuisine and alfresco dining to trendy shops, awesome live music and more, this walkable district is jam-packed with the homegrown community vibe of Austin. There’s no doubt you’ll get a big Texas welcome and instantly feel like a local when you hand out here.

Barton Creek Square

This enclosed shopping mall is located in southwest Austin and is a prime destination in Austin featuring more than 180 specialty retailers, anchored by Nordstrom, Dillard’s, and Macy’s to name a few.

Lamar Union Plaza

A plaza full of character with shopping, dining and entertainment is located in South Austin. From the iconic Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to entertainment at Highball, Lamar Union Plaza provides everything you need to enjoy a dynamic experience that is synonymous with local South Lamar culture when you visit this distinct community.

Dining

Everyone knows Austin’s reputation as a music town, but these days the Texas capital is just as renowned for its food. Looking for a place to eat in Austin? We put together a list of restaurants to sample that will not disappoint.

The Peached Tortilla

It’s a tried-and-true Austin story for The Peached Tortilla, a Southern-Asian food truck that became so popular they decided to open a upscale restaurant. Their take on a unique Austin dining experience that features the best of modern Asian comfort food with a Southern twist has made this restaurant wildly successful in the Austin area.

Slab BBQ & Beer

SLAB was founded on the basis of bringing you new flavors that may be a break from your traditional Texas BBQ. They bridges the taste bud gap of the Dirty South from Memphis, to the Carolinas, Alabama, and Texas. Along with their delicious smoked meats, SLAB offers four different award-winning BBQ sauces. The origin for this restaurant began as a food truck in 2006, originally named Sugar Shack BBQ, and in 2014 opened a brick and mortar location. This this restaurant has been featured on Travel Channel and Food Network for their famous pulled pork sammies.

KOMÉ

This trendy home-style Japanese restaurant gives their contemporary take on as a sushi kitchen in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. With their authentic lunchtime ramen and izakaya style dinners will satisfy your cravings.

Suerte

Located in the heart of East Austin, Suerte is an award-winning restaurant driven by a passion for masa, an ingredient at the heart of Mexican cooking. Chef Fermin and his team curate a seasonally driven menu with an emphasis on brining together traditional Mexican cooking techniques with local Texas ingredients to create a unique and exciting dining experience. Their bar offers some of Mexico’s most unique agave and succulent spirits state-side, as well as highlighting a rotating selection of natural wines and craft cocktails.

Odd Duck

A sustainable, locally-sourced “farm-to-trailer” restaurant now a brick and mortar serving sharable size plates along with craft beer, wine, and cocktails. Offering a cuisine shaped by their craftsmen’s approach to cooking, their creativity of their staff, and the products from the amazing local farmers – head to South Lamar Boulevard to hit the jackpot.

Kemuri Tatsu-Ya

This Japanese restaurant is behind the Ramen Tatsu-ya. Kemuri offers a relaxed full-service, full bar dining experience featuring smoked meats, grilled skewered meat, izakaya classics, and ramen. Their bar program features a wide range of sake, shochu, Japanese and American whisky, pints and pitchers of Japanese and Texan microbrews, and innovative Japanese-influenced cocktails.

Otherside Deli

This food truck turned brick and mortar New York style deli, serving up a simple and cozy version of their homeland fare, and Austinites flock to try what Otherside Deli has to offer. After building a dedicated following, they opened a brick and mortar restaurant, giving their fans what they want: parking, seating, and air-conditioning for those long summer months. Otherside Deli often sells out by early afternoon.

Parks & Outdoors

We’ll say it – Austin parks give Central Park a run for its money. These gems of greenery are versatile spaces that make Austin a great place to live. Whether you are craving a picnic with your family, a long walk with your dog, or a sunny spot to doze off for the afternoon. We compiled a list of parks that are in the Austin area, check them out and see why we love the parks in Austin.

Pedernales Falls State Park

Flowing over and around huge slabs of limestone, the Pedernales River can be turbulent, but most often is tranquil. This park is a great place to relax and recharge, just 30 miles west of Austin, head over for an afternoon swim or hike, or load up your gear for an overnight adventure. The river awaits! At Pedernales Falls State Park, you can camp, hike, swim, fish, tube, picnic, mountain bike, geocache, bird watch and ride horses.

Auditorium Shores

Often the locale for outdoor concerts, festivals and other events. Other times, it is a great open space for a game of frisbee, flying a kite or letting your dog roam freely. The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial statue is located at Auditorium Shores, along the south bank of Lady Bird Lake on the Hike and Bike Trail.

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Over 7 miles of gorgeous trails for hiking, mountain biking, and swimming when the water levels are just right. There are also a ton of public access points to the Greenbelt, your adventure awaits!

Barton Springs Pool

Within Zilker Park’s 361-acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin – Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size, and is fed from an underground spring with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for year-round swimming. Over the years, Barton Spring Pool has drawn people from all walks of life.

Zilker Park

A 361-acre park nestled in the heart of downtown Austin, right off Lady Bird Lake. The park was founded in 1917 and is home to picnic facilities, bike/canoe abilities, disc golf course, a large playground for children, the Zilker Zephyr train and Barton Springs Pool, an urban oasis where swimmers plunge into the 68 degree, spring-fed water. The park is also the host to great events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Austin Kite Festival.

McKinney Falls State Park

On a 641-acre park featuring over 80 campsites, including developed (RV) and hike-in sites. Screened shelters, group shelters, and a group dining halls are available. Outdoor recreational opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and wildlife observation. Onion Creek, which flows 1.7 miles through the park offers swimming and fishing opportunities.

Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake is the epitome of the Austin lifestyle. Every day of the week, this 416 acre lake is filled with people taking advantage of this stretch of dammed-off Colorado River that offers endless recreation opportunities. Backdropped by the downtown Austin skyline on one side, Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores on the other, and featuring the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. This entire section of Austin represents the enthusiasm locals have for the outdoors. With eight official access points (and endless other places to put-in and take-out), the reservoir is a great place to spend a day on the water, be it on your lunch break or all day on a Sunday.

Lake Travis & Pace Bend Park

Take in Austin’s gorgeous scenery while relaxing on the lake that spans over 60 miles, Lake Travis is a local favorite. With more than nine miles of shoreline along the scenic Lake Travis, Pace Bend is one of the most popular areas in the Highland Lakes region. Providing a wide range of recreational opportunities including camping, boating and fishing. It’s no wonder why Lake Travis and Pace Bend Park attract locals and visitors year round.

What’s not to love about Austin? With its rich culture and art influence to the inspiring adventures in the great outdoors, there is always something to do in the greater Austin area. When you are ready to begin your new home buying journey Pacesetter Homes is ready to help guide you in the right direction. Visit our Easton Park model home, it is in a vibrant mater-planned community that emulates the real nature of Austin’s culture with its miles and miles of trails and parks, conveniently located 12 minutes away from downtown Austin. Or plan a trip to visit our model home in Vistas of Austin that is on a 158-acre community with 50-acers of greenbelt, this community makes it an attractive location due to its close proximity to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and to downtown Austin.

Your future home is waiting for you!