Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Lake Austin

"Probably Austin’s most beloved park, Zilker Park is famous for the huge "Rock Island" and “Great Lawn” that hosts everything from the Kite Festival to ACL Music Festival. With room for literally hundreds of pick-up soccer games, off-leash dogs and people lounging on blankets, Zilker is the heart of Austin. This park is great for: Straight-up relaxing or participating in outdoor activities."

"The gem of Austin’s parks system, Zilker Park is 350 acres of forested areas, open spaces and trails. If you’re bringing a dog with you, head to the 46-acre Great Lawn near the western edge of the park along the MoPac highway. You and your dog may have to share the space with soccer players, picnickers and Frisbee hurlers."

": How about exploring the sights of Austin, just the two of you?. This informative and fun private open pedicab tour of Austin is romantic to boot. It’ll take you around Austin’s best sights and that too at the pace you like."

"Completed in 1888 using sunset-red granite, Texas’ state capitol is the largest in the US, backing up the familiar claim that everything’s bigger hereabouts. Tasked with creating a bigger space for the state... Museum in UT & Central Austin"

"Capitol Building – straight Texas brownstone architecture If you’re around for a UT football game, try to go (or at least tailgate). There aren’t any pro sports in Austin, so UT is treated like a pro team."

"The Texas State Capitol, established in 1888, is the Texan seat of government. Found in downtown Austin, it is within range of many other tourist hotspots, eateries, and shopping districts."

"Located in Austin’s Pease Park, the Yippee Ki Yay Stickwork Sculptures are the brainchild of local artist Patrick Dougherty, who came up with the brilliant idea of using invasive plant material to create unique, explorable sculptures. The five enormous box-like sculptures were constructed using over 10 tons of saplings collected by volunteers, and draw attention to the need to eradicate alien vegetation. You and your children can have fun exploring the natural forms – inside, outside and all around."

"Call up your friends and set up a game of basketball or experience art & exercise with the Pease Park art installations, there is always something new and exciting to try!. Pease Park is home to wonderful playgrounds and a splash pad that will cool off the sweatiest of children. Open spaces and whimsical play areas make Pease Park great for everyone, both big and small."

"Pease District Park features numerous programs for people to enjoy and learn about sports and culture. There are trails for dogs and people. Furthermore, the park is popular for art installations by various artists."

"This colorful and very unique museum started as a one-story home in the early 1900s and later purchased by James Talbot where he started transforming it into what it has become today. This fantastic home/museum is open for private tours by the owner and is located at 305 W Milton Boldin Creek; you will be transported into different themed rooms and floors and textures and enjoy the many stories Mr. Talbot has related to how his home has transformed into the art is today and why. We strongly suggest you call ahead and book a tour and respect this space since this is a private residence."

"Who needs a boring history museum when you could experience a living history museum?. At Pioneer Farms, the volunteers wear high-buttoned dresses and top hats as they take you through guided tours of farms and villages from the 1800s. You can pet animals, listen to stories and ride in horse-drawn buggies as you learn all about Texas history."

"Pioneer Farms is a living history museum offering workshops and programs for both students and adults. Step back in time and experience Texas history while you explore six themed historic areas. Some of the workshops available are blacksmithing, woodworking, knitting/quilting, candlemaking, soapmaking, and cheese making."

"Completed in 1888, the State Capitol and its 22 acres of grounds and monuments are home to the office of the State Governor and the Chambers of the Texas Legislature. Protected as a National Historic Landmark, the building impresses with its dimensions; at 308 feet tall, it ranks as the sixth tallest state capitol, taller even than the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Visitors can stroll the park via the tree-lined path called the Great Walk and admire the numerous monuments."

"DowntownHours: Always free Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm; and Sundays, noon to 5pmWhere Texas laws are made and broken and where Rick Perry’s villainous/heroic (subtract as you see fit) origin story began."

"The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is one of the most visited museums in Austin, TX. Located in the heart of downtown, this educational outlet features three floors full of interactive exhibits detailing the state's history through objects, media programs and recreated environments. Founded as a non-collecting institution, the museum's permanent collection and seasonal displays truly bring the "Story of Texas" to life. The facility also houses the only IMAX theatre in Austin."

"The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a history museum dedicated to telling the unfolding “Story of Texas. It was named after the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas Bob Bullock who campaigned for the preservation and exhibition of Texas history. You’ll find permanent exhibits about the Alamo, Nasa, Famous Native Texans, an IMax playing historical and current movies, and the first-floor host temporary exhibits."

"DowntownHours: Free on the first Sunday of each month, noon to 5pmThe good news: Texas-themed artifacts, revolving exhibits, and garage parking are all free on the first Sunday of each month. The bad news: IMAX movies will still cost you $13."

"The South Austin Museum of Popular Culture collects, conserves, and exhibits vintage posters and live music ephemera from the 1960s through today to educate future generations on the rich and unique culture that makes Austin the Live Music Capital of the World. SouthPop seeks to enrich a growing and changing the community by becoming the premier source in Texas for art and artifacts of local music history from the 1960s to the present and its impact on local, national, and international culture. To learn more about South Austin Museum of Popular Culture click here."

"To get a glimpse of this integral part of Austin’s culture, head to SOUTHPOP!. Also known as AusPOP, the museum has over 3,000 artifacts and 10,000 photos to peruse. The collection includes a huge assortment of music posters spanning decades, from the 1960s to today."

"Representing one of the city's largest cultural influences and populations, the Mexic-Arte Museum showcases traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture. Founded in 1983, the museum features rotating exhibits, many of which are thought-provoking statements about current issues, like immigration, border control, and acceptance of Mexican culture in Texas. There are numerous installations and topic-focused galleries that include the artwork or sculptures of one or more artists, and several that are collections of photography, painting, and multimedia work that represent populations within the culture."

"Take a break from the stresses of life by visiting these hilarious comedy clubs in Austin!. Afterwards, be sure to check out the Stuff to Do in Austin City Guide page and let us know what you want to see next!. Also, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok and tag us in your photos @StuffToDoInAustin!"

"Since its founding in 1984, the Mexic-Arte Museum has been designated the Official Mexican and Mexican American Fine Art Museum of Texas by the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas. The Museum is free on Sundays."

"You can start getting your children interested in the wonderful world of theatre and the arts by bringing them to the Zach Theatre at an early age. The Zach stages regular shows that children will love as part of their Theatre for Families program. Most of the shows are suitable for children from the age of three, but a few of the productions will suit even younger children."

"The whole family can delight in story time at the ZACH Theatre, a professional theatre company with world-class talent and inventive productions. There is not a bad seat in the house, so even the littlest theatre goer can stay engaged. The shows are only about an hour long and the cast stands ready to meet and greet everyone afterwards."

"Founded in 1993 as an education outreach program, One World Theatre is today a working green-built theatre made out of 85% recycled plastic foam. The theatre — built to resemble a Tuscan villa — showcases the artistic talents and diverse art forms of world-renowned artists in a uniquely intimate forum. Before most concerts, dinner is available at One World Café, which serves fresh, seasonal fare alongside full bar service."

"and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts, just south of Lady Bird Lake, is a performance center and ode to the artful—majestic, even—reuse and revival. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it opened It opened in 2008 after 10 years of construction (along with funding issues and civic discussions of same). It replaced the mod, domed Lester E. Palmer Auditorium, reusing 95 percent of its building materials, including the distinctive green and brown panels—originally on the roof and now decorate the exterior walls—and the ring-beam exterior structure, which now is a terrace that offers an excellent view of downtown."

"Year Opened: 2008Cover: YesDrinks: Full barCapacity: 2,400 (Michael and Susan Dell Hall)Noise Level:. Austin finally got rid of that ridiculous Palmer Auditorium, the huge seaweed-green civic auditorium that resembled a sickly turtle and branded the city as a place stuck in the past. A good deal of the old building was salvaged—including the chamber ring that held up the roof—but in the context of the new Long Center, the whole thing looks positively mod."

"Sound & Cinema is an event sponsored by Alamo Drafthouse, Long Center, and Do512. It usually happens from June to August and features free live music and movie shows."