Things to Do in West Austin

102 limestone stairs to the best view in Austin — free, takes two minutes

Highest point in Austin at 780 feet. 102 limestone stairs, takes two minutes. Lake Austin, Hill Country, and downtown skyline from the top. Free parking on Mt. Bonnell Road. Best at sunset.

3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX 78731 · Daily 5am-10pm · outdoor

Free splash pad that'll burn two hours minimum — pack a towel

Free splash pad, May through October, 8am-10pm daily. Playground and restrooms right there. Shaded trails along Shoal Creek for when the kids finally dry off. You'll burn at least two hours here. Pack a towel.

1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily 8am-10pm (May 1 - Oct 31) · outdoor · May-Oct

Free — peacocks just walk around, tail feathers out Feb-June

Free park with peacocks just walking around. Two acres of gardens, water lily ponds, and trails. Peacocks show off their tail feathers February through June. Nature preserve next door has easy walking trails. Good for a quick visit or a longer picnic.

3505 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily 5am-10pm · outdoor

102 stairs to the best view in Austin — free, even small kids can do it

Free hike up 102 hand-cut limestone stairs to the highest point in Austin. Takes about two minutes — even small kids can do it. Panoramic views of Lake Austin and the Hill Country. Free parking. Best at sunset, less crowded mornings.

3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX 78731 · Daily 5am-10pm · outdoor · Ages 3+

Oldest pool in Texas — spring-fed, wading area for toddlers, less crowded than Barton Springs

Oldest swimming pool in Texas, spring-fed and city-maintained since 1936. A Texas Historic Landmark. Main pool for laps and older kids, wading pool for toddlers. Much less crowded than Barton Springs. Free swim hours offered periodically.

401 Deep Eddy Ave, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily 8am-8pm (summer), reduced winter hours · outdoor · Ages 0+

Rescue zoo with petting zoo and train ride — smaller and more personal

Rescue zoo in the Hill Country with 300+ animals that cannot be returned to the wild — big cats, bears, primates, farm animals. Petting zoo and train ride are kid favorites. Smaller and more intimate than big-city zoos. Kids 2 and under free.

10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736 · Daily 9:30am-5pm (last entry 4pm) · outdoor · Ages 0+

The oldest pool in Texas. Spring-fed, no chlorine smell, $5. Lap swimmers take the morning, everyone else gets the afternoon.

Oldest swimming pool in Texas, built in 1915. Spring-fed, stays between 66-75 degrees. Lap swim 8am-noon, then rec swim until 8pm. Adults $5, kids $2, seniors $2. Smaller and calmer than Barton Springs. Regulars have been coming here for decades.

401 Deep Eddy Ave, Austin, TX 78703 · Lap swim 8am-12pm, Rec swim 12pm-8pm daily · 512-472-8546 · outdoor

13-acre off-leash island. Dogs swim in Lady Bird Lake, run free on trails. Check algae alerts first — toxic blooms have killed dogs. When clear, it's the best spot in Austin.

13-acre island surrounded by Lady Bird Lake on three sides — the entire thing is off-leash. Dogs can swim, run, explore trails, and socialize. No restrooms, no drinkable water — bring everything. CRITICAL: check the City of Austin website for blue-green algae alerts before going. Toxic blooms have killed dogs here. When the water is clear, it's paradise.

3401 Red Bud Trail, Austin, TX 78746 · 5am-10pm daily · outdoor