Top 5 Day Trips from Austin
We just recently returned from seven wonderful days in Austin, Texas. Austin is a fantastic place to visit - we love the culture, the attitude, the lifestyle, the trees, and the amazing spring temperatures. Though Austin has plenty to do like Zilker Park and botanic gardens, museums, murals, and live music galore we also had a wonderful time exploring beyond the city this visit with a few day trips to nearby places.
Waco - This is one of our favorite destinations. We first visited Waco in 2017 and have been back many times since. Though we love Magnolia Market and could spend all day there eating cupcakes and grilled cheese, our hearts are happiest when hiking around Cameron Park. Cameron Park follows along the Brazos River through what feels like a jungle to us Coloradans.
Our perfect day in Waco begins by arriving early at the Silos Baking Co., about 20 minutes before they open to avoid the long lines. Followed by strolling through Magnolia Market and the rest of the grounds (the new expansion is wonderful if you haven’t been lately). We share a few bites from the food trucks before heading out. As we walk back to the car we take as many pictures in front of murals as possible. We prefer to park by Spice Village because then we can put our Magnolia stuff back in the car and head up to smell and shop Spice Village. After that, it’s downstairs for lunch at Ninfa’s Mexican. Then we head to Cameron Park and spend the rest of our afternoon geocaching, discovering new trails, and playing endless games of Would You Rather with the kids. On the way out of town, no trip is complete without a stop at Pokey O’s for ice cream sandwiches!
2. San Antonio - I have been to the Riverwalk a few times before, but this most recent trip I decided to finally show my family one of the quintessential spots in Texas. Our 5th graders just recently learned about the Battle of the Alamo and that in itself was the perfect excuse to head down to San Antonio. But first, do not pass up a stop at Buc-ee’s. If you’ve never been into Buc-ee’s you’re in for a chuckle. This gigantic gas station has literally everything. It’s the perfect place to stop for clean restrooms and a snack for the road. Thankfully San Antonio is easy to navigate getting downtown with Google Maps and there’s plenty of parking garages in the area you want to explore. Hop out of the car and start walking. We visited The Alamo first and just as most people say when they arrive, my family couldn’t believe how small it is and that it’s in the middle of a city. We weren’t interested in a tour, but if you are I highly recommend booking that ahead of time online, the tours are 45 minutes and very interesting. Otherwise, you can wander the grounds and imagine what life may have been like before the battle.
3. Balcones Canyon National Wildlife Refuge - Just about an hour's drive from Austin is a wildlife refuge that is full of natural areas and trails to explore. It’s a nice change of scenery with wonderful scenic views and we enjoyed hiking at Doeskin Ranch. In all, we hiked just over three miles and spent about an hour and a half taking it all in. The weather was great and we wanted to continue on to the next area, Warbler Vista, but we were all getting hungry and decided to head out for lunch. Next time I will definitely pack a picnic so we can explore the area further. If you’re a bird-watching fan, this is definitely the place for you. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has been working since the early 2000s to restore this area to its natural state and bring back the birds that have been living and migrating in Texas for hundreds of years. When you’re heading back towards Austin, do yourself a favor and stop for lunch at P. Terry’s, that’s what we did and there were zero regrets. Their veggie burger is so good
4. Make a day of the western suburbs - Austin is large and you can make a whole day of fun just exploring around the western suburbs. Here’s what we did:
Start in Round Rock for some world-famous Round Rock Donuts - if you have a few people with you then be sure to pick up a Texas-sized donut as we did.
Next, we headed to Bull Creek for some hiking and exploring. We enjoyed everything about this little slice of nature in Austin. There are several trails so pick one that suits you.
Then we spent some time window shopping at Hill Country Galleria. I enjoyed the area more than the shopping, but our kids loved Learning Express.
After that, it was time for lunch! We love Waterloo Ice House so we headed towards the Escarpment location and enjoyed lunch out on the patio. Get the veggie tacos - trust me!
After lunch, it was time for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. We spent about two hours lingering around these beautiful grounds. There are so many fun things for the kids to do and the bluebonnets were in full bloom which was a special treat.
Our last stop of the day was going to be a trip into Dripping Springs to visit one of the many distilleries or breweries. Unfortunately, some bad weather rolled in and we decided it was best to skip it. But next time we will definitely go, in the meantime, you should and let us know where we should head to!
5. Dallas/Ft. Worth - Though it’s a little further than the other destinations, Dallas is not to be missed. This is a city full of things to do and places to see. I love the art museum and could visit it every time I go to Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a good stop for history buffs, and the last time I was through I paid a trip to the presidential library as well. Not to mention all the great food, BBQ and TexMex, it’s hard to choose. In Ft. Worth, I highly suggest a visit to the botanic gardens and zoo if you’re traveling with kids. Not to mention a stop at the stockyard is a must-see as well!
Bonus day trip Idea: Port Lavaca/Magnolia Beach - Now this is one we didn’t do, but I wish we had. As landlocked Coloradans, we often crave the beach. Port Lavaca is less than three hours away from Austin and I’ve heard it’s well worth the drive. This will definitely be on our list for next time.