Lady Bird Lake
Take part in the endless recreation opportunities like a local! Head out on a paddle board, kayak or canoe – the dammed-off lake is calm and serene.

Lake Austin
For motorized fun, head to Lake Austin for adventurous waterskiing, chill pontoon boating or speedy motor boating.

Lake Walter E. Long
This expansive 1,200-acre lake features vast open spaces allowing swimmers, jet skiers, kayakers, anglers and boaters enough area to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Blunn Creek Preserve
Hike or bike the 40 acres of pristine looped trails or take the out-and-back to the panoramic Volcano Overlook. Enjoy a true hiking experience while still surrounded by Austin.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park
On the banks of Lake Austin, this wooded park offers boat ramps, a swimming area, fishing dock, volleyball courts and a lakefront beach. Swim, boat or angle to your heart’s content. A three-mile cycling course, the Veloway, gives bikers and skaters a beautiful path through woods and meadows.

McKinney Falls State Park
Explore Austin’s backyard. Onion Creek plunges over limestone ledges and trails wind through Hill Country woods. Hike, mountain bike, boulder, or geocache, all within Austin’s city limits.

Reimers Ranch Park
A premiere destination for world-class rock climbing, Reimers Ranch also offers 18 miles of biking trails and prime fishing for white bass.

24 Diner
Get your chef-driven, organic comfort food to-go and enjoy it as a picnic lunch. 24 Diner has received accolades from Bon Appétit, Food Network, USA Today, Mother Jones and more.

The Beer Plant
Austin’s first vegan gastropub, the Beer Plant offers indulgent plant-based dishes, craft beer, wine and cocktails that make for a decadent picnic.

LeRoy and Lewis BBQ
New school BBQ meets old school service to offer up locally sourced, inventive BBQ that tastes amazing and makes idyllic picnic fare.

Zilker Metropolitan Park
This urban oasis is the perfect place for a picnic. Spread out your gourmet treats at the picnic facilities for an open-air feast. Then follow it up with bike/canoe rentals, a round of disc golf or a plunge into Barton Springs Pool.

Barton Creek Farmers Market
Stop by on Saturdays and Sundays for fresh food and artisan gifts.

SFC Farmer’s Market at Sunset Valley
Find the in-season fruits, veggies, locally raised meat, artisan goods and house-made baked treats from over 35 vendors every weekend, rain or shine.

Texas Farmer’s Market at Mueller
Authenticity is ensured at this top-rated farmer’s market. Every producer is inspected to ensure sustainable practices and humane treatment of animals.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Movie theater meets restaurant at the Alamo Drafthouse! Sip cocktails and local beers and enjoy award-winning cuisine from your luxe theater seat as you watch new releases and old favorites on the silver screen.

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In
Indie films, cult classics and childhood favorites play on the big screen of this local favorite Austin drive-in.

Falconhead Golf Club
Created by the PGA Tour Design center, this public, daily-fee course offers a top golfing experience amidst the knobby oaks, cedars, rolling hills, creeks and ponds of Hill Country.

Grey Rock Golf Club
Get in 18 holes mere minutes from downtown Austin. Over 160 acres of stately oak trees and incredible views of Hill Country provide a beautiful way to relax (or compete).

Lion’s Municipal Golf Course
This, the first public course in Austin, continues to be one of the city’s most popular courses and remains a quality, playable course.

Antonelli’s Cheese Shop
Sample cheeses from around the world at this top-ranked cheese shop. Partake in a complimentary tasting of cheeses with cured meats, honeys, preserves and more. Or opt for a seated guided tasting.

Parts & Labour
Browse the handmade work of over 100 Texas jewelers, screen printers, designers, crafters and more.

Pioneer Farms’ General Store
Step back to 1800’s Texas at Central Texas’ top living history park. Take a guided tour, engage in a workshop on anything from archery to backyard chickens to blacksmithing, or browse the toys, books, souvenirs and provisions in the gift shop.

South Congress Avenue
No Austin shopping trip is complete without a visit to buzzing and bustling South Congress Ave. Vintage shops, candy stores, chic boutiques and unique eateries line the street for hours upon hours of fun discovery.

Terra Toys
Have fun with toys from around the world! Kids love the classic toys and adults appreciate the espresso bar.

Broken Spoke
An old-fashioned honkey tonk where locals and visitors have been Texas two-stepping since 1964.

Cactus Café & Bar
This is the place to go for acoustic. Top local, regional, national and international acoustic artists have been playing here since 1979.

Elephant Room
Take in some cool jazz any night of the week. This cozy underground venue has been voted one of the 100 top Jazz Clubs in the world by DownBeat Magazine.

Visconti Bar
Our own cozy bar features top Austin musicians every Friday and Saturday. Enjoy Austin’s best live music with a cool crafted cocktail and delicious Northern Italian cuisine.



Travel tip: During this time, concern for the health of visitors is vital. Many businesses have amended services or hours due to Covid regulations. For the latest updates about the status of each featured business, please check each location's website.

Creekside Cookers Barbecue
This central Texas BBQ and Bar serves up authentic pit barbecue with all the amazing sides to accompany it. Grab your smoked favorites and feast at the shaded picnic tables.

Leaning Pear
Hill Country-inspired cuisine in a contemporary space. Treat yourself to the pork carnitas with watermelon salsa, or wood-fired pizza with bbq sauce, local sausage, jalapeno, and fried onion, for a locally-sourced treat.

Longleaf Craft Kitchen and Bar
Enjoy seasonal, locally sourced, and native foods for a delicious dinner in the oak-shaded courtyard and sculpture garden or in the longleaf pine-clad dining room.

Wimberly Café
All the American classics served with warmth and Texas hospitality. Their pancakes and award-winning chicken-fried steak are a local fan favorite.

Cypress Creek Reserve
This restaurant and rum distillery sources the spring water for its delicious rum from adjacent Cypress Creek. Savor it in a rum cocktail on the shaded patio and take in the beautiful scenery for a moment of pure relaxation.

Hill Country Wine Shoppe
This boutique wine shop in the square offers tastings from several Texas wineries at its vintage Saloon-era bar. Stop in for a flight or grab a few bottles of Texas wine to go.

Shady Llama
Kick back in the great outdoors at this expansive outdoor venue. Choose your favorite brew, grab a bite from the food trucks, sway in a hammock or on the swings and visit with the llamas and donkeys who call this bar their home. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, fun-friendly.

Wimberley Valley Winery
Sip, sample, and toast to your good luck at this rambling outdoor venue. Taste the classic varietals, easy-to-drink table wines, 100% fruit wines, or wine slushies. Shop the bottles-to-go from the retrofit double-decker bus.

Blue Hole Swimming Hole
Rated one of the top swimming holes in all of Texas, the Blue Hole’s cool jade waters invite dipping and floating while its grassy shores host live performances.

Emily Ann Theatre and Gardens
With a mission to reinvest in the dignity of the human spirit through the performing arts, nature and community, the Emily Ann Theatre and Gardens is an epicenter for the arts. Take in Shakespeare Under the Stars, visit the Butterfly Festival, experience the Trail of Lights and more.

Jacob’s Well Swimming Hole
This artesian spring and swimming hole is also one of the longest underwater caves in Texas. Reservations are required for a swim and do fill up quickly, so book early. No reservation is required to hike the trails and take in the beautiful scenery.

Old Baldy
Climb the 218 rock steps up through cedar, wildflowers, and cactus to the summit of Old Baldy and be rewarded with an incredible 360-degree view of the Wimberley Valley and Hill Country.

Wimberly Zipline
Fly over creeks, cactus, cypress and canyons on any of ten separate ziplines that range from 150 feet to 900 feet! Enjoy a day of action, adventure and adrenaline!

Bella Vista Ranch
Modeled after a traditional Italian farm, Bella Vista has 1,200 olive trees, a winery, a tasting room and a gift shop. Come for a tour, a tasting, a shopping stop or simply to enjoy the gorgeous groves.

Kiss the Cook Kitchen Shop
Located in Wimberley Square, this is where you’ll find the quality gadgets, tools, cookware and bakeware that make cooking an adventure. It’s the ideal stop to find the perfect souvenir for the baker or cook in your life.

The Old Mill Store
This antiques-meets-gift shop has expanded to offer covetable items from Texas Hill Country and beyond. Stop in and shop the handmade gifts, jewelry, furniture, art, collectibles and toys.

The Wild West Store
Home to the “Boot Whisperer” this shop has over 500 pairs of cowboy boots, jackets, jewelry, spurs, hats and more. Get your Western gear here.

Wimberly Glassworks
A feast for your eyes, this is Texas’ premier art glass studio. Enjoy the live glass blowing demonstrations and art displays and shop the one-of-a-kind artisanal drinkware, lighting and art glass.


Travel tip: During this time, concern for the health of visitors is vital. Many businesses have amended services or hours due to Covid regulations. For the latest updates about the status of each featured business, please check each location's website.

This Hill Country town of 3,000 is filled with gorgeous scenery, authentic Texas foods, small-batch distilleries and wineries that make it a top-stop for visitors. Just 40 minutes west of Austin, Dripping Springs is well worth the beautiful drive.

Hamilton Pool Preserve
A quick, easy hike rewards you with the dramatic beauty of Hamilton Pool. Hamilton Creek plunges over a limestone cliff forming a 50-foot waterfall that cascades into a beautiful natural swimming pool. Swim the jade waters, float on your back and gaze up at the blue Texas sky, or relax in the shade and take in the magnificent surroundings. Hamilton Pool Preserve is by far the most visited attraction in Dripping Springs, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance.

Dripping Springs Vodka
Experience Hill Country sip by sip. Visit the distillery to learn how quality ingredients and mineral-rich Hill Country Artesian Spring water is micro-distilled in 50-gallon batches to produce world-class vodkas and gins. Cheers!

Deep Eddy Vodka
Inspired by the oldest swimming hole in Austin, Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room is a place where people come together to enjoy good times. Treat yourself to a flight of handcrafted, fruit- and tea-flavored vodkas.

Frog Pond Distillery
Stop in for a gin or vodka cocktail, sit on the porch and take in beautiful views of Hill Country at this small-batch, family-owned distillery. Tastings, cocktails, tours and bottle sales are all waiting for you.

Rolling in Thyme & Dough
Treat yourself to tasty farm-to-table (or farm-to-curbside) foods. Savory breakfast choices, decadent brunches, hearty lunchtime sandwiches and incredible baked goods – from croissants to breads to pies to cakes – are all house-made, delicious and waiting to satiate your hunger.

Texas Hill Country Olive Co.
The only certified organic olive orchard in Texas, this family-owned business is dedicated to creating the highest-quality olive oil produced in the US - and they’ve got the medals to prove it. Stop in for a tasting, learn about production, pick up the perfect souvenir for your foodie-friends, or just enjoy the natural beauty of the orchard.

Treaty Oak Distilling
Head out to the 28-acre Treaty Oak Ranch for a taste of true Texas. Tour the distillery to see how the whiskey is made and sample the product. Stop in Alice’s Restaurant for Texas BBQ and comfort food. Round out your trip at the Rickhouse Bar for craft beers, mixed drinks, and frequent live music under open skies.

Twisted X Brewing Company
Stop in this taproom for tasty local, handcrafted, Mexican-style beer with a Texas influence. Learn about brewing and taste the Chupahopra IPA, the Gulf Kolsch or their springtime Hye-Biscus – all made even tastier when paired with the true Tex-Mex fare from the Lazy Dayz food truck parked right outside.

Westcave Cellars
Experience fine wines crafted from 100% pure Texas grapes. Pair flights with small bites, wander the 9 acres of vineyards or take a behind-the-scenes tour to learn the journey from grape to wine.

Desert Door
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience at America’s only sotol distillery. Wild-harvested West Texas sotol plants are distilled into a premium spirit with sweet citrusy and herbal flavor. Sotol was first sipped in Texas as early as 800 years ago – now you can taste it for yourself. Pick up an extra bottle of this rare treat as perfect souvenir for your agave-based spirit fans.

Driftwood Estate Winery
Soak in the incredible views of Hill Country as you enjoy a delicious red, white, or rosé. Pair it with a meal or snack from the Bistro’s eclectic, globally influenced menu and relax and indulge in the shade on the expansive patio.

Duchman Family Winery
At this beautiful family-run winery, 100% Texas grapes are vinted into Italian varietals like Vermentino, Sangiovese and Dolcetto. A top Texas wine destination, the estate’s stately Italianate villa and grounds invite picnicking under the ancient oaks while a playground keeps kids delighted.

Fall Creek Vineyards
Stop in where it all began. Fall Creek Vineyards is reputed to be one of the vineyards that founded the Texas wine scene. Stroll the beautiful grounds, bask in the sunshine on the patio or warm up by the fire and enjoy a delicious tasting bottle of 100% Texas grapes accompanied by small plates.

Hill Country Tasting Room
When you want to get a taste of everything Texas, the playful Hill Country Tasting Room is the perfect spot. Sample the beers, meads, wines and ciders from all across this big, bold state.

Stinson’s Distilling
Treat yourself to excellent cocktails mixed from award-winning spirits handcrafted onsite. From Texas Brandy to Carajillo to Mirabeau Elderflower to Texas Pecan Whiskey, aged rums and more, with just a taste you’ll find out why Stinson’s is a top cocktail destination for Southwest Austin.

Vista Brewing
Enjoy the fresh air, fresh beer and hyper-local food and beverages that capture the essence of Texas Hill Country. Chill out indoors or out in the acres upon acres of beer garden with live music, tasty brews, picnic-style farm-fresh foods and ranch views.

Hays City Store
This former gas station turned full-service restaurant and bar serves up Texas-style comfort foods, American favorites, and handcrafted cocktails, along with 52+ beers on tap.

The Salt Lick BBQ
Hands down the most famous Driftwood eatery. The Salt Lick BBQ is the original Texas BBQ destination. The extensive menu - with recipes dating back to the wagon trains of the mid-1800s - the oversized smoking pit, and the warm, Texas Hill Country hospitality make the Salt Lick BBQ a must.

Trattoria Lisina
This Tuscan-inspired eatery, on the grounds of the Mandola Estate & Vineyard, offers the finest Italian classics: house-made pastas, braised osso bucco, creamy polentas and more, in surroundings so beautiful it was voted one of 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America.