AUSTIN- Part II

DAY 2- BARTON SPRINGS/ RAINEY ST. / AUSTIN LAKES/ MT. BONNELL

Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park—2201 Barton Springs Road 

First things first, breakfast. 

We went with old classic hole in the wall donut-shop recommendation we got from our airbnb host. 

Mrs. Johnson’s drive thru was quick, cheap, and tasty.

We headed over to Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park with our donuts and coffee in hand. 

We wanted to enjoy the morning outside so it was Barton Springs Pool or somewhere along Lady Bird Lake.

 Zilker Park was so pretty and green. It reminded me a lot of Piedmont Park in Atlanta—wide-open space with city views but nearly double the size­­. 

People were out early, scattered about setting up picnics and parties for the day.

We paid a small fee to get into the gated Barton Springs Pool.

BSP is a 3-acre pool fed by a natural spring in the heart of the city. 

It is a chilly 68-70 degrees year round. 

There were a ton of spaces to catch rays, swim laps, or just wade in the water. 

I went for the lazy swim option however there were a few serious swimmers making laps around me. 

It was so refreshing and the watercolor was beautiful. If there was a Barton Springs Pool in Athens—I think it’d be a weekly stop.  

Fun Fact Robert Redford learned to swim in Barton Springs Pool at age 5.

There were awesome open-air bathrooms where women were blow-drying their hair after their usual morning swim.

I loved the laid back vibes I got from the locals enjoying their little city treasure. 

One woman even let me borrow her hair dryer because we too, were also on the move.

FYI- Barton Springs Pool is closed every Thursday, 9am-7pm for cleaning and maintenance.

Rainey Street Explorations—Rainey Street Historic District

Rainey Street is a quiet yet hip and lively alternative to the East 6^th Street area. Located right in a historic area downtown not far from the Colorado River.  Basically a bunch of bungalow style houses, that have been converted into restaurants and bars with a few food trucks sprinkled in between. From crawfish to sausages there’s something for everyone. Pretty much all the stops have a cute backyard garden or porch to accompany a charming string of lights. There’s even a little burst of colorful double decker shipping container bars—upping the trend factor.

 Our friends brought their dog and he was welcome wherever. 

We attempted to make Bangers work (known for 

their sausages and beer garden) but we weren’t 

feeling the 1.5 hour wait.  

There were plenty of other patio options so we bounced around and ended up eating at Javelina’s.  

From brunch to dinner, Rainey Street is a clutch neighborhood option in the heart of Austin.

Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake)—Sandra Muraida Way & W. Cesar Chavez St.

Austin is a city surrounded by water. Over the years, dams have been built to form seven reservoirs along the Colorado River. Lake Travis, Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake), and Lake Austin are among a few of these bodies of water known as the Highland Lakes.

Lady Bird Lake named after former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson—and previously known as Town Lake, a recreational lake loved by Austin guests and locals. 

The shores are lined by hike and bike trails making it the perfect nature retreat yet still in the city. Barton springs flows into the lake and Zilker Park runs adjacent to the lake.  

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail offers a complete 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake… 

again another city gem for Austin residents. 

There are also several different standup kayak and paddleboard rental options along the lakeshores. 

We rented a 2-person kayak from The Rowing Dock and enjoyed a late afternoon cruise. 

It’s beautiful to be on the water and look up at the green hills and city skyline.

Lake Austin is another pretty spot in town. 

There are a handful of scenic restaurants on the lake and beautiful homes built into the hills.

 Mt. Bonnell Sunset—3800 Mt. Bonnell Road

I highly recommend the short drive and climb to the top of Mt. Bonnell. It’s the highest point in Austin and the perfect place to get a birds eye view. 

From the summit you can see the city skyline, Colorado River/ Lake Austin, and all the beautiful green hills and houses. 

It is especially magical at sunset. 

There are picnic tables and countless cliffside nooks.

 I was surprised at how many locals and people were scattered about yet it was still quiet and peaceful. 

There are so many different views and pockets to spread out and have your space. 

My only regret was not taking a bottle of wine and getting there a little earlier.

Via 313 Pizza—1111 E. 6^th Street

We wrapped up Day 2 by grabbing the best pizza from Via 313. Of course it was yet, ANOTHER, food truck but—the pizza was legit. They serve a hot and delicious deep dish Detroit-style pizza…aaaamazing. There’s also a cute courtyard with picnic tables string lights (of course) to sit back and enjoy.