Things To Do In The Austin Metro: A Local's Guide

Austin TX

10 June, 2021

7:01 PM

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AUSTIN, TX — Are you tired of the usual Austin scene for things to do? You don't have to explore the metro area like most tourists, instead you should see Austin the way most locals do. More than 50 Austin Metro area residents gave Patch their things to do recommendations on where to eat, drink, socialize and where to find some hidden gems in Austin. Here's a list of some of their local favorites. Is there a great local eatery or place you love in the Austin Metro? Send us your news tip to [email protected] so we can add it to our list and share it to our neighbors. LOCAL'S GUIDE TO THINGS TO DO IN AUSTIN Sandy's Hamburgers 603 Barton Springs Rd. in Austin "Ain't nothing like it.... The burgers ...and custard are good too!" — Hank-Anne Wire Lebowski's Grill Located inside Highland Lanes at 8909 Burnet Rd. in Austin "It is an excellent hamburger joint located inside a bowling alley with 'The Big Lebowski' as its theme." — Mike Nagle Lala's Little Nugget 2207 Justin Ln. in Austin "Lala's Little Nugget is always a cool place to get a good vibe of the city. It's a Christmas bar that is open 365 days a year!" — Josh Droog. Donn's Depot 1600 W 5th St. in Austin "Donn's depot is a fun divey bar that's in a train car and has a bathroom that likely hasn't changed much since the 70's. Staff has been around longer than I've been alive." — Angel Huron The Little Longhorn Saloon 5434 Burnet Rd. in Austin "Chicken sh** bingo at little longhorn saloon" — Ashley Velkey "We had a work event there last year before COVID-19 hit. It was so much fun that we are now talking about doing it annually. We already have an event booked for January! You have to be there for chicken sh** Bingo. It's way more fun than I expected!" — Mandy Clare "Chicken sh** bingo on Sundays at Longhorn bar." — Alejandro Reyes Butler Pitch and Putt 201 Lee Barton Dr. in Austin "Best lil' city golf course at Butler Pitch and Putt." — Sarah Karney Roosevelt Room 307 W 5th St. in Austin "Roosevelt Room was my favorite place my fiance took me! Super fancy cocktails from the 1920s, 30s 40s 50s etc.!! The smell in there is phenomenal like an apothecary or something!" — Meghan Gregg Cathedral of Junk 4422 Lareina Dr. in Austin This whimsical, multilevel shelter is made with 60+ tons of used furniture, home goods & other junk. "Cathedral of Junk is awesome!" — Molly Perkins Swim in your "birthday suit" at Hippie Hollow This beach was once a local secret, but now it's a popular destination for nudists. Yep, that's right. Hippie Hollow, 7000 Comanche Trail, is a nude beach on the shore of Lake Travis that is the only "legally recognized" clothing-optional public park in the State of Texas. Become a Jedi. No, seriously. "Learn the art of becoming a Jedi at Lone Star Saber Academy Open Practices. Wednesday nights in Round Rock." — Heidi Tucker Check out an Austin speakeasy "Austin has a bunch of 'secret' and hidden speakeasies that are pretty neat." — Aparna Jayakumar Here are some notable spots on Aparna's list: Milango Room at 1201 E 6th St. in AustinFirehouse Lounge at 605 Brazos St. in AustinGarage at 503 Colorado St. in AustinRed-headed Stepchild at 119 E. 5th St. in AustinHere nor There at 612 Brazos St. in AustinMidnight Cowboy at 313 E 6th St. in Austin Join cycling and boarding groups in Austin "I own Rent EBoards Austin and we host weekly group rides (onewheels, e skate boards, scooters and e bikes) through downtown every Wednesday! Feel free to join the Austin Onewheel Club on Facebook groups!" — Luke Hsiao "You can get quirky with Your Biker Gang." — Colin McGraw Sign up for under-the-radar things to do in Austin "I follow The Nudge and they will send you a text on Thursdays of fun local places to go. It's usually a place and a restaurant and they will send you sort of an itinerary so if you have to make a reservation for a hike or a restaurant you have plenty of time to do so. Most of the time they will have multiple options so that if you want to go on a hike, go to a lake, go to a movie or just stay in...they got you covered." — Jessica Normann "Check out @the.disco.ranch on Instagram. They are small, intimate, unique, and definitely under the radar." — Danielle Collier Places to visit outside of AustinJ. Lorraine Ghost Town is located in Manor and features an Old West set that looks lost in time. (Photo by Meagan Falcon/Patch) Lisa Lu's 620 State Hwy 95. in Granger "It's a bit off the beaten path and away from Austin, but if you fancy yourself a 'burger aficionado' there is a little place called Lisa Lu's not far this side of Granger on 95. It's also just a couple miles from the house where the new 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' was filmed. Try the 'Jawbreaker Burger.' Prepare yourself for one of the top 3 burgers you will ever come across by the time you are looking back on your life at its end! No joke!" — Johnny Noel Tillie's 3509 Creek Rd. in Dripping Springs "Do a yoga brunch at the beautiful out of the way forest church house at Tillie's/Camp Lucy." — Colin McGraw Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery 101 Co Rd 409 in Spicewood "Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery in Spicewood! Live music every Saturday and lots of other fun events on the calendar." —Taryn Ginn Inner Space Caverns 4200 S IH 35 Frontage Rd. in Georgetown "The history of how they 'accidentally' found them while building I-35 is interesting enough before you even go in and see the wonders." — Patricia Lopacki "In the heat of summer, it stays nice and cool in the cave. It's a great way to escape the heat for a few hours." — Tracey Florence J. Lorraine Ghost Town 14219 Littig Rd. in Manor"My favorite place is J Lorraine Ghost Town in Manor." — Christy StoneThis family-friendly amusement park features Old West storefronts, a maze and games, with burgers, hot dogs and beer. The set was also used in AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead" show. Take a ride on the Austin Steam Train 401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste A-103 in Cedar Park Locals said if newbies or tourists are looking for an adventure, they should check out the Austin Steam Train in Cedar Park. Punch your ticket any weekend of the year for a ride on the Bertram Flyer or Hill Country Flyer, and enjoy seeing Austin's Hill Country from a different vantage point. Leander Dinosaur Tracks 601 S. Gabriel Dr. in Leander About a half mile west from the Hwy. 183 bridge that crosses the South Fork of the San Gabriel River, lies approximately 12 dinosaur footprints embedded in the river bed. Not many people know about the dinosaur tracks just northwest of Austin in Leander, locals say. Scientist believe the three-toed tracks once belonged to a carnivorous dinosaur and the round circular tracks belonged to a large herbivore. Some of the more defined tracks have circles around them where people have tried to excavate the footprints, locals say. Tip: You will need to hike the river bed to find the tracks. More adventures Austin locals are talking about:Austin Metro residents gave Patch their things to do recommendations on where to eat, things to do and where to find hidden gems in Austin.(Shutterstock) "Rent a boat on Lake Belton, Wimberley Market Days on Saturdays, free admission to the Blanton art museum on Thursdays, free kids bowling at Mel's in Georgetown (if you sign up for the kids club), rent a kayak at Zilker Park and take a walk on the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk (parking at the Statesman lot)." — Tiffany Chapman "Head to 3 Star Candy Shop in downtown round rock, go mini-golfing at Peter Pan Mini Golf in Austin, watch the bats, canoe on Lady Bird Lake, head to Amy's Ice Cream at the Arboretum and take the kids to the Quarry Splash Pad and steam train at Williamson County Southwest Regional Park." — Crystal Larson "The small trail at Blue Hole up in Georgetown has a great view of bluffs, rock bluff pass through, and playground at end of trail for kiddos. Other great places include the wagon wheel grooves at Memorial Park in Round Rock and Mckinney Falls and the side trail through rock shelter between the two falls along Onion Creek." —Jodi Jacobson "Mayfield Park in Austin. They have a trail, ponds, and peacocks. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Jonestown. Cedar Breaks Park - 5.5mi round hike, has a pretty waterfall. (this costs money); McKinney Falls state park (this costs money) and Tejas Camp for hiking and camping." — Megan Rae Flannary "You should check out Flat Creek winery in Marble Falls; Lake Georgetown; Walburg German Restaurant & Beer Garden; Salt Lick in Round Rock; Lakewood park in Leander; Old Town Leander's Farmers Market and Williamson Co. Regional Park & Splash-pad." — Jason Swift