Welcome back to the Austin Pedal Party blog, your most visited site when planning a trip to Austin, Texas. All over the city, something new, innovative, and exciting is happening and we are doing our best to keep up with it all! Sure, you might be thinking to yourself that covering all that Austin has to offer might be a tough job to take on, but someone must do it and we are stoked about the task. There’s truly no better way to spend your time than here with us in Austin, right? Well we have found the one guaranteed method to improving your visit to the city, we are going to save you some money!
That is right, you didn’t misread at all. Keep reading to find out ten different ways to spend the day with us while not breaking the bank. Groupon deals aside (and there are plenty) here are some free activities to add to your list. These are family friendly and open to the public during most regular business hours so here’s a compilation of options that you are going to love. Cool points to anyone who manages to finish off the list.
Cathedral of Junk
4.3 ★
Top of this list and with great reason, the Cathedral of Junk is exactly what the name suggests. Walk into a medley of various structures, all comprised of the junk you have forgotten and ignored over the years. Starting the process in 1988, this creative display has hosted visitors from all over for close to fifty years. Growing in insanity every few months, guests have taken to donating more junk than the cathedral’s artist, Vince Hannemann, can keep up with. “Built to withstand Texas Storms” the Cathedral of Junk is entirely safe, sturdy and a prime visiting spot for families. You have never seen anything like this attraction so get ready to want to take photos of every inch. Even weddings have even been hosted at the Cathedral of Junk. When they said that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” Vince Hannemann took the sentiment to heart, and we are glad that he did.
Pease Park
4.7 ★
Texas in general is home to its fair share of parks and Austin in particular has around 300 spread out over 17,000 acres of land. Biased though we might be, we do believe that our parks are the most incredible around. Find out for yourself by visiting them! For a real treat, set your sights on Pease Park, Austin’s first public park. Among the 84 acres of space, find yourself in awe of the Treehouse, play some basketball or experience a picnic with a view of downtown that is hard to beat. There is plenty to do at Pease Park and all types of people to watch, making an afternoon spent at this location an afternoon well spent. No party, meeting or performance is too big to host here so look at their website to see what kind of things can be booked. The people watching never ceases to entertain and there are frequent weddings happening in the area.
Tour the Governor’s Mansion
4.2 ★
Having stood as the official residence for Texas governors and their families since all the way back in 1856, you can be certain that these digs are no less than swanky. Tours are available during most of the year but here is a little tip from us here at Austin Pedal Party, they offer free tours on certain days. Take a moment to check out their website and if you are lucky, the days might just match up but be sure you call ahead as the free tours must be booked in advance. Immerse yourself in Texas history and grandeur with a tour at the Governor’s Mansion which is located at 1010 Colorado St in Austin. Of the deals listed today, this is one that is hard to top. Once inside of the Governor’s Mansion, you may find yourself wondering about running for office one day just to get a taste of the digs.
Swimming at Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.5 ★
Better than any crowded beach adventure, spend your sunny days taking a dip in one of Austin’s favorite outdoor locations. It is not often too crowded and is very aesthetically pleasing. It is located on Capitol of Texas Highway B. You will not have to make many plans when considering an afternoon spent swimming, hiking or even playing with your dog! If you plan to go on specific days, you might even be lucky enough to enjoy one of many events that are thrown here throughout the year. Whether you want to exercise or just take an hour to relax, the Barton Creek Green Belt is a sweet slice of paradise with multiple entrances. Bring your sunscreen and watch out, forgetting the time is easy when you are swimming in the waters of Barton Creek.
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Hike Mount Bonnell
4.7 ★
We cannot seem to stop mentioning adventures in nature for this article but if you take the time to trek up Mount Bonnell you will understand why. Also known by locals as “Covert Park” photographers and those who can’t get enough of a good view will find a sight that has been loved by many since before the 1900s. Stop by for a spell and take in the visions of Austin, Lake Austin and the gorgeous surrounding landscapes at one of the area’s highest points. Well worth the climb up, even history buffs are bound to have a fun time reading up on what significance Mount Bonnell holds for the area. Amidst a ton of surrounding options for things to do in Austin, stay watching for mention of Mount Bonnell again in this very article.
Historic Oakwood Cemetery
4.8 ★
Like we have mentioned before, Austin is a beautiful city that is also rich with historic significance and a trip to the Historic Oakwood Cemetery shows that. Some people might find a walk through the cemetery to be creepy or strange, but we like to take in the generations of ancestry found amongst the headstones. For those who are interested in the history of Austin, many major family names are easily recognized. Back in the day, locals referred to this burial ground as “City Cemetery”. With its origin sometime back in the 1850s (or maybe earlier) Oakwood is not missed easily as it is nestled on top of a hill by I-35. Take in the calm and quiet ambiance that comes with strolling through a part of history that plans to remain intact for years to come.
W. Ann Richards Congress Ave Bridge
4.5 ★
Iconic, to say the absolute least, this bridge is more than one of the top choices for romantic photos with your partner. Mentioned on every blog, any chance we all get, this bridge is home to a massive colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. Catching a vision of this bridge right at dusk, before they all take off for the evening’s feeding, is a task that needs to be at the top of your list. This is the world’s biggest urban bat colony and is a site to see, hardly able to be confined to a single blog’s description. Even a visit during the day cannot be beat. As you might have guessed, there is no shortage of visual splendor here in Austin and the Congress Ave Bridge adds to it all. We would not have been able to complete a list of free scenes through Austin without mention of the bridge. Take one trip there and find out for yourself why people have traveled from all over the world to see the bats.
Peacocks Peacocks Peacocks at Mayfield Park
4.7 ★
Free to the public, if you have never seen a real peacock, now you have an excuse to do so. Before you take on the hike up Mount Bonnell, or maybe after, spend a few minutes in Mayfield Park where peacocks freely roam the area. Watch out though, you may find yourself trading in the hike up a mountain for a leisurely stroll through 23 acres of colorful gardens. Plan your time here for spring for a shot at witnessing the peacocks showing off their righteous tail feathers. Talk about your picture perfect moments!
CONCLUSION
So, there is that! Now you have no reason to believe that Austin is too expensive of a city to visit. We are willing to bet that you can plan an entire trip without having to purchase tickets, only the occasional parking spot. Austin, Texas is one of those cities that keeps arms open for every potential experience, display, or performance and here at the Austin Pedal Party Blog, we want to talk about it. Making plans to stay with us here in the city does not have to be a daunting task when you keep us tabbed in your bookmarks. Speaking of which, if you have not done it yet, here is your hint. Bookmark the blog page and come back anytime to see if we have added to the topics available. You never know what is going to be covered so stay tuned!
Before you go, do not forget to take a second and click through our site. While taking an unforgettable tour on the Pedal Party seems like a priceless experience to us, it is in reality pretty affordable. With seats beginning at only 30$ per person, you will not want to take any other tour once you have ridden with us. It is truly its own style of exploring Austin. Wedding parties, family gatherings and even business ventures can only be made better when you take an affordable, eco-friendly ride with us at Austin Pedal Party. Book your ride and bookmark this page today! Extra points go to anyone who rides with us and posts the photos to social media. We always want to see what you all are up to so use the hashtag #AustinPedalParty so we can see your smiling faces from on top of the Pedal Party!