The Zilker neighborhood and Zilker Park area has plenty of great Austin attractions. If you enjoyed the Top 10 Weekend Activities In Zilker Park – Part One the next 5 places should be just as exciting.
6. Lou Neff Point:
At one of the sharpest bends in the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, Lou Neff Point has seen drastic change over the years. Recognizing a need to refurbish the Point, hundreds of individual donors banded together to contribute to a beautification and widening project, leading to the gorgeous stone terraces and brick pavers.
The slow moving water along the trail reflects Austin’s skyline, a mesmerizing sight when the light hits just the right way. Lou Neff Point used to be a source of collisions between bikers, joggers and walkers. Now, with the path widened and with the area made even more stunning, people seem to slow down without giving it a second thought. It would be nice to think that they do it for safety’s sake, but the reality is that they are likely pausing to take in the view.
7. Pecan Grove Picnic Area:
While you take out a packed lunch for your friends or family, you feel the gentle breeze wash over you and can finally relax.
What’s terrific about this picnic area is that not only is there plenty of lush grass to lay a blanket on, but there are also rows and rows of picnic tables on which you can sit and relax.
It’s easy to forget the days when people weren’t staring at their screens nonstop, but taking some time to picnic at Pecan Grove brings back memories of when things seemed so much simpler.
8. Playground for Kids:
Your little ones will love the Zilker Park Playground, an expansive set of jungle gyms and other activities geared for young children. Their imaginations can run wild as they play with friends and let off steam.
What’s great about the playground is how close it is to the rest of the great places featured in Zilker Park. A full day in Zilker Park can include a whole range of activities, not just limited to the playground.
9. Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail:
There are several greenbelts throughout Austin’s 78704 area, but only one is popular enough with the locals to be considered The Greenbelt. That honor goes to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, an impressive 12.5+ miles of trails which follow Barton Creek from the Zilker Park Trail Head all the way until the end of the greenbelt itself to the west.
With deeper portions of the creek serving as the perfect swimming locations, it’s easy to jump from the trail and take a dip to cool off.
Mountain bikers will also love the terrain, with special mountain biking trails reserved for this purpose. Rock climbers can also find limestone bluffs which are perfect for scaling, (but be sure to use precaution!)
10. Barking Springs K9 Waterpark:
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about fun things YOU can do in Zilker Park. What about our four legged best friends? Don’t they have somewhere to play and cool off as well?
It turns out they do… The Barking Springs K9 Water Park (I’m sure you can figure out the play on words) is adjacent to nearby Barton Springs. Dogs are allowed to swim and wade in the water along with you, making this a great way to spend a hot day with your family and your pets.
There aren’t many public pool areas that allow both people and dogs to swim together, so Barking Springs is definitely something special for this community. There’s something wholesome about watching children and dogs frolic together in the surf, and the 68 degree water definitely keeps both groups nice and cool during the “dog days” of summer…
