Activities Archives - Page 14 of 27

Funky Chicken Coop Tour Inspires Urban Homesteading in Austin

March 31, 2016 by Kristin Leigh Leave a Comment

Two chicken enthusiasts in Austin (Credit: Funky Chicken Coop Tour)

I pull my beat-up pickup truck in front of an adorably hip family home and glance at my map nervously. I don’t want to walk into the wrong stranger’s backyard this morning, but I’m afraid this is a real possibility.

That’s when I notice two women walking out across the front yard, clutching tour maps and wearing farm-tough rubber boots. I relax. On this breezy Saturday, I’ve come to the right spot to find exactly what I’m looking for: a hen house. [Read more…]

Romp Around at These 6 Austin Dog Parks & Off Leash Areas

March 30, 2016 by Ashley Alkek 2 Comments

Guest article by Ashley Alkek

Austinites and their dogs, am I right? It’s a special bond. There are plenty of ways to spend quality time with your bestie, and dog parks in Austin are easy to find. So whether your pooch is in need of fresh air and exercise, a dip in the water or a little canine socializing, we’ve got you covered.

Check out these six sniff-worthy Austin dog parks, which all offer leash-free fun.

Best Dog Parks & Off Leash Areas in Austin

[Read more…]

Take Back Touristy Austin With 10 Places Just for Locals

March 24, 2016 by Eliza Weeks 2 Comments

Credit: Holp Photography

Austin has something for everyone. Even those who don’t live here can easily find an excuse to visit the 512. Be it our Instagram-able food, waterfront views or our myriad of festivals, Austin attracts visitors like bats to the Congress Avenue bridge.

But where does it all end? Can’t we have our city to ourselves every once in awhile? Thankfully, there are a few places in the corners and crannies that the tourists haven’t discovered yet. These places offer everything Austin is known for, but they’re a bit quieter about it.

No lines, wristbands or badges, just authentic Austin for locals. So let’s take back our city! But shhh…don’t let anyone else know about it. [Read more…]

Free Places to Have Fun With Your Kids in Austin

March 11, 2016 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments

The Thinkery will amaze children and adults alike (Credit: Donnie Ray Jones via Flickr CC)

Guest article by Dana Minney

When I was pregnant with twins and living in New York City 12 years ago, I couldn’t wait to move to Austin, TX. People enthusiastically described how “livable” and even “weird” it was here. Most importantly, everyone agreed there’s no better city to raise a family in.

They did not lie!

Now my boys are 11 and a half and have lived here nearly all their lives. We so enjoy it here that we can’t imagine living back east, or anywhere else. Austin is where it’s at, and we sure do get around this town.

If you are also a parent who likes to get out and learn, do and experience life together with your kids, here is a short list of FREE opportunities to help you on your way. [Read more…]

The Austinot Does Austin Panic Room

March 8, 2016 by Jessica Pino Leave a Comment

A photo posted by Angela Nichole (@angelanicholeatx) on Jan 12, 2016 at 3:46pm PST

Imagine being handcuffed to a wall with no sign of freedom other than a small, wooden, locked box. Now imagine half your team is in an adjacent room, also handcuffed to a wall. This is how The Austinot bloggers decided to spend their Thursday evening: trying to escape from Prison Break at Austin Panic Room.

While we can’t give you answers to the puzzles, here are some tips to surviving Austin Panic Room, and having fun while you’re doing it. [Read more…]

Places in Austin to Take Your Two Left Feet for Texas Two-Step

March 4, 2016 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Guest article by Laurie Engle

Not having grown up in Texas, one of the things I enjoyed most when I first moved to Austin was listening to live music and watching all the cute couples on the dance floor, having a blast two-stepping. At first, I didn’t know what type of dancing I was looking at, but I quickly decided I wanted to twirl around in a southern gentlemen’s arms wearing a sundress and boots.

You may have a secret desire to get out there yourself, but you’re concerned about not knowing what the heck you’re doing. No worries, I’m going to share with you where to take your two left feet for an awesome class with some of the best teachers in Austin. Our city has no shortage of amazing and truly historic joints to head to when you want to show off your new skills.

Here are three of my favorites. [Read more…]

Austin Bouldering Project Offers Community-Oriented Indoor Fitness

February 25, 2016 by Talena Ramnath Leave a Comment

Austin Bouldering Project’s main room hosts dozens of problems that change weekly

Community is a gathering of people uniting around a shared passion, within their own space. Zach Olschwanger, founder and head manager of Austin Bouldering Project, operates with the idea of community at the forefront of his gym’s growth strategy. “People have been so willing and anxious to help out in any way. Our approach is to do the best that we can to make it the best it can be, so that other people can enjoy it and tell other people about it. This is kind of the dream; it’s the culture of [bouldering],” he said.

Austin Bouldering Project, a 50,000 square-foot bouldering facility, opened its doors on Nov. 28, 2015, as hordes of Austin rock climbers rushed to finish their Thanksgiving feast to head to the new prime spot for indoor bouldering in the United States. After years of planning, city ordinance mishaps, and miserable rain due to El Niño that continually halted production, the gym was finally able to welcome the anxious public who had been continually checking updates for over a year, so they could get their hands chalked up. [Read more…]

5 Reasons to Adopt a Greyhound in Austin

January 28, 2016 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

It's definitely not a "ruff" life for greyhounds in Austin (Credit: Inked Fingers)

You can rescue an Austin greyhound from a “ruff” life (Credit: Inked Fingers)

Guest article by Catelyn Silapachai

Here in Austin, adoptable greyhounds come from local racing greyhound breeders, other states where greyhounds race and Gulf Greyhound Park near Houston. This was the last race track in Texas to feature live racing, which ended at the beginning of this year.

As many hounds retire every month, there has never been a better time to consider adopting a greyhound. I adopted mine from Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas (GPA-Central Texas) when I lived in an apartment, and discovered five reasons why this breed is absolutely perfect for life in our town.

[Read more…]

What to Do When It’s Raining in Austin, Texas

January 21, 2016 by Jessica Pino 14 Comments

Click Play on the podcast player above to listen to our Austinot Podcast, recorded in September 2012. In this episode, we cover local spots like Blazer Tag, Alamo Drafthouse and Texas Military Forces Museum. We’ve collected many more places to share since then, so read on for more ideas!

Let’s all agree that Alamo Drafthouse is any Austinite’s go-to rainy day activity. And if you’re like me, procrastination often keeps your from finding a seat when you want it most.

Fortunately, Austin is an amazing city filled with tons of stuff to do that doesn’t have to take place on an outdoor patio. So you can either stay inside and mope, or go out with friends and explore some of these amazing things to do when it’s raining in Austin. [Read more…]

City Within Our City: What’s Up With Sunset Valley?

January 8, 2016 by Kristin Leigh 2 Comments

Have you ever found yourself at the south end of Lamar, perplexed at the inexplicable change in scenery, suddenly surrounded by trees, walking trails and wider streets? Yeah, me too. Chances are, you have come upon the city of Sunset Valley. This tiny, eclectic city within a city is sandwiched between Westgate, Brodie Lane and Jones Road.

For those who have found themselves wondering what unexpected Bermuda Triangle of gravel trails, wide roads and tree-canopied streets they have come upon, fear not! This one-square-mile city south of downtown Austin packs a punch as a satisfying destination for a laundry list of adventures. [Read more…]

Best Dog Parks & Off Leash Areas in Austin

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