The capital of Texas, East Austin, is a diverse and cultural area that is always changing an ever-growing. A hot-spot for all things food, art, and music, this east side of the city, Austin, has some of the best things to do and wander. Tourists attracted to this side of the town always come with a checklist of things to see that includes walking through the trail of Tejano Legends, exploring the weird world of Museum of the Weird, and visiting the nature side at Boggy Creek Greenbelt among many others. And when you are not checking out the city’s attractions, there are plenty of cool bars and restaurants offering live music with great food and drinks that are also worth a visit. Now, if you are feeling a tad bit lazy to shortlist the places you need to visit, we have got you covered. Continue reading to check out some of the best things to do in East Austin, Texas.
1. Check out the attractions at Museum of the Weird
Posted by Museum of the Weird on Wednesday, 27 March 2019
“We are all weird down here” - has been taken a bit seriously at the Museum of the Weird. If you like to explore the weird, curious, and the strangest things in America, this right here, is the place to be. Situated within Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts, Museum of the Weird has a reputation of amazing and astonishing everyone who steps inside this mini-weird world. From the lifesize version of the Frankenstein, the Minnesota Iceman, cyclops pig, to the two-headed chicken, and the two-headed calf, you will find a museum full of quirky displays right here.
Museum of the Weird
Address: 412 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701, United States
Website: Museum of the Weird
Opening hours: 10am - 12am (daily)
Price: 12 USD
2. Hike Boggy Creek Greenbelt
Exploring the city life can get tiring and there’s nothing more rejuvenating than spending a day at a lush green park. Spanning over 1.5 mi (2.4 km) and located near East Austin, Boggy Creek Greenbelt is a beautiful trail perfect for birdwatchers, hikers, walkers, and naturalists. Boasting scenic views, this trail is mostly used for picnicking, walking, cycling, jogging, hiking, dog walking, and birdwatching.
Boggy Creek Greenbelt
Address: 1114 Nile St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Boggy Creek Greenbelt
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
3. Walk through the Trail of Tejano Legends
To celebrate the contributions of the famous Latino musicians that defined the music scene in Austin during the 1940s-50s, the “music capital” of Texas renamed its five sites of the trail in honor of these Austin’s music legends. This 5-mi (8 km) long trail boasts stunning outdoor sculptures that are truly a sight to behold. These sculptures are so significant that they capture the character of each musician and how they contributed to Austin’s music scene. And to add a visual character to these legends, the trail features references of the artist’s record, CD, label, and other similar things at each individual site.
Trail of Tejano Legends
Address: Austin, Texas 78701
Website: Trail of Tejano Legends
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4. Go on a hike at Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park
Austin is not just about music, museums, and bars. There is also another side to the coin. The side that explores the wilderness of the city. Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park is a great spot for visitors keen on taking a break by going on a hike. Featuring a trail that spans about a couple of miles, you can go on a hike with your friends or family and spend the day in the lap of nature. Other than the hiking trails, the park also boasts a picnic area, multipurpose field, an indoor and an outdoor basketball court, children’s playground, swimming pool, and a sand volleyball court among other amenities.
Zaragoza Neighborhood Park
Address: 2608 Gonzales St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Zaragoza Neighborhood Park
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri: 11am - 6pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
5. Check out the unusual Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata
A museum made of true wonders - Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata is one of the museums in the United States that’s still run by a family. At the museum, you can find Scott and Jen Webel’s collection of unexpected sights or curiosities including a stuffed pygmy kangaroo, Elvis’s lock of hair, a cigarette butt smoked by Marilyn Monroe, Willie Nelson’s hair strand, a two-headed chick, and a narwhal tusk replica among others.
Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata
Address: 1808 Singleton Ave, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata
Price: 5 USD
6. Chill at the Alamo Pocket Park
Best of Austin 2011, Readers Poll from The Austin Chronicle Best Basketball Court: Alamo Recreation Center
Posted by Austin Parks and Recreation Department on Friday, 14 October 2011
Nestled in Alamo Recreation Center, this park organizes several events and programs throughout the year. Catering to all age groups, Alamo Pocket Park comes with a basketball court, playscape, Gaga pit, and a multipurpose ground. And within the facility, visitors can use the multipurpose room, an office, a kitchen, and a computer lab. This is a place where you can come to play your favorite games, or to just relax here all day long soaking in the fresh air.
Alamo Pocket Park
Address: 2100 Alamo St, Austin, TX 78722, United States
Website: Alamo Pocket Park
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
7. Dance the night away at The White Horse
That Funday night fun you love! Jordan Matthew Young at 8 Silo Road at 10:30 *** NO COVER *** ***21+ ***...
Posted by The White Horse on Sunday, 21 July 2019
After a fun-filled day of exploring the town, let the fun continue at the White Horse. Either dance the night away or sit at a table or by the bar and listen to some of the old-school country music. This lively yet a rowdy bar organizes live music every night with a dance floor that’s spacious enough to let the entire bar dance on it. And if all the dancing tires you out, step out of the bar for fresh air and a breather, and head to the food truck out back that serves delicious tacos. If that wasn’t all, you can continue the fun with a game of billiards or just drink outside with your friends.
The White Horse
Address: 500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: The White Horse
Opening hours: 3pm - 2am (daily)
8. Drop by George Washington Carver Museum
Housed in the old Carver Library, George Washington Carver Museum is solely dedicated to the contributions of the history and heritage of African-Americans towards the American and Texan culture. This magnificent center features a Boyd Vance Theatre, four art galleries, a dance studio, an archive space, a conference room, a photo lab, a classroom, a museum, and a gallery area.
George Washington Carver Museum
Address: 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: George Washington Carver Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
9. Explore Austin's haunted locations with Haunted ATX
New year, new you? New adventures! Hear tales of tragedy of our city’s past, ghastly ghost stories, and enjoy a ride in...
Posted by Haunted ATX on Sunday, 6 January 2019
How about facing your fears in a fun and thrilling way? Or explore the city with a bit of a twist? All you need to do is to be comfortable in a hearse van, now converted to a limousine, as it takes you on a three-hour journey to the most haunted locations in the city. This is a unique opportunity for tourists to explore Austin and to learn about its unique history and the ghosts that haunt the city, all while sitting in a hearse limo.
Haunted ATX
Address: 501 I-35, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Haunted ATX
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 8pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 8pm - 1am; Sun: 7pm - 10pm
10. Try Italian cuisine at Intero Restaurant
On a hunt for an amazing date night venue in East Austin? Intero Restaurant is your best bet. Chef Ian Thurwachter and his wife Krystal Craig who is a chocolatier set up a farm-to-table concept restaurant that takes a contemporary approach while serving guests with home-made Italian dishes, amidst a chic and a relaxing atmosphere. Some of the famous dishes include tortelloni, pasta, rabbit loin, and artisanal chocolates among others.
Intero Restaurant
Address: 2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Intero Restaurant
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 4:30pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 4:30pm - 11pm; Sun: 4:30pm - 9pm (closed on Mon)
11. Get a drink at Stay Gold
If you are looking for a dive bar with a music venue amidst a beautiful garden, then you must check out Stay Gold. Featuring food trucks, this bar is a perfect synonym of what Austin represents - art, music, and food. When you are exploring the eastern side of Austin, this place is an amazing spot to hang out where the hip venue serves some of the best-tasting drinks along with some lip-smacking Texan meals.
Stay Gold
Address: 1910 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Stay Gold
Opening hours: 3pm - 2am (daily)
12. Check out the famous Bale Creek Allen Gallery
If you want a place to be mesmerized, Bale Creek Allen Gallery has to be it. Owned by the gallery’s namesake, Bale Creek Allen, he was renowned for his works on bronze sculpture, neon woodwork, music, painting, photography, theater, and many more. And to showcase all his works and to bring in artists with similar interests from all over the globe to Austin, Bale Creek Allen opened a gallery solely dedicated to contemporary art, music, and other innovative performances.
Bale Creek Allen Gallery
Address: 916 Springdale Rd #103, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Bale Creek Allen Gallery
13. Accumulate in-depth knowledge at Texas Music Museum
As diverse as Texas as a state is, the Texas music is equally diverse. With jazz, blues, country, and rock n roll among others brewing here, Texas has been in the center of musical innovation for a long time. And at Texas Music Museum, you will be taken on a journey as you explore the preserved archives, artifacts, exhibits, documents, and many other materials that shed a light on the music history of Texas.
Texas Music Museum
Address: 1009 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Texas Music Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
14. Check out the art collection at Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery
Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery exhibits a collection of exquisite art in a vintage Quonset hut. Constructed in 1948, this building in East Austin is home to Anna Gieselman - a beekeeper and a jewelry designer, Brian David Johnson - a wood artist, and local artists - Kristen Freeman and Lucas Aoki. Renovated in 2016, Brian David Johnson moved his workshop of 13 years - Splinter Group, to the loft studio in the gallery. Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery also features art collections of upcoming and rising artists where they can showcase their work to the world. In addition, this location also acts as a gathering spot and a place to host exclusive celebrations within the city.
Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery
Address: 3411 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery
Opening hours: 11am - 7pm (daily)
15. Drink a fine cup of coffee at Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
Good mornings are made this way. Thanks for the photo @somuchlifeblog
Posted by Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors on Sunday, 15 January 2017
A good cup of coffee solves all your problems. And Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors ensures just that. Dedicated to serving a fine cup of Joe, Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors boasts a large space with chic industrial decor and a relaxing atmosphere, mostly frequented by local artists and musicians. The cafe also features a community table that is made of a conveyor belt, where you can pull up a chair and drink a cup of coffee, along with some delicious snacks.
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
Address: 1111 Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Website: Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
Plan a perfect vacation at East Austin
Austin, in general, is a vibrant and rich city filled with a lot of culture, heritage, architecture, and history. It is a beautiful haven for exploring. Hence, planning a perfect vacation or a holiday is very important in creating amazing memories from that location. And these amazing memories can be created when you know where to go and what places to check out.
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