Significant historical, geographical, and cultural distinctions exist between North Austin and South Austin. As a result, you’ll find things to do in North Austin that are different from activities in South Austin. If you are planning a trip to North Austin, especially if you are staying for a while, here are some suggestions about how to spend your leisure time.
What Is North Austin Known For?
Locals know North Austin as a more urban, tech-driven area. Major employers in the area include Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung, each of which has invested substantially in the neighborhood.
Compared to the artsy vibe of South Austin, North Austin has more of a college-town feel. The distinctive cultures of North Austin and South Austin cause a good-natured rivalry between the two areas.
What Are the Best Things To Do in North Austin?
North Austin offers many unique food, shopping, and entertainment opportunities. Here is a small sampling of some things you can do while visiting here.
1. Explore the Outdoors
On the outskirts of its urban area, North Austin offers opportunities for outdoor activities. For example, you could head along the North Capital of Texas Highway to explore the Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt on foot or by bicycle.
Along the San Gabriel River is a 28-mile hiking and biking trail through protected wilderness called the Goldwater Loop. The San Gabriel River’s south fork also has a lagoon called the Blue Hole, where you can swim. The Blue Hole is picturesque, bordered on one side by 30-foot high cliffs of limestone, but confine your activities to swimming and enjoying the view. Jumping from the cliffs is prohibited and punishable by a fine.
2. See a Piece of Film History and Have a Tasty Treat
Top Notch is a burger joint that became famous in 1993 when it appeared in the movie “Dazed and Confused.” Grabbing a bite here is one of the best things to do in North Austin. The classic eatery has been open since 1971, and locals rave about the fried chicken and charcoal-grilled hamburgers.
3. Visit Inner Space Cavern
Inner Space Cavern is a 1.2-mile cave in North Austin. A highway crew discovered it in 1963 while scouting a location for Interstate 35. As they were drilling holes, they lost a drill bit into what seemed to be a bottomless void. Today, the cave is open to guided tours, and you can see some spectacular rock formations.
The Inner Space Cavern Adventure Tour lasts about an hour, and a new tour departs approximately every 20 to 30 minutes. Tickets are sold on a first-come basis.
4. Try a Texas-Sized Donut
There’s an old saying that everything is bigger in Texas. Round Rock Donut took that literally in creating the “Texas-sized donut,” a confection with a larger diameter than your head. You can get the Texas-sized donut covered in chocolate or with a glaze.
If you’re not feeling that adventurous, Round Rock Donut also has more traditional pastries. Picking up a sweet treat here is one of the tastiest things to do in North Austin.
5. Take a Shopping Trip
There are multiple shopping malls in North Austin, including the Domain and the Arboretum. Each offers a combination of national chain stores, unique local offerings, food, and things to do. Whether you’re looking for necessities for your trip or souvenirs, you can find them at one of the shopping centers. Options range from the upscale to the affordable.
6. Enjoy a Torchy’s Taco
There are hundreds of taco places in North Austin, all of which put their unique spin on the classic Tex-Mex dish. However, perhaps none has as much personality as Torchy’s, with its baby devil mascot and “damn good!” slogan.
An Austin original, Torchy’s started as nothing more than a food trailer, a red Vespa, and a dream. Today, it has over 90 locations. Torchy’s regularly promotes a “Taco of the Month,” so if you stay in North Austin for a while, you can try multiple specials and choose your favorite.
7. Try a Skydiving Simulator
One of the most adrenaline-boosting things to do in North Austin is visiting the indoor skydiving facility called iFLY. A 1,600-horsepower engine powers a 14-foot wind tunnel that allows you to experience the feeling of being suspended in space, seemingly weightless. There is no sensation of falling. You can book a flight to try the simulator regardless of age, shape, size, or ability.
8. Attend the Hairy Man Festival
If you plan to be in North Austin in October, you can attend the Hairy Man Festival in Round Rock. The Hairy Man is a local legend about a hermit who got separated from a caravan of settlers as a boy in the 1800s. Growing up away from civilization, he supposedly menaced anyone who came into his territory, and his spirit is said to terrorize travelers still.
The annual Hairy Man Festival offers a Hairiest Man Contest in addition to the usual food, vendors, and entertainment. This festival is, by far, one of the most unusual things to do in North Austin. If you decide to enter, remember that body hair on the torso counts in addition to hair on your head.
9. Observe Bats
While South Austin is better known for green spaces, there are still opportunities to observe nature and wildlife in North Austin. Some species of bats have adapted to the urban environment and roost under the I-35 overpass bridge where it crosses McNeil Road. If you stop by this intersection around sunset, you can see bats take off on their nightly hunting excursion.
This is among the most budget-friendly things to do in North Austin; it only costs the gas it takes to get there. These bats eat insects, not blood, so it is safe to watch them from a distance as long as you don’t harm or interfere with them in any way.
Your Home Base as You Look for Things To Do in North Austin
There are many things to do in North Austin, but one thing you should do before your trip is decide where to stay. Sunset Ranch RV Park is a peaceful RV community offering modern amenities in a natural setting to long-term and short-term visitors alike. Contact us to inquire about availability.