6 Reasons to Spend Spring Break in Austin

6 Reasons to Spend Spring Break in Austin

18 Jan 2019

Planning your 2019 spring break in Austin? This time of the year brings mild temperatures, inexpensive travel, and uncrowded streets. The Texas State Capitol offers excellent cuisine, boundless outdoor adventure, family-friendly activities, and more. You might be thinking white sand and beaches is spring break, but Austin offers so much more for much less.

To help you plan, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite reasons why Austin is an ideal spring break destination. If you are seeking more specific recommendations to meet your party’s needs, contact us or visit our things to do pages to learn more.

1. Safe and Family-Friendly

Austin is home to an abundance of family-friendly activities where adults can relax and the kids can explore. The Thinkery is free for kids younger than 23 months but is meant for all ages. Considered Austin’s home for “now” and “why,” The Thinkery offers interactive exhibits to help encourage creative problem-solving.

Are the kids into history? Take a tour of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin, offered for free every day of the week. Located on San Jacinto Boulevard, the State Capitol building also has free parking for up to two hours. Tours run every 30 to 45 minutes and run about 30 minutes. Check for themed events like the Hispanic Heritage, Honoring Texas Veterans, and Women in Texas History tours.

2. Great Weather

Spring temperatures in Austin typically hit highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s. The mild temperatures offer the opportunity to explore the great outdoors, and there’s plenty of that around Austin. Go on the longest and fastest zip line in Texas with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. The 3-hour guided tour takes you on five zip lines ranging from 300 to more than 2,800 feet in the air.

Austin and the surrounding area is also home to great hiking at McKinney Falls State Park, Enchanted Rock, and Pedernales Falls State Park. Austin is also an oasis for cyclists, novice or advanced. Check out the trails at Pace Bend Park, Barton Creek Greenbelt, and Lady Bird Lake. Springtime is ideal hiking season as it’s not yet too hot and humid.

3. Water Activities

Being on the water is a way of life in Austin. With the highs in the 70s and 80s throughout March and April, the temperature is perfect for a day on the water. Go paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, take a dip at the Barton Springs Pool, rent a boat with ATX Party Boats or go sightseeing with Austin Duck Adventures. The Hamilton Pool Preserve is also a popular spot for locals with a 50-foot waterfall and scenic setting. Even if it’s not hot enough for a swim, Hamilton Pool Preserve is a beautiful spot to relax and have a picnic. We also offer some amazing lakefront properties so you can easily enjoy all the activities Lake Austin and Lake Travis have to offer!

4. Uncrowded Streets

Spring in Austin is famous for its week-long South by Southwest music, film, and interactive arts conference. In its 31st running, the festival is scheduled for March 8 to 17 in 2019. It’s one of the largest creative arts gatherings in the world, making it the busiest week in the spring. Outside of this week, there are plenty of events and festivals, and the crowds are much smaller. Unless you’re planning to go to the event, we recommend steering clear of visiting during this time.

5. Inexpensive

Traveling to Austin in the spring is inexpensive outside of the week of South by Southwest. Because Austin is outside of the traditional spring break box, the city is an affordable option compared to other beach destinations. It’s even possible to find airfare for less than $100!

6. Great Food

One year-long draw for travelers in Austin is the incredible food scene. Dine alfresco in Austin without a wait at local favorites like Contigo, Jacoby’s, Lenior, or Alta’s. Austin’s food scene covers just about everything, from classic barbecue to fine French cuisine. Any palate can find a spot to unwind and indulge.

These are only a few reasons why you should spend your spring break in Austin. Take a look at our available properties and our vacation planning guide to find out why we love ATX!