Off-site Activities

Bastrop State Park is the site of the famous ‘Lost Pines,’ an isolated region of Loblolly pine and hardwoods. The park offers backpacking, camping, picnicking, canoeing (park rents canoes), swimming (pool), golfing, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and interpretive programs. Bring the family and rent a canoe or fish from the banks.

Austin offers a range of courses unique to their specific regions. If you have already conquered Hyatt’s Wolfdancer golf course, designed by Arthur Hills, then try Circle C, Star Ranch, Black Hawk, Pine Forest, Roy Kizer, Bluebonnet or Barton Creek Country Club.

A great opportunity to see Texas’ unspoiled landscapes and taste the many varieties of wine grown and bottled right here in Texas. Visit Fall Creek at Lake Buchanan, Grape Creek near Fredericksburg, and others between Austin and San Antonio. Texas varieties include Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Noir. Central Texas, with its rich history, is a great place to enjoy wines with diverse cultural influences. You can also sample Texas wines right here in Bastrop at Cripple Creek and Co.

Austin’s newest museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, houses a notable permanent collection of more than 17,000 works and is recognized for its Old Masters’ paintings, modern and contemporary American and Latin American art, and an encyclopedic collection of prints and drawings. Located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Congress Avenue, the Blanton is the largest university art museum in the country and the third largest art museum in Texas.

Enjoy trips to local Bastrop and Buescher State Parks for camping, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Austin is home to numerous minor league teams and well-known collegiate athletics, including the national champion Texas Longhorns football team. Longhorn basketball games also make for an entertaining outing, as do a Round Rock Express baseball game at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Austin Icebats hockey and the Austin Wranglers arena football games. Please contact the Resort Concierge for details, schedules and tickets.

Austin’s Warehouse District otherwise referred to as Fourth Street, welcomes diners and bar-goers alike on any evening for happy hour or late night reveling. This is a great entertainment district with something for everyone and plenty of choices, whether it’s a Central Texas Shiner beer or a Tito’s Vodka cocktail and tapas at an upscale bar.

The seven blocks of Sixth Street between Congress and IH-35 are the heart of Austin’s thriving music scene. Sixth Street is lined with historic buildings that now house bars, live entertainment venues, tattoo parlors, art galleries, casual cafes, upscale restaurants, offices and the elegant Driskill Hotel. Great food is a staple on Sixth Street, and live music of every genre abounds, from jazz, blues and country to rock, hip-hop, beat, progressive, heavy metal and punk. Also make reservations to attend Esther’s Follies, a variety show poking fun at the latest Hollywood gossip and political humor through song, dance and comedy.

The panoramic landscapes, smooth roads and challenging conditions of the Lost Pines Region and Austin welcome all levels of riders. The LIVESTRONG Challenge hosted each year by Austin’s Lance Armstrong Foundation features a fundraising cycling event with 10, 40, 70, and 100 miles routes.

Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center near Austin and see what the country is talking about. The Center, with its distinctive architecture and stunning gardens, embodies the former first lady’s love of the land and its natural beauty. Stroll among display gardens where hummingbirds and butterflies abound; see a striking rainwater harvesting system; meditate on the beauty of a Hill Country stream; visit Wild Ideas: The Store; and dine at the Wildflower Café.

Learn the story of Texas with fascinating interactive exhibits, children’s programs, art, artifacts, displays and tours. The IMAX Theatre features a variety of interesting films such as Texas: The Big Picture. This is an informative and fun outing for the whole family.

Zilker Park, one of the most highly protected watershed recharge zones of Austin, features a 68-degree spring-fed pool with swimming and sun bathing areas. Ride the Zilker Zephyr, a small train that goes around the park, feed the ducks, play disc golf, rent a canoe or romp on acres of grass near the Town Lake and its hike and bike trail.