Location, location, location – it’s the top consideration when you’re buying a home. When deciding what makes the best place to call home, it’s important to look beyond the neighborhood and dive into the city itself. Ideally you want to find the perfect home in the perfect city that has easy access to all the things you and your family love and need.

When you choose a Brookfield Residential home in the Austin area, you’re getting a stunning home within a vibrant community in a city that has plenty of things to do. Find a home where we build in Austin and you’re in the hotspot for music, food, culture, and outdoor fun. Settle down in San Marcos and there’s a variety of outdoor activities, great local dining options, and plenty of history, arts, and culture.

Let’s explore some of the best summer activities you can enjoy when you call Austin or San Marcos home.

Summer Fun in Austin

The secret is out and more potential homebuyers are being drawn to Southeast Austin – and it’s easy to see why. A once-industrial area now growing in popularity thanks to its attainable housing, prime location, proximity to nature, and the intrigue of things to come, this is an area well worth your attention.

Summertime is a great time in Austin. Outdoor fun reigns supreme with water activities, concerts in the park, and picnicking at a brewery or winery. Here are some fun ideas to build your Austin summer bucket list:

1. Visit Lake Travis

Lake Travis is more than a lake, it’s a destination. There’s dining, a waterpark and challenge course, ziplining, boat rentals and so much more. A bad day on the lake? Never heard of one. It’s hard to fit in all the fun in one day, but check out some tips on how to spend a day on Lake Travis.

2. Take a dip in a spring-fed swimming hole

Check out Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre, spring-fed pool that maintains a brisk 68 degrees year-round. Surrounded by grassy embankments, visitors can lounge in the shade of mature pecan trees or find a sunny spot to sunbathe and enjoy that Texas sunshine. Head to the Hamilton Pool Preserve, a historic swimming hole with a dramatic 50-foot waterfall that plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. Be sure to make a reservation in advance so you’re guaranteed a spot and don’t miss out!

3. Pack a picnic to enjoy at Zilker Park

Known as the “jewel in the heart of Austin,” Zilker Park is a 351-acre park that features a sculpture garden, stand-up paddle boarding, dinosaurs at the prehistoric garden, and unbeatable views of the Austin skyline. In true Austin fashion, music takes center stage whether it’s Blues on the Green in the summer or the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October.

4. Hike along the Barton Creek Greenbelt

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is the go-to destination for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. Enjoy 12 miles of trails where you can hike or bike or try rock-climbing or bouldering. Hike in to Gus Fruh, a swimming hole known for its famed Urban Assault limestone rock wall – a favorite among climbers.

5. Drink up the scenery

Austin is a place like no other, so why not take a minute and enjoy the city with a cool drink in hand? Sip a cocktail in the whiskey garden at Still Austin Whiskey Co., located at The Yard. This is the first whiskey distillery in the Austin city limits since Prohibition and is a 100% “grain to glass” operation meaning they do everything in-house: milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, barreling, and bottling.

Sip a farmhouse beer in the outdoor beer garden at Jester King Brewery, a brewery committed to mixed culture and spontaneous fermentation with a focus on local materials. Enjoy live music, fun events like Sip ‘N Paint, or cruise by the goat barn for your dose of cuteness.

Take in those “only Hill Country” views at Driftwood Estate Winery. Sitting atop a bluff that overlooks the estate and Hill Country, visitors can sit back and enjoy one of the award-winning wines and some delicious food from Driftwood Bistro.

6. Experience Bat Fest

This is an experience like no other. Returning to the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin on August 27, 2022, Bat Fest features 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from under the bridge at dusk. The event includes live music, local food and drink, more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, and children activities including a bat costume contest.

7. Enjoy live music

Experiencing Austin wouldn’t be complete without live music. After all, it is the live music capital of the world. The Moody Center hosts the biggest and best acts in the music industry as well as family, sport, and community events. Austin-based Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey acts as the “Minister of Culture,” ensuring Longhorn and Austin cultures are properly represented, creating a fan experience that is authentic to Austin and unlike any other venue in the country.

The Best of San Marcos

San Marcos has been listed as one of “Forbe’s Best Places to Retire” as well as one of the “Best Places to Raise your Kids” by Business Week. With so much to explore, see, taste, and do, it’s easy to see why San Marcos, Texas is one of the best places to call home.

While the Texas sun can be ruthless, San Marcos has plenty of cool attractions, chilly river fun, and refreshing beverages to make it the perfect place for a summer respite.

1. Go river tubing

There’s no better way to beat the heat than being on the water and river-tubing is a unique way to do it. Head to the San Marcos River where the water is a nice 72 degrees all year round or to New Braunfels where you can enjoy the Comal River or Guadalupe River.

2. Ride the rapids at Rio Vista Park

Rio Vista Park is a great place to put your kayak in and paddle upstream or just swim in the deep watering hole. Enjoy the artificial rapids with a tube, canoe, or kayak or soak up the sun along the river banks.

3. Explore the water from above

Head over to The Meadows Center for a quintessential San Marcos experience – the glass-bottom boat tour. The 30-minute tour of Spring Lake via boat allows you to see the very bottom of the lake through a glass panel. You’ll see the ecosystem below as well as the springs that give the lake its name.

4. Try some unique family-friendly fun

The Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club is a new take on fun for the whole family. Featuring a big course and a mini-course (like “putt-putt golf for disc golf”), there’s plenty of fun for players of all skill levels.

Escape the summer sun by exploring an earthquake-formed cave at Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park. Guides lead small groups deep into the Balcones Fault Line Cave for an educational and entertaining cave tour. After the cave, you have to visit the park’s other quirky attractions like the Anti-Gravity House, Observation Tower, and Texas Wildlife Petting Park.

5. Enjoy an ice-cold brew in a laid-back atmosphere

Who says the kids get to have all the fun? Head over to Putt Pub, an 18-hole miniature golf course featuring two full bars, food trucks, games, and good vibes. It’s like your laid-back neighborhood bar and the ultimate Sunday Funday spot all in one.

Head over to Middleton Brewing where you can enjoy world class beer and food in an inviting, entertaining, and laid-back atmosphere. Head to the rooftop where you can soak in some beautiful Hill Country views. There’s also live music, open mic nights, and Trivia Thursday for you to enjoy.

Fun Closer to Home

There’s so much to do and enjoy outside of the communities in Austin and San Marcos, but what about the fun just steps from your front door?

Kissing Tree is known for being more than a community, but a place where good neighbors become great friends. Whether it’s a round of golf, a game of pickleball, or dancing the night away in the Biergarten, there are plenty of monthly activities ready for homeowners to enjoy. One of the residents’ favorites is the Summer Live Music Series where they can enjoy live music and unique food trucks each week.

It feels like you’re on vacation when you’re lounging poolside at one of the resort-style pools at Easton Park, Addison, or Kissing Tree. At Kissing Tree, the outdoor resort pool features a beach entry, in-water lounge chairs, plenty of shaded seating, infinity edge, party cabanas, fire features, and a separate jacuzzi area.

The Union at Easton Park captures the funk and flavor of Austin. The sparkling resort-style pool is the perfect place to cool off on hot Texas summer days. Bring a friend and a floaty — the water’s just right.

Enjoy not one, but two private pools at Addison that are just steps away from your home. Pull up a lounge chair and soak up the sun or wade in via the beach-entry found at the south side of the community. It’s a refreshing break from the heat.

Brookfield Residential proudly builds the best places to call home throughout the Austin area. Explore our communities and connect with our sales team when you’re ready to learn more. We’ll be expecting you!