In the final stretch of the school year, take a break from final exams and projects with a walk in the park. In honor of National Take a Walk in the Park Day on March 30, The Daily Texan compiled a list of the four best places for Longhorns to go for a stroll.
Pflugerville Pedestrian Bridge
One of many scenic bridges in Austin, the Pflugerville Pedestrian Bridge doesn’t support cars, giving it a unique charm. As a plus, pedestrians get to travel in peace away from the distracting roar of car engines. Make sure to pay a visit during dawn or dusk, when the river reflects the glow of the emerging or disappearing sun. The bridge serves not just as a way to move from point A to B; on Sunday nights, one might find Austinites gathered for a session of Scream Club, a wellness initiative where people meet up and scream to their heart’s content.
Mount Bonnell
A classic destination among students, Mount Bonnell features less walking and more knee-lifting as people climb a small hillside staircase to a lovely vantage point of Austin. At almost 800 feet, the quaint mound serves as one of the highest locations in the Texas capital. On top, benches under a pagoda offer a moment’s rest, and sometimes, hilltop buskers provide background music to the bustling landscape. Like the pedestrian bridge, make sure to go in early morning or evening to watch the sun rise or set over the city.
Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake
It’s one thing to view the Colorado River from above at Mount Bonnell; walking alongside it while watching the waves ripple and kayaks float by is an entirely different story. This trail offers 10 miles of meandering pathway, always busy with joggers, baby strollers, bikers and the like, with the river on one side and a sprawling park on the other. Look closely near the trail entrance at Auditorium Shores for a memorial honoring homeless individuals who have passed away in Austin. Or, take a few steps back into the park and view a stretch of the city’s downtown skyscrapers.
Pease Park Conservancy
Only a 15-minute bike ride from campus, Pease Park Conservancy provides a pleasant and convenient destination for students, staff and faculty looking for a place to reconnect with nature. The park not only offers trails, but also food trucks and a small kid’s park as well as courts and nets for the athletically-inclined. Here, trails outline large fields perfect for an aesthetic picnic. A metal tree house and giant troll tucked among the forestry serve as the park’s unique attractions. Every April, the conservancy hosts Eeyore’s Birthday, an annual festival named after the Winnie the Pooh character and highlighting the “Keep Austin Weird” concept.
