The best things to do in Austin this summer

Missing art class as a kid? CRAFT is what you’re looking for. This adults-only crafting studio welcomes anyone to no skill level to come to make stuff without fear of having to be “good” at it. For only an initial $5 and then a donation of what you think is fair for the craft supplies used afterward, CRAFT is a cheap, air-conditioned, and excellent experience in East Austin for those who want to get creative without buying all the supplies first. Bonus: they have snacks, too.

A summer without Barton Springs in Austin is like a summer without ice cream. The lush, Eden-like springs are a slice of paradise mere minutes from downtown. Sunbathe on the green grassy hill above the pool's edge in a scene that would have Georges Seurat giddy to capture on canvas, or dive below the blue waters to see a freshwater ecosystem teeming with life. The only way to do Barton Springs wrong is not to go.

What makes playing mini-golf under a giant green dinosaur out in the shade even better? Beer! Or any beverage you choose, as the landmark course just south of downtown welcomes visitors to bring their own drinks while they play a couple of colorful rounds. Open until 11pm in the summer, it's the perfect place for an evening game when it's a touch too hot to swing around during daylight hours.

These stunning waterfalls within city limits would convince TLC to seek them out. A quick hike down from the parking lots inside this state park, the upper and lower falls are cooling cascades worth chasing. Even when the other greenbelt swimming holes are dry for the season, these falls keep a consistent stream of water that pools below both waterfalls. While you can drive from one to the other, the hike between can feel like a world away from the city, just outside the park's limits.

Long before we could kick on the AC, nature offered cooled-off spaces hidden below our feet. With a handful of fantastic caverns to explore, from Inner Space Cavern near Georgetown to Longhorn Cavern near Burnet and the aptly named Cave Without a Name in Boerne, there are plenty of subterranean adventures to be had in the cool climates below the surface. Some caves, including Cave Without a Name, host concerts for an even cooler way to catch live music without sweating in the sun.

Barton Springs might be the heart of Austin, but Lady Bird Lake is the soul. The shores of the lake hug downtown, South Austin, Zilker Park, East Austin, and Red Bud Isle, offering access points for kayaks, SUPs, or even inflatable swans to get on the refreshing waters. A popular point to gather at is where the lake is fed with spring and creek water from Barton Creek, as often hundreds of floaters camp out to collectively cool off as a community. But for those looking for more solitude in nature, there are plenty of hidden shady spots along the shores to float under, too.

The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series is a beloved annual event where you can finally catch your favorite flick on the big screen in an architectural gem of a theater. Showing everything from The Sound of Music to Pink Flamingos, with special events in between where you might catch a local filmmaker presenting their work or experience a ball to celebrate pride in June, the Paramount is a constant on the calendar all summer long.

As the wise poet Nelly once said decades ago, it is getting hot here, so take off all your clothes. While miles away from the ocean, Austin proudly hosts one of the only nude beaches in Texas with Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis. A clothing optional 18+ cove for anyone who feels even a swimsuit is too many layers in the summer sun, Hippie Hollow is the epitome of the bohemian nature of Austin that continues to attract visitors and new residents alike.

The reason why an icon for the city is the creature of the night is that our colony of bats residing under the Congress Bridge put on a spectacular display of nature every sunset in the summer. Crowds gather around while kayaks and sups strategically float around the bridge for a closer glimpse of the magic. Words can’t describe the awe-inspiring show beyond that once you see it, you’ll want to see it again and again.

With three locations around town and one indoors, there are plenty of ways to get the drive-in experience in Austin this summer. The Blue Starlite brings back the old-school experience of catching a movie in the comfort of your car by showing new releases and old classics. While both the indoor screens sans cars and outdoor screens in north Austin are great options, there is nothing quite like rolling up to the top of a garage in downtown Austin to watch the silver screen surrounded by skyscrapers.