Beat the Heat!

Beat the Heat!

Summer is finally upon us.  We’re looking at long days, lots of sunshine, mildly oppressive heat, and thanks to all the rain we’ve gotten, mosquitoes! That doesn’t mean don’t go outside… just remember to stay hydrated and wear proper PPE (sunscreen, hats, bug spray).  Summer also means that work may be harder to come by, equating to more free time but less funds.  If you’re looking for something to do that won’t break your bank, check out some of the locations and events we’ve collected:

Take your bug spray and get outside!  Traipse along the creeks, skip through the Greenbelt, hike the 360 bridge, catch the sunset from Mt. Bonnell, and stroll the new Lady Bird Boardwalk.
Too warm out? Go for a swim! Take some sunscreen and a few dollars and hit
Barton Creek.  Or check out one of the watering holes in our town and surrounding areas-  Hippie Hollow, Hamilton Pool, Blue Hole, and Krause Springs, just to name a few.   If swimming isn’t your water sport of interest you can rent a canoe, kayak or stand up paddle board. Discounts available at some locations around Lady Bird Lake if you bike up instead of drive.

If you’re already parked at Zilker Park, on certain Wednesday nights KGSR presents Blues on the Green which is free to the public.  Just down the road, every Thursday night through the summer you can catch Unplugged at Shady Grove.  If you’d rather catch a movie, (perhaps Hook or The Princess Bride) then head north to Central Market on 40th for Summer Cinema.

Maybe outdoors is a bit too warm for you- have you thought about catching a movie at the Paramount or State? This summer they are showing a variety of films – from E.T. to The Big Lebowski to Jaws.  If you’d rather get moving, Ballet Austin teaches Rhythm on Stage at the Long Center Tuesdays in July, and has Come Dance! day August 30th with free dance classes all day long.  Maybe you need some social lubricant to help you dance.  Lots of venues like Gloria’s, Enzo, Dallas Night Club and even Russian House have free social dance lessons before they open up the dance floor (and start charging cover).

Don’t forget free shows at the Zilker Hillside Theatre – this year we’ll see Hairspray! For more ideas, like other free movie listings, or yoga in the park, check out the blog 365 Things to do in Austin.

-Mikela Cowan