With the kids heading back to school soonl, we thought it would be the perfect time to share our favorite spots for finding peace and quiet in Austin. You’ve spent the summer entertaining and engaging your kiddos and we hope you can find the time to treat yourself to some well-deserved alone time (beyond the coveted solo trip to the bathroom where no one is yelling your name through the door).
— Have you ever taken a stroll through the Wildflower Center without pushing a stroller or chasing after a toddler? A lovely nature walk can be just a thing to calm your mind.
— Have you ever sat alone in the Blanton Museum? Just being surrounded by beautiful works of art can help transport you to faraway places of respite.
We know everyone’s situation is different – if you have young kids who aren’t yet in school or have work commitments and no PTO left – it might seem impossible to create space for a solo outing. And heck, it might even feel weird at first to go somewhere fun without the kids. But if you get the chance, you’ll find that getting some time to yourself to explore is a great way to refresh and recharge.
Where to Find Peace & Quiet in Austin
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Art museums are kinda synonymous with quietude and reflection. As it turns out, The Blanton is no exception to this rule. Located on the campus of the University of Texas, The Blanton is a reliable place to escape the hustle and bustle of Austin’s usual proceedings and take in some art. Ellsworth Kelly’s glowing and light-infused Austin, located just outside the museum proper, is a lovely temple-like space for contemplation. Reserve your tickets.
3809 W 35th St.
Part of The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria includes a gorgeous villa that is an art museum, and its sprawling attached grounds are home to galleries, art classes, and sculptures. Get lost wandering the walking paths and marvel as your worries melt away. Reserve your tickets.
605 Azie Morton Rd
Past the gate at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden is an extraordinarily beautiful garden area. The space is named after American sculptor Charles Umlauf and is one of the most tranquil places around. Reserve your tickets.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave
This is one of those places that we might feel a little weird about not taking the kids because it’s so family-friendly, but there’s plenty here for grownups to enjoy without the littles. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center includes 284 acres that are a mix of cultivated gardens, an arboretum, managed natural areas, and wild lands so there are plenty of places for you to enjoy the quiet. Learn about native plants, go on a nature walk, or sit in the meadow. Reserve your tickets.
3800 Mount Bonnell Rd
Could there be a better view than Mount Bonnell? Take a little climb up the steps and sit on a rock overlooking Lake Austin. It’s such a pretty spot to sit and reflect and enjoy the scenery.
Lady Bird Lake is a bustling spot in downtown Austin, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great spot to tune out and tune in to the beautiful surroundings. Take a walk or jog around the hike and bike trail or the Boardwalk and let the day’s stress just melt away as you get into your groove. Or rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak and enjoy the tranquility of the water all by yourself. See a list of where to rent SUPs & kayaks.
7301 Spicewood Springs Rd.
There’s something about a waterfall that helps bring forth a sense of peace. On a solo hike through the woods at St. Edward’s Trail, you can enjoy the soothing sounds of water along this stretch of the Bull Creek Greenbelt. While you are there without children, you might as well challenge yourself to try the steeper hike across the water that you might not normally try with little legs by your side. Read details about visiting this park.
2131 William Barton Dr
A mid-week morning trip to this beautiful spring-fed swimming hole is a lovely place to cool off and center yourself. Take a lunch break and go for a swim, or head out in the evening for one of their Howl at the Moon events. It’s an awesome place to feel connected to the pulse of Austin and feel gratitude for living in such a vibrant city. Click here for the latest pool hours.
3505 W 35th St
Whether you take a short hike on the trails here or simply sit in the garden and watch frogs on the lilypads in the ponds, Mayfield Park & Preserve is a gorgeous respite from busy living. Plus, the roaming peacocks onsite are such a treat to watch. Read about our visit to Mayfield Preserve.
2220 Barton Springs Rd
You can walk the trails at Zilker Botanical Garden enjoying a variety of settings that are prime for peace and quiet. We highly recommend the Japanese Gardens for some zen moments. Reserve your tickets.
710 W Cesar Chavez St
This spacious building is the gem of the Austin Public Library system, and it’s brimming with spaces where you can cozy up to a book. Check out the rooftop garden at the Austin Central Library for maximum reading pleasure.
500 E 12th St
Waterloo Park is located between 12th & 15th Streets along Red River and boasts 11 acres with spaces that reflect the landscapes of Austin and Central Texas, including hill country gardens with oaks and native plantings, wetland spaces that create places for play and relaxation, expansive lawns for gathering and activities, and more than a mile and a half of trails within the park. It’s a great downtown spot for a stroll. Read more about our visit.
1100 Kingsbury St
Located at the southern end of the 84-acre Pease Park, Kingsbury Commons includes unique and exciting playscapes, a large water play feature, a new basketball court, and a beautiful renovation of the historic Tudor Cottage. It also offers a massive Treehouse — a one-of-a-kind orb that brings visitors under a canopy of trees into an open-air structure with sturdy netting to lay upon and enjoy the natural surroundings of the park. Might be just the right spot to lie down and listen to the birds chirp.
