Top 10 Activities for Seniors to Do in Austin, TX
When you consider moving as part of your retirement plan, the old saying is true. Three things matter: location, location, location. For your active and vibrant lifestyle, there are so many things to do in Austin, Texas, and Westminster, the area’s premier Life Plan Community, is near it all.
Here are just a few highlights of attractions and activities available to you:
1. One of the more impressive buildings to be found anywhere, the Texas State Capitol building is quite a sight to see. The majestic feel of massive structure comes not only from the architecture, or even just from the public leaders who preside there, but also the fact that at over 300 feet tall at the dome, it’s an even larger structure than the nation’s Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. There are also tours and exhibits for visitors.
2. The Rainey Street Historic District is a trendy downtown neighborhood filled with restaurants, cafés and pubs. Outdoor lights are strung all around, giving a festive atmosphere for Austin’s beautiful spring evenings. What started as a residential neighborhood of charming old homes has become a sweet spot for walking, shopping, socializing and enjoying live music.
3. You might be surprised to see a library on a list of things to do in Austin, but the Austin Public Library is quite a special place. Along with six floors of books and reading rooms, there are computer rooms, story rooms, game rooms, a café and a rooftop garden. And with art exhibits and senior activities regularly scheduled, it’s a place you’ll want to visit again and again.
4. The Texas Memorial Museum is located on the beautiful campus of the University of Texas. Focused on various areas of science, visitors can experience exhibits about geology, paleontology, zoology, and much more. And the steady stream of events hosted by the museum make a visit there one of the most interesting things to do in Austin, Texas.
5. One of the most iconic landmarks in all of Austin is the Congress Avenue Bridge. What’s most famous about it is that it’s home to well over a million bats. There’s a pedestrian area on the bridge where you can go to watch the sky fill with bats as they take flight at sunset. It’s a remarkable sight to behold.
6. The Austin Zoo is small but satisfying to visit. Its primary focus is on the rehabilitation and care of its animals. You can have a more educational and interactive experience than you might get at a larger, more traditional zoo, and because it’s a nonprofit organization, your money is used to help the animal residents.
7. Another great place to experience wildlife is the Austin Aquarium, making it one of the great Of course they have the expected giant pools and tanks of sea life, but they also have many interactive exhibits. You can check their schedule to see when you can feed sharks, stingrays and otters, and learn a lot about them while you’re at it.
8. You can experience history in action at Pioneer Farms. The volunteers who work there dress and act as if it’s a 19th century frontier town. You can take a guided tour of homes and farmland, listen to lessons about the history of Texas, and take a ride in the fresh spring air on a horse-drawn wagon. If you’re a history buff, it’s one of the most popular things to do in Austin, Texas.
9. Mayfield Park is another great way to spend the day if you enjoy outdoor activities in beautiful spring weather. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the flowers, fields, and ponds on a warm spring day will make you feel like you’re stepping back in time to America’s olden days.
10. One of the best destinations during the many wonderful weather days in Austin is the Zilker Botanical Garden. Calling it simply a “garden,” however, doesn’t really do it justice. It’s a group of gardens within Zilker Park that include walking paths, gazebos, butterfly trails, and a prehistoric-themed garden complete with life-size dinosaur sculptures.
So Many Things for Seniors to Do in Austin, Texas
Attractions and activities abound all over Austin, especially downtown, and the residents of Westminster live in the heart of it all. And if sometimes you’d prefer to stay home, there are plenty of great events and activities for our residents to choose from every day. We feature musical programs, a lecture series, and ongoing special events scheduled throughout the year. At Westminster, at home or on the town, you’ll always have access to fun.
To find out all we have to offer, both in and around our senior independent living community, contact us.