AUSTIN, Texas — Winter is typically a time where most people stay inside due to the cold weather, but thankfully, here in Central Texas, we get brief warm-ups during the winter.
Over the weekend we had one of those brief warm ups, which had people out enjoying the local parks and greenbelts.
Austin has no shortage of places to have outdoor fun during the summer, and some of that fun can be had in the winter as well.
So what parks are there to go to in the winter time?
First up there is the Ann and Roy Butler hike and bike trail, which is located downtown, along Lady Bird Lake and can give you a full day worth of fun.
If you are wanting to get a little further away from the city, you can head to McKinney Falls State Park. At the park, you will find an upper falls and a lower falls with miles of trails. There is also a rock shelter, where you can see water drip from the ceiling after a week of heavy rain.
Another location you can check out is Red Bud Isle, which is just below Tom Miller Dam, along the Colorado River. This is a place you can let your dog off of the leash while you enjoy the flowing water and wildlife in the area.
If you haven't gotten your fill of adventure just yet, you can head to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, which is a place that offers a good opportunity for long hikes and bike rides along Barton Creek. You will also see large rock walls, where you may even see people rock climbing at times.
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Next, head over to Bull Creek Greenbelt and Preserve where you will find even more trials to hike along offering great overlooks and views of waterfalls along Bull Creek.
Finally, catch the sunset at the Pennybacker Bridge Overlook, where you will find a good amount of people taking selfies and photos of the bridge. The overlook offers multiple vantage points so you can get just the shot you want. Don't get too close to the edge of the cliffs as it is steep and a long way to the bottom.
While all of these are great places to go, this barely scratches the surface. For more great parks and greenbelts to check out in Austin, click here.
There are also a lot of great places to see outside of the city, like nearby state parks. You can find those, here.