Things to Do in Tarrytown, Austin

One of the reasons people stay in Tarrytown for decades is that so much of Austin's outdoor and cultural life sits within a few minutes of the front door. You can be on the water, on a fairway, or under a canopy of oaks without ever getting on a highway. What follows is a local's tour of the places worth your time, from the lake at the neighborhood's edge to the parks, pools, and tables that give Tarrytown its rhythm. Businesses change, so please verify current hours and operation before you plan around any of them.

Get out on Lake Austin

Lake Austin defines the western edge of the neighborhood, and it is a constant-level lake, which means the water stays put year-round for boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. That reliability is a big part of why Lake Austin waterfront homes command the premiums they do. You do not need to own a dock to enjoy it. Walsh Boat Landing is a public boat ramp, so trailered boats and paddlers can launch without a private slip.

Just below Tom Miller Dam, Red Bud Isle is a small island park that locals love for two things: off-leash dogs and easy kayak launching. It is an unhurried spot to put in a paddleboard, let a dog run, or watch the water go by. Bring water and expect it to be busy on pretty weekends.

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve

If you visit one Tarrytown park, make it Mayfield. Set on about 21 acres, it is best known for the peacocks that roam freely across the grounds, calling from the rooftops and fanning their tails near the cottage gardens. Stone-lined koi ponds, historic garden structures, and shaded trails give the place a storybook quality that feels a world away from the city. The trails connect toward the Barrow Preserve and down toward Lake Austin, so a short garden visit can easily become a longer walk.

Lions Municipal Golf Course (Muny)

Golfers and history buffs both have a reason to care about Muny. Lions Municipal Golf Course was established in 1924 as the first public golf course in Austin, and it holds a place in civil rights history: in late 1950 it quietly became the first desegregated municipal golf course in the South, according to its National Register nomination. That significance earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, along with a designation as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Muny's long-term future is undetermined. The University of Texas owns the land, and the course's fate depends on ongoing negotiations between the University and the City, so its status is worth checking before you plan a round.

Pools and neighborhood parks

Deep Eddy Pool

Just south of the neighborhood, Deep Eddy Pool is a spring-fed, man-made pool and the oldest swimming pool in Texas, built from 1915 to 1916. The cold spring water is a summer tradition for generations of Austinites. Hours and seasons vary, so confirm before you drive over with towels in hand.

Reed Park

Closer in, Reed Park is a neighborhood park with a pool and tennis courts, an easy option for a swim or a match without leaving Tarrytown. It is the kind of low-key amenity that makes daily life here feel complete.

Art and history at Laguna Gloria

Laguna Gloria is Clara Driscoll's 1916 lakeside Italianate villa, donated to the city in 1943 and now part of The Contemporary Austin. The setting pairs art and a sculpture park with grounds that run down to Lake Austin, so a visit blends a gallery walk with time outdoors. It is one of the most peaceful cultural stops in West Austin and a lovely place to bring out-of-town guests.

Take in the view from Mount Bonnell

Nearby Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points in Austin, and the short climb up its steps delivers panoramic Lake Austin views that reward the effort. Sunset is the classic time to go, though it draws a crowd. It is a quick outing that reminds you exactly why this stretch of the city is so prized.

Dining and shopping

Everyday life in Tarrytown centers on Exposition Boulevard, where the Tarrytown Shopping Center and Casis Village hold the neighborhood's coffee, lunch, and errands. Tarrytown Pharmacy has anchored the corner since it opened in 1941 and still runs a soda fountain and lunch counter, a genuine throwback worth a stop.

• Hula Hut, Tex-Mex right on Lake Austin.
• Mozart's Coffee Roasters, lakeside coffee and desserts with a deck over the water.
• Abel's on the Lake, another waterfront option for a drink or a meal.

Menus and hours shift, so verify current hours before you go. For a fuller rundown of where to eat in and around the neighborhood, see our guide to restaurants near Tarrytown.

Making it home

The best measure of a neighborhood is how it feels on an ordinary Saturday, and Tarrytown holds up: water at the edge of it, parks in the middle of it, and a walkable corridor for the small stuff. If that rhythm sounds like the life you want, start with the Tarrytown neighborhood guide, then browse current Tarrytown homes for sale.