South Meadows Recovery
Menu
Anyone who is in recovery for addiction knows that it’s often difficult to find things to do in Austin instead of drinking. Austin is home to 245 bars, and the 78701 zip code has the highest concentration of bars in the US.
Thankfully, Austin and its 950,000 residents have more to do than just go drinking.
Whether you’re into nature, want to go on a historic tour or play disc golf, there is a lot to do in Austin. Our list below covers a lot of great sober activities in Austin for you to enjoy without alcohol.
Zilker Park sits on 361 acres, and the park is located at 2100 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX. The park is a great opportunity to get back to nature, with:
The Park is home to spring-fed waters that you can swim in and is open from 5am to 10pm daily. Considered the most loved park in the city, you can enjoy views of the cityscape in the distance and also enjoy the Zilker Botanical Gardens.
There’s also a hillside theatre where musicians from all walks of life entertain. Zilker is definitely one of our favorite sober activities in Austin.
Do you enjoy sports? Disc golf is a growing hobby for people across Austin and the United States. You’ll find many opportunities to play, including at Zilker Park. However, you’ll find that there are locations to play across Austin, such as:
But there are other locations across the city where you can play. You can play and practice solo or with friends. People often bring their pets along whenever furry companions are allowed.
Everything is bigger and better in Texas, including the state capitol. You’ll want to plan to spend about three hours exploring this historic building. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places over 50 years ago and was once the tallest capitol building in the US.
You can view hours on the official site, and you’ll be able to explore the exterior and interior grounds.
Beautiful statues, amazing architecture and vaulted ceilings await. If you want to go out to explore and see one of the most historic buildings in the US, the Capitol is a must-add item to your bucket list.
Lady Bird Lake is a beautiful lake that offers ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. The scenic trail is one of the area’s most popular hiking destinations, but you’ll also see people running around the lake or biking.
There are also paddling options and watercraft rentals in the area. This is one of the sober activities in Austin great for the outdoorsy type.
If you want to make a day of it, you can go through the Ann and Roy Butler trail, which is open to hikers and bikers. The complete circuit is 10 miles long and is one of the oldest trails in the US.
While you’re in the area, you should:
Lady Bird Lake is one of the best places for an outdoor adventure that you’re sure to enjoy.
Another fantastic day outdoors can be had at the Barton Springs Pool. The pool is a 1,000-foot-long pool fed by natural springs and made from natural limestone. You’ll find the pool in Zilker’s Park, and the pool itself spans over a 3-acre area.
Crowds of people visit the pool every year, with up to 800,000 visitors going to Barton Springs each year.
Since temperatures sit around 68 – 70 degrees all year, you can visit the pool at any time. Guarded and non-guarded hours are available, so you may need to swim at your own risk.
The Austin Aquarium is a great opportunity to see marine life up close and in the heart of Austin. If you plan to go to the aquarium, you should allow one to two hours to explore the location.
An interactive experience will teach you about the marine life you’re looking at, and you’ll also be exposed to numerous exotic species.
You can:
The history museum is on 1800 Congress Ave and is open from 10am to 5pm most days of the week. While at the museum, you’ll catch a glimpse od Texas history and will want to pay attention to the array of exhibitions that are held at the museum.
The Musuem also has its own IMAX and Films section where you can watch programs and film series.
Events and programs are listed on the official site for you.
Austin Zoo is a non-profit organization that is in western Austin. The organization rescues animals in need, so you’ll be helping a good cause by visiting the zoo. You can pay for tickets online and even sponsor animals that you want to help save.
You’ll have the opportunity to see:
Blue Starlite is your own mini urban drive-in that is open Monday through Sunday. Wednesday through Sunday, you can also order food and watch a movie. Older movies and cult classics are often being shown.
Films, such as Harry Potter, The Green Night and Ocean’s Eleven are currently being shown.
Prices are very affordable, and you can purchase tickets online on the official site (here).
Austin is a lively city, and while there are bars scattered throughout the city, you can find a lot of great, non-drinking activities to enjoy. The list above of sober activities in Austin is a great starting point for anyone that wants to avoid drinking and still fill up their schedule.
If you are looking for help with a substance abuse issue, reach out to us today.
South Meadows Recovery