Dripping Springs and Austin Weekend Itinerary
Are you planning a weekend getaway to explore Austin and the surrounding hill country? There are so many things to do in this vibrant and charming part of Texas. Continue reading to see my weekend itinerary through Dripping Springs and Austin and get activity ideas for your trip. I visited with my mom and we were looking for some fun and easy-going things to do and a chance to see the countryside.
Taste Organic Olive Oil
We took a tour through the olive orchard at Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Company.
For a little something unique and tasty, check out Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Company. Located in Dripping Springs, The Olive Oil Company has a beautiful orchard with several varieties of olive trees.You can take a guided tour through the orchard & mill and taste varieties of their fresh organic olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
We loved sampling all the olive oils. They also have gelato.
If you don’t have time for a tour, you won’t want to miss a visit to their bistro and gift shop. The minute I stepped inside the Tuscany-inspired villa, it smelled of fresh tomato-basil soup. Delicious! We sampled all of the olive oils and varieties of balsamic vinegar while we browsed the gift shop. Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Company also offers hand soaps and bath products infused with their olive oil. I’ve been enjoying my extra virgin olive oil that I bought as a souvenir!
Indulge in Some Wine
Trying out the popular reds and whites at Bell Springs tasting room
After trying out all types of olive oil, we drove 5 minutes down the road to Bell Springs Winery and Tasting Room. This dog-friendly winery is deep in the hill country and has a casual vibe. The prices for wine tasting were very reasonable at $10 for tastings and for each bottle purchased, 1 tasting was free. We took advantage of the free tasting with bottle purchase offer. Please click here for the most updated pricing.
Beautiful Bell Springs Winery
I really liked the friendly atmosphere of the winery and the spacious outdoor area. There was a food truck just outside of the tasting room and live music on the patio. It was the perfect spot to chill out and relax… and wish my weekend was a bit longer!
Try Some Texas Food
Our delicious tacos from Torchy’s
After taking a long break at the winery, we headed into Austin for some food. There are so many restaurants inside the city limits and we chose a local favorite, Torchy’s Tacos. I love Torchy’s and really wanted to treat my mom because she had never tried it before. She especially loved their queso and fried avocado taco. Torchy’s now has multiple locations across several states, but they originated right here in Austin. If you are a lover of cheap eats, you’ll be in heaven with all the local food trucks and diverse cuisine. You can click here to view the top-rated cheap eats in Austin.
Take an Evening Cruise
This kid-friendly boat tour gave us a neat perspective on the city.
For a fun and informative tourist activity, look into a boat tour of Lady Bird Lake. These tours are most known as bat cruises because they go under Congress bridge, where a gigantic colony of bats can be seen flying out of the bridge during the evening. Bat tours are available from the springtime through fall, with June being the peak viewing month.
We loved viewing the evening sunset over Austin.
I did not see many bats since I visited in mid-February, but I could definitely hear them as we went under Congress bridge! My mom and I went on a sightseeing tour with Capital Cruises and had fun evening admiring the Austin skyline. The cruise was only $10 per person and was a wonderful way to watch the sunset and learn a little about the history of Austin. Capital Cruises is located right next to the Hyatt Regency and we found $5 parking in front of the hotel (map available here).
Another perk of Capital Cruises is the nearby Starbucks in the Hyatt Regency. We were able to bring our coffee along for the ride.
Experience Natural Beauty
Checking out Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs.
The following morning began early when I set my sights on seeing Hamilton Pool Preserve. Hamilton Pool is a natural swimming hole located in Dripping Springs. It was too cold for me to swim, but I appreciated the opportunity to visit during a less crowded time of year. If you plan to see this popular swimming spot, make sure to check the Travis County Parks website here for information on reservations and pricing.
The water on the trail to Pedernales River was such a pretty blue color and so clear that we could easily see fish and turtles swimming.
Hamilton Pool is stunning and can be peaceful if you make it out at the opening time during the winter. We hiked the 0.25 miles to get to the pool area and then another 0.65 miles to Pedernales River. The hike to the river was beautiful and the water along the trail was crystal clear. Although both hikes are pretty short, the beginning of the trail to Hamilton Pool is steep and can be slippery. With appropriate shoes, the trail is easy and the steep part is really only a concern for anyone who does not normally go hiking. Because of the short distance of the trails, I actually wore jeans, which I would never do for a long hike!
Break at a Brewery
Our hiking made us hungry and we wanted to stop somewhere nearby. Just down the road, we found Family Business Beer Company. The brand new brewery was huge and had a nice patio for us to sit out on. I have to admit that I’m the furthest thing from a brewmaster, but I thought the Hamilton was great! I’m sure that all Supernatural fans are well aware, but Actors Jensen and Danneel Ackles are co-owners of the brewery. Who knows, maybe you’ll see them there!
My delicious Hamilton Beer and blackened shrimp Po’ boy at Family Business Beer Co.
We were most excited for the chance to try out the onsite food truck, called Jep’s Southern Roots. The food truck belongs to ‘Duck Dynasty’ Stars Jep and Jessica Robertson. Both Jessica and Jep were operating the food truck and made some incredible Cajun food! I tried the blackened shrimp Po’ boy and now I wish there was a way for me to get another! Here’s a link to their menu and an informative article that mentions plans to open a bigger restaurant next to the brewery.
So Many Options and Too Little Time
I could have fit so many more exciting activities into my trip if I had more time to spare! Austin has a huge music scene, fun Texas-themed shopping, and so many amazing restaurants. From wine tours through the countryside to the bar scene on 6th street, there’s no shortage of interesting activities around Austin. For the outdoor lovers, there’s plenty of hiking trails in the hill country and urban parks in the city. Let me know what you like to do in Dripping Springs and Austin in the comments below.
Hamilton Pool was the highlight of our trip, but we would love to explore more of Dripping Springs and Austin.
