6 Things to Do in Austin in the Winter (December)

Image Source: FreeFuninAustin.com

Even though we live in Texas, we do still (sort of) have a winter. With the temperature cooling off, a lot of Austinites are looking for fun winter activities for when the weather outside is frightful. Luckily there is a lot to do! Here's some of our favorite hot spots to hang out when it gets cold in Austin:

Grab a Bowl of Soup to Warm Up

Austin has plenty of places to grab a hot bowl of soup to warm you up. There's Ramen Tatsu-Ya, which offers Japanese soul food in the form of ramen. The No. 1 Tonkotsu Original comes with creamy pork broth, noodles on the side, pork belly, and an ajitama (a marinated boiled egg). It's definitely worth trying.

There's also Gourmands Neighborhood Pub, where you can order homemade clam chowder or Texas style chili in a fresh bread bowl.

The Soup Peddler has fresh soup made from local, fresh ingredients - plus, housemade bone broth. A warm meal on a cold day always hits the spot.

Make Some S'Mores at Halcyon Cafe

Halcyon Coffee + Bar + Lounge is a local cafe in downtown Austin that offers cafe-goers coffee and other types of food and drinks. Surprisingly, their desserts are why you'd head there in the winter. Halcyon offers a s'mores platter for up to 2 to 4 people that you can make at your own table, complete with a little fire and roasting sticks to roast your marshmallows with. All the fun of a campfire and s'mores on a cold night, without having to be outside in the cold!

Ice Skating on the Plaza of Whole Foods

Every year, Whole Foods Market on North Lamar has Ice Skating on the Plaza daily from 10 AM - 9 PM. Tickets are $10, which includes skates, and you can also rent the rink for a private party (holiday company party idea!). And if you get hungry, you can always go downstairs and enjoy the many food bars Whole Foods has to offer. If you're looking to get outside and enjoy the rare cold weather in Austin, this is a fun activity for the whole family.

Take a Moonlight Cruise on Lady Bird Lake

If you're looking for a romantic date night activity to do with a loved one during winter, Lone Star Riverboat Cruises offers a Moonlight Cruise on their boat the "Lone Star." The cruise is one hour long and only happens on Friday nights at 10:30 p.m. from March through mid-December. A scenic tour of Lady Bird Lake for $10 with a BYOB option is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful lights of Austin around the holidays.

Go See the Light Show at Mozart's Cafe

Looking for a local light show? Mozart's Coffee Roasters, located on Lake Austin Blvd., is another local cafe that has an annual choreographed light show that has become an Austin tradition for many Austinites. The show is outside, but you can pick up a specialty peppermint, pumpkin spice, or cinnamon hot chocolate to help stay warm as you watch the show. The show goes through January 8 and is 15 minutes long, starting at 6 p.m. every night and continuing every hour on the hour until 11 p.m.

Check Out the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park

Another Austin light show, the Trail of Lights has been happening in Austin for 52 years now. With over 2 million lights, more than 40 displays, a carousel, a ferris wheel, and a variety of local food vendors and entertainment, this is definitely one of the biggest Austin community events that happens during the winter.

We hope these places give you some good ideas on where to head when it gets cold in Austin. If you're considering moving to Austin, we'd be excited to help you see what homes are available! Enjoy the winter and happy holidays from everyone at Pauly Presley Realty.