Guidebook for Garfield
Food Scene
What can I say?... It is Sonic and we are happy to have one nearby.
13 locals recommend
Sonic Drive-In
1745 E Oltorf StWhat can I say?... It is Sonic and we are happy to have one nearby.
Little Thailand
4315 Caldwell Ln5 star hole-in-the-wall amazing Thai food.
Good Times At Dry Creek
5496 E Hwy 71Great food and service. Close by. Coffee shop and music venue being added.
Parks & Nature
1,100-acre park along the Colorado River shows the true natural beauty of central Texas. Great for hiking, horseback riding, and newly-opened last year, 13 miles of mountain biking trails. Just 8 miles to the east on Hwy 71.
53 locals recommend
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 State Hwy 711,100-acre park along the Colorado River shows the true natural beauty of central Texas. Great for hiking, horseback riding, and newly-opened last year, 13 miles of mountain biking trails. Just 8 miles to the east on Hwy 71.
Soccer fields, baseball fields, hiking trails, fishing ponds... this place has it all. Very close (3 miles west on 71) with plenty of parking. Paved paths for rollerblading or skating or biking or walking). Crushed granite paths for hiking. Some really great views of the city from some of the bluffs along the trails (not unlike our own).
6 locals recommend
Southeast Metropolitan Park
10680 State Hwy 71Soccer fields, baseball fields, hiking trails, fishing ponds... this place has it all. Very close (3 miles west on 71) with plenty of parking. Paved paths for rollerblading or skating or biking or walking). Crushed granite paths for hiking. Some really great views of the city from some of the bluffs along the trails (not unlike our own).
Entertainment & Activities
NLand is the largest surf park in the world and the only one like it in the western hemisphere. 9-football fields in size, the lagoon produces a perfect 6-foot barrel wave every 3 minutes. Excellent place to surf for beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers. I definitely recommend purchasing the fitness pass which provides 1-month of unlimited weekday access for a flat rate of around $200 (versus the normal rate of $60/hour). There is the Blue Prairie Cafe, a Juice Bar, and the NLand Brewing Company (onsite brewery) for eating and drinking while there. My favorite place to be and I try to go as often as I can. Super close at less than 1-mile from our property.
26 locals recommend
Surf Ranch Austin - (Park Currently Closed)
East Highway 71NLand is the largest surf park in the world and the only one like it in the western hemisphere. 9-football fields in size, the lagoon produces a perfect 6-foot barrel wave every 3 minutes. Excellent place to surf for beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers. I definitely recommend purchasing the fitness pass which provides 1-month of unlimited weekday access for a flat rate of around $200 (versus the normal rate of $60/hour). There is the Blue Prairie Cafe, a Juice Bar, and the NLand Brewing Company (onsite brewery) for eating and drinking while there. My favorite place to be and I try to go as often as I can. Super close at less than 1-mile from our property.
Right next to McKinney Roughs is a new zip line park. We have not yet done this, but are really looking forward to it.
31 locals recommend
Zip Lost Pines
1760 State Hwy 71Right next to McKinney Roughs is a new zip line park. We have not yet done this, but are really looking forward to it.
Excellent cable park for wakeboarding. A family-run operation just 2 miles to the east of our property. Super-friendly staff and a separate training-lagoon for newbies.
9 locals recommend
Next Level Ride
5400 E Hwy 71Excellent cable park for wakeboarding. A family-run operation just 2 miles to the east of our property. Super-friendly staff and a separate training-lagoon for newbies.
This really is "Everything Else" because this place is the first and only purpose-built Formula 1 racetrack in the USA. But it is more than that. The Austin360 Amphitheater hosts big-name concerts on a regular basis. There is Kart racing where you can go race those fast-as-hell little carts around the track. And, of course, there is the F1 race in October, and MotoGP race in April and various other awesome motosports events throughout the year.
346 locals recommend
Circuit of The Americas
9201 Circuit of the Americas BlvdThis really is "Everything Else" because this place is the first and only purpose-built Formula 1 racetrack in the USA. But it is more than that. The Austin360 Amphitheater hosts big-name concerts on a regular basis. There is Kart racing where you can go race those fast-as-hell little carts around the track. And, of course, there is the F1 race in October, and MotoGP race in April and various other awesome motosports events throughout the year.
Getting Around
The Garfield Library (which is attached to the Hit the Spot Cafe) is a bus stop (on the "Purple Route") that is within walking distance from our property and will take you into Austin (or out to Bastrop and beyond). The westbound route leaves Garfield 4 times per day starting at 8:25AM and ending at 4:55PM. Eastbound from various stops in Austin drops off 4 times starting at 9:30AM and ending at 6:00PM.
Garfield Library
5121 Albert Brown DrThe Garfield Library (which is attached to the Hit the Spot Cafe) is a bus stop (on the "Purple Route") that is within walking distance from our property and will take you into Austin (or out to Bastrop and beyond). The westbound route leaves Garfield 4 times per day starting at 8:25AM and ending at 4:55PM. Eastbound from various stops in Austin drops off 4 times starting at 9:30AM and ending at 6:00PM.
Essentials
It is said we live in a "food desert" because the closest real grocery store is 11 miles away. Fortunately, we have Dollar General nearby for basic essentials (snacks, milk, eggs) and a variety of long-shelf-life type foods and other essentials. For fresher food choices there is a large Mexican market/gas station a 1/4-mile further down Ross Road where you can get meats and produce, etc.
23 locals recommend
Dollar General
6929 Airport BlvdIt is said we live in a "food desert" because the closest real grocery store is 11 miles away. Fortunately, we have Dollar General nearby for basic essentials (snacks, milk, eggs) and a variety of long-shelf-life type foods and other essentials. For fresher food choices there is a large Mexican market/gas station a 1/4-mile further down Ross Road where you can get meats and produce, etc.