A Perfect Spring Day in Austin: Bull Creek, Culture & Family Fun

We spent the first part of our Sunday at the Dell Jewish Community Center, celebrating Israel's 6oth birthday-- music, food, belly dancing, etc.

Pictured above is a friend of mine--- Valerie and her kids, who volunteers with me at the farm. They were having too much fun in the pool of grapes. I didn't feel brave enough to kick off my shoes... But I did sample some wine.

Updated July 2026

Some of our favorite family memories were the spontaneous days when we combined two completely different adventures into one. On this beautiful spring day, we began at Austin's annual Israel Independence celebration before heading to one of our favorite places to cool off—Bull Creek. Looking back at these photos reminds me why Bull Creek has remained one of Austin's most popular outdoor destinations for generations.

Pamela, enjoying the petting zoo...

camels at the center

rock climbing

That's Pamela, rock climbing... If only she would bottle up some of that energy and share with me..

petting zoo

We bumped into some old friends, and shopped. I purchased some neat Holy Land playing cards. I also signed up for more information on the Austin community wide trip to Israel. We haven't ditched our earlier plans to travel the middle east. Still dreaming and saving --- granted the economy holds!

After the festivities, we decided to head down the road to Bull Creek and have a picnic lunch.

This is a greenbelt off of Texas Capital Highway that we used to visit frequently with the kids when we first moved to Austin. Some refer to this creek as a DOG PARK, as everyone brings their dogs to run loose and swim. There's signs all over the place to keep the dogs on a leash, but nobody pays any attention. I guess if we owned a pooch, we'd be here all the time. A great place to walk the creek and enjoy the greenbelt of Austin.

Uncle Mike, wading...

exploring Bull Creek

One of my favorite hiking trails in Austin

rock overhead Bull Creek, Austin Texas

If you look closely, you can see a guy hanging from a rope, swinging across the creek...

The weather was perfect - around 85 degrees - BEAUTIFUL DAY... We had our picnic after we hiked around the area. Afterwards, some of us caved into temptation and went to Starbucks for a Frappuccino...

Why We Loved Bull Creek

Bull Creek has long been one of Austin's favorite places to escape the summer heat. Located along Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway), it's known for its clear water, limestone creek bed, towering trees, and scenic hiking trails.

Families come to:

Picnic
Wade in the creek
Swim when water levels allow
Hike
Watch wildlife
Photograph the beautiful limestone landscape

It's easy to see why so many Austinites return year after year.

Bull Creek has always been a popular destination for dog owners. Although leash rules exist, visitors should be prepared to encounter dogs enjoying the water alongside their owners.

***My husband told me that one of his closest friends had noticed that I had mentioned Haight Ashbury in a previous blog and had wondered if I had actually ever been there before. The answer is YES ---- I used to be stationed in San Francisco!!! =)

UPDATED: Looking back through these photos, I realize we weren't chasing famous tourist attractions. Some of our best family memories came from simple afternoons spent walking creeks, sharing a picnic lunch, watching children climb rocks, and ending the day with a cold Frappuccino. Those ordinary weekends often become the ones we remember most.