Must See Sights and Landmarks in Round Rock Area

"Austin is not only the home of the University of Texas, but the Texas State Capitol Building. The Capitol is an extraordinary example of late 19th century public architecture and is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its "significant contribution to American history." The Capitol grounds span 22 acres and feature historical buildings, 17 monuments, and beautifully landscaped lawns in addition to the Capitol building itself."

"Built in 1888 from sunset-red granite, this state capitol is the largest in the US, backing up the ubiquitous claim that everything is bigger in Texas. If nothing else, take a peek at the lovely rotunda – be sure to look up at the dome – and try out the whispering gallery created by its curved ceiling."

"The Texas flag can fly higher than the American one, in recognition Texas was its own country before (as most Texans like to remind the rest of America) they allowed the United States to join them. Address: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States"

"Before evening sets in, make your way to Lady Bird Lake and watch the bats of Congress Avenue Bridge, which take flight just before sundown. A great way to view them is by taking a ride on Lone Star Riverboat, a genuine double-decker paddle wheel riverboat. Follow this up with a visit to Austin’s burgeoning Warehouse District. First stop off at the Irish pub Fado’s or the popular pub The Ginger Man and drink a pint of beer produced by local brewhouse Live Oak Brewing Company."

"However, if you’re into bats, you can also get to Congress Bridge and see thousands of bats fly out at dusk. If you’re feeling like staying close to downtown Austin but still want an adventure, make sure to go check out the Escape Game. The games last an hour, so it’s a perfect activity that won’t take up too much of your day. And with five unique games to choose from, it’s perfect for any group or member of your crew."

"Window shopping and people watching doesn’t get any better than South Congress (SoCo) neighborhood in Austin. Hop across Lady Bird Lake from downtown via the Congress Avenue Bridge and you will find yourself in a new place to explore, window shop, people watch, and ponder your next adventure. South Congress district is known for live music at the Continental Club (sometimes they have free early shows) and boutique hotels like the Hotel San Jose and the South Congress Hotel."

"Home to Austin institutions such as The Continental Club and the Monkey See Monkey Do novelty store, South Congress is a fun place to while away an afternoon or evening. If you’d like to reward (or appease) your kids, stop in at the Big Top Candy Shop, which sells candies you might remember from childhood as well as treats from around the world. Parts & Labour is another long-term resident of the avenue, offering locally made clothing and gifts."

"If you genuinely want to experience the local Austin atmosphere, South Congress Avenue is one of the best places to visit in Austin. Nicknamed SoCo, it is a hub for visitors and locals to enjoy dining, shopping, and entertainment. Walk around the vibrant neighborhood to discover one of the trendiest places in Austin."

"Another good view that isn’t really hiking is the Pennybacker bridge. I think the 360 bridge view is actually pretty cool and worth it if you can make it out there."

"Boggy Creek Farm offers a slice of history of Austin and the property gives a unique glimpse of life in mid-19th century Austin, TX. Carol Ann Sayle and her late husband Larry Butler owns and operates the historic working urban firm. Once a foreclosed property prior to their purchase of the area in 1992, they meticulously restored Boggy Creek through the years since then. As a working farm, they sell their own harvest onsite."

"Nestled in the heart of East Austin, the five acres of Boggy Creek Farm represent one of the most veteran urban farms in the whole country, let alone in Austin. The house on the lot was built in 1840 along with its sister house, The French Legation Museum, which is close by. Carolann and Larry Sayles started their original farm in 1991, about 80 miles away in the Oak Hill area."

"For a less-crowded way to get a farmers’ market fix, swing by the market days at the Boggy Creek Farm in East Austin, where local owners Larry and Carol Ann serve freshly harvested produce. The farm, open to customers between Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., houses produce grown on-site as well as at the Milam County Farm, located 75 miles northeast of Austin."

"Voodoo Doughnut is the brainchild of old friends and entertainment-minded Portlanders Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon. In 2000, they decided to embark on a shared entrepreneurial venture – something that combined quality hospitality with their daring do-it-yourself brand of show business. The research revealed that downtown Portland lacked a single doughnut shop, so in 2003 they rented a hole-in-the-wall storefront scrunched between two Old Town nightclubs, joked to friends and family about being bent on “world doughnut domination,” and opened Voodoo Doughnut."

"The iconic Portland donut shops outpost in Austin offers outstanding specialty baked goods for all seasons. The menu ranges from cannolis and classic doughnuts to crazily (and even obscenely) shaped donuts and flavorings. If you’re looking for the best seasonal donuts in Austin, you should order the Dashing Pumpkin cake donuts."

"Taco Donut Palace is such an Austin institution that someone wrote a song about it. And with a rainbow of brightly glazed donuts in the display case, as well as some pretty solid steam-table breakfast tacos, and some of the best jalapeño cheese kolaches in town -- crispy edged with cheese oozing from both ends -- there's a lot here to sing about. Try the infamous El Torro donut, which is fried in the shape of a hand doing the hook 'em sign and has plenty of crispy edges perfect for dipping in the surprisingly excellent coffee."

"They got my order wrong and I didn't open the tacos until I got home obviously. They had gotten my order wrong before and told me it was too busy to..."

"The East Riverside doughnut shop is known for its very colorful and adorable creations, full of sprinkles, frosting, and even candies. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Master Donuts (@masterdonutsatx) on Feb 9, 2019 at 9:09am PST"

"Master Donuts’ Riverside shop dishes out delightfully creative donuts. It’s the go-to place for alphabet donuts in Austin!. I mean, who wouldn’t want to start their birthday with an edible greeting?"

"Established in 2014, Master Donuts has been providing the East Austin community with fresh and scrumptious donuts daily. Open Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m."

"It’s a good thing that Valentine‘s Day falls on a Saturday because you can stay in bed with the Nate’s Baked Goods & Coffee “Breakfast in Bed” meal that features items like handmade quiche, heart-shaped biscuits with cinnamon butter, and chocolate-dipped local strawberries!. They even have a gluten-free menu. If you prefer a candlelight dinner, Nate’s will be offering three meal options: filet mignon, Hill Country quail, or prawn and scallop skewers – served with the tastiest of side dishes and of course mind-blowing sweets and desserts."

"I’ve had cakes, scones, tea cookies and cookies from Nate’s and have never been disappointed. When the owner (she knows I love cookies) told me about her new creation, The Lil Daddy, I had to try it to see what the hype was all about."

"The Tiny House Coffee shop is a coffee roastery focused on directly supporting small-producer farmers and local shops. It's one of the city's first storefronts with a wide selection of coffee options and fresh-baked bagels to top it off. Some top fan favorites include the lox bagels, nitro cold brew with oat milk, and biscuits."

"With Peace Crops volunteers turned coffee roasters and a motto like “A better world with better coffee” it’s hard not to love Tiny House Coffee. Their bright and fresh shop is located on Barton Springs inside the We Work building. On top of making amazing coffee, Tiny House also provides some great fresh baked goods."

"For a real sweet treat, check out the new french pastry house FoliePop’s. Located at Hill Country Galleria, they offer both sweet and savory treats with TONS of options. They have great coffee options too."

"One of the newest shops on the scene, Venezia features real Italian gelato from Italian owners Alice and Nicola Morella. Linger over one of the rotating flavors, such as green apple or toasty pecan, with a coffee or espresso. Or grab a Mr. Ring—that’s a gelato “doughnut” on a stick—to go, along with an imported specialty, such as balsamic vinegar or Amarena cherries."

"Staring down the menu at Dolce Bacio will make you feel like you’re in a small Italian coffee shop, with the smell of fresh cream in the air and Nessun Dorma playing softly in the background. That is, until you realize you’re in a food truck park in East Austin and it’s 110 degrees out. The menu consists mostly of gelato and sorbet - all made in-house - but they also have tiramisu made with fresh mascarpone cheese, cannoli, and affogatos."

"Dolce Bacio was opened one year ago by an Italian couple newly planted in Texas. Prior to leaving Italy, Francesca and Dante trained at several top gelato schools, where they learned to make high quality products from scratch. “Our goal here is to offer the same quality and tradition you find in Italy, crossed with local flavors,” Francesca explained with gusto."