Cedar Park may have a reputation as a relatively quiet suburb of Austin. But it’s easy to find lively restaurants, hearty exercise and exciting excursions. Plus, compared to Austin, you’ll find a little less traffic and easy parking.
Whether you’re a resident of Cedar Park or just want to take a trip to check out one of the area’s fastest-growing hotspots, there are plenty of enticing diversions to learn more about the city and have fun doing it.
Here’s a look at a few options for you and your family.
Morning
Get the day off on the right foot — the one that doesn’t lead you to the kitchen. Instead, treat yourself to some creative twists on crepes, pancakes or french toast at Bee’s Knees Bakeshop. Or, if you prefer the salty road, order up some breakfast tacos or a traditional eggs and bacon plate. This simple bakeshop specializes in gluten free baking, so it is friendly to those who avoid gluten. Don’t forget to grab a little baked good for a snack later in the day. Bee’s Knees Bakeshop, 109 Cypress Creek Rd, Cedar Park.
Day Time
It’s fall in Central Texas, and the weather is typically perfect for an all-day outing.
One fun option is exploring Hill Country aboard the Hill Country Flyer, a train pulled by a 1960 diesel locomotive and owned and operated by the Austin Steam Train Association. For $21 to $51 per seat, you can take a 66-mile round trip through the hills to Burnet, where you can hop out and find some lunch and a wild west gunfight. The train departs at 10 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Find tickets and learn more.
But if you prefer to get your heart rate really racing, you could also bounce over to the Jumpstreet indoor trampoline park. It opens at 10 a.m. on weekends. Simply jump around. Or, you can get in on a game of trampoline dodgeball or ride the mechanical bull.
Another option in Cedar Park is to get out into the fresh air for a family hike or bike ride at Brushy Creek Regional Trail. It’s one of the Austin-area’s best trails. Catch the trail at Brushy Creek Lake Park where there is a lot of parking and other activities, such as a splash pad. Follow the trail about 2.5 miles to Twin Lakes Park. Or head west to Champion Park, which is slightly closer. Trail map.
Dinner Bell
You’ve had a pretty strong day already. Time to reload with something tasty. Cedar Park is packed with fantastic restaurants. Blue Corn Harvest, 700 E. Whitestone Blvd, and The Dig Pub, 401 Cypress Creek Rd., get consistently good reviews and have plenty of hearty food to fill you up for an evening out.
Evening
Hockey isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think of Central Texas. But the Texas Stars, an affiliate of the NHL Dallas Stars, are a surprising and exciting alternative. The team started its season Oct. 3, and it typically has two games a week, including games on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. Learn more.
If hockey doesn’t sound like a blast, consider the Moviehouse & Eatery. Though not inside the city limits of Cedar Park, this high-end dinner and movie establishment is a short drive away. The venue provides a posh environment to soak up the latest Hollywood has to offer. Get listings and showtimes.