Visiting the Austin Arboretum

I grew up in the Northwest part of the city and one thing I remember is the cows at the Austin Arboretum. We would go and enjoy Amy's Ice Cream (Mexican vanilla always!) and sit out on the cow sculptures – loved those guys. Of course, there is so much more to do at the Austin Arboretum.

The Austin Arboretum is one of the premier shopping areas in the city -- an open air mall filled with fun shops, restaurants, and even a park-like setting (where those cows live.) The Austin Arboretum is located just off Highway 183 and the North Capital of Texas Expressway (also known as Loop 360) on Research Boulevard. If you want to stay in the Great Hills area or have friends visiting from out of town, the Renaissance Hotel is a perfect spot to book a room near the Arboretum.

Shopping for women’s fashions at the Austin Arboretum includes The Gap, Chico's, Bath and Body Works, and Francesca's (for very adorable clothes and accessories.) For the men out there, you can enjoy JoS. A. Banks. All kids alike can enjoy picking out clothes at Gymboree and Janie & Jack. The gigantic Barnes & Noble store provides hours of reading material and for home goods, you can visit Pottery Barn and Restoration hardware -- all in walking distance around the Austin Arboretum.

If you need a haircut or some polish, Salon 505 at the Austin Arboretum is one of my favorites in the city. Everything I've ever booked there, massages, facials,  pedicures, has been wonderful for the years I've been going.

If you get hungry lugging around the shopping bags, have no fear…tasty cuisine is practically around every corner in the Austin Arboretum. Serrano's restaurant, an Austin Mexican and Tex-Mex tradition, can give you an amazing quesadilla while you rest your tired feet. There is also the “infamous” Cheesecake Factory with large enough  portions to make a meal for two days after. For something quick, another uniquely Austin chain, Thundercloud Subs can create a healthy fresh sub to take on the go. And of course no trip to the Austin Arboretum would be complete without a scoop at Amy's Ice Cream.

Near Amy's and the Salon 505 is the Austin Arboretum park, a great outdoor area to relax. There is a fun fountain to people watch or a great landscape to just sit down and enjoy…and of course, the marble cow sculptures! There is even a small lake at the Austin Arboretum to sit by after climbing down below at the southern side of the park.

I personally love the Austin Arboretum -- it's established in the eyes of Austinites and is in sync with the Northwest Austin lifestyle.