Austin Photographers, Videographers & Photo Tours

The Best Time of Year to Visit Austin, Texas

It’s difficult to choose the best time of year to visit Austin, Texas since each season holds its specialties and no season demands an indoor audience. When planning your trip to Austin make sure to come with a suitcase full of your best outfits and an empty stomach ready to indulge in warm southern delights. This city is not only known for its progressive culture, but its music, festivals, organic eateries, food trucks, and oh so much more!

If you’re planning a trip to Austin, Texas this year here’s what to expect during each of Austin’s robust seasons! Better mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on all the unique cultural activities! And don’t forget to hire a local photographer from Austin to capture all of the highlights from your trip, so you can upload your best moments to your Instagram account! 

Visiting Austin in Spring

Though Austin never completely transforms into an indoor city, when the first signs of Spring arrive, there isn’t a moment to spend indoors. First, you’ll have the opportunity to watch the wildflowers bloom all over the city. You have plenty of wildflower viewing options if you’re looking for a festival stop by the annual Bluebonnet Festival, but if you want to get the most of the native flowers in one shot head over to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Perhaps you’ll even decide to hire a proposal photographer for the wonderful excursion? 

Though Austin can get hit with pretty intense rainstorms, the locals still find excuses to go hiking on all the amazing trails come rain or shine. Find a sunny day to hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt where you may be surprised to stumble upon natural water holes in case you work up a hot, hot sweat.

Then, of course, come spring, come Austin festivals. Look out for the SXSW® Music, Film and Interactive Conferences and Festivals, Fusebox Festival, the Austin Food + Wine Festival and so many more. Choose your favorite festival to hire a professional photographer for a day in the sun and fun around Austin’s rich cultural grounds.

Visiting Austin in Summer

Unless you plan on spending the entire summer in Austin, there is no way to catch all of the exciting events and activities going on, but it doesn’t mean you can’t try. If you want to spend most of your days in nature this summer, start with the Lady Bird Lake, where you can rent kayaks or paddleboats and go with the flow. Head to Bat Bridge for the sunset show, if you don’t have an Austin photographer to catch you among the sunset bats, then you’ll certainly want a photographer around for the H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks, or while you hike up Barton Creek Greenbelt, where every stop is unbelievably picturesque. 

And, if natural pools are your thing, Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park is exactly what it sounds like, a pool running with natural spring waters. For a day in the garden surrounded by colorful peacocks, check out Mayfield Park. And every Thursday night in the summer you can bring your family to a free concert, Unplugged at the Grove, and so the list goes on! Don’t skip out on treating yourself to taco trucks, fresh margaritas in the outdoors, locally sourced produce restaurants with rooftop dining and art just about everywhere you turn. So, if you’re not in a museum or sleeping, there’s pretty much no reason to spend any moment indoors while visiting Austin this summer.

Visiting Austin in Autumn

For a small hike with great rewards, hike up Mount Bonnell for an ultimate view out over Austin city and Lake Austin! Bring along an engagement photographer for the Autumn view over the artsy Austin, Texas bursting with color and good vibes. While the temperature’s just right, spend a day wandering through the city’s largest park, Zilker Park, and take in the Autumn breeze if you can find it!

You certainly won’t be able to miss Barton Springs, especially if it’s still very warm out in the early half of Autumn. Plus, there are still more festivals to check out this Autumn, because when the temperature just right, why not have an excuse to spend your time outdoors? Depending on the time you arrive you can catch the Dia de los Muertos Festival, Fall Concert in the Park, Pumpkin Festival Weekend, the Sound on Sound Festival, Wurstfest, The Austin Celtic Festival and so many more festivals, especially if you’re willing to make day trips out to the farms and pumpkin patches! 

And once the summer heat has eased off the city, plan a full days hike along the River Place Nature Trail. And last but not least, you can treat yourself to a food tour around this city, just make sure it’s a walking tour that gives you time to make room for the next best restaurant!

Visiting Austin in Winter

Compared to many other North American States, Austin experiences relatively mild winters, though in recent years they have actually experienced some snow fall! However, snow is a rare sight in Texas and only comes as a surprise, if it arrives at all. Though, with or without snow there are plenty of activities to see and do this winter in Austin.

First, you can check out the Armadillo Bazaar which is a small festival leading up to Christmas. Here you can shop for Christmas gifts while listening to live music and eating delicious local treats.

Then, with or without kids you will want to check out the Trail of Lights for a fantastic winter light show around Austin. The Trail of Lights is a magical event to bring along a private photographer for a colorful photoshoot in the evening hours. There are even several food trucks around the event, which means you can spend as many hours as you like without going hungry! In all honesty, it would be a real challenge for a tourist traveling in Austin to even experience slight hunger pains since the food is too good and utterly irresistible. 

If you’re traveling with your family, hire a family photographer and head over to the Winter Wonderland created by Circuit of The Americas, where you and your family can go ice skating, watch holiday movies outside, go for a camel ride and even get some shopping done! When the children go to sleep head to a rooftop bar warmed by outdoor heaters and try some of Austin’s craft cocktails.

Winter is also a great opportunity to check out the museums in Austin. You can walk through the Blanton Museum of Art, the Harry Ransom Center, or plan a day around the local distilleries like, Still Austin Whiskey Co., The Brewtorium, and of course eat crab cakes at places like Hillside Farmacy. And if you’re a music fan, visit Austin in January to catch a free week of music in the Red River Cultural District with an affordable Austin photographer to catch your best moments in Austin this winter!