Kaleidoscope Toys: Where Education Meets Recreation in Round Rock

Since their invention in the early 19th century, kaleidoscopes have entertained the young and young at heart by presenting the ordinary world in a new and extraordinary way. Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock thinks that quality toys, activities, and games can do the same thing for children today: awaken their minds to new possibilities, stoke their creativity, and delight them with the beauty of the world.

This locally-owned Round Rock toy shop features all manner of educational and enlightening toys, books, and fun kids' stuff that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Know that the staff is always willing to help out with advice and recommendations.

Kaleidoscope Toys is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Be sure to follow the shop on Facebook to get the latest scoop on special events and sales!

Kaleidoscope Toys
110 North Interstate 35
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 388-5048
www.kstoy.com
www.yelp.com/biz/kaleidoscope-toys-round-rock-2

Dazzle Coffee: Premium Java Served From a Drive-Through Window

With the goal of creating a cafe that focuses on premium roasted Arabica beans and a friendly relationship between barista and customer, Dazzle Coffee opened in Pflugerville in 2006. This drive-through-only coffee shop has seen great success over the years since it opened, mainly because regulars love the convenience of purchasing high quality coffee without exiting their cars!

The menu includes affordably priced classics like freshly brewed coffees and flavorful caffe lattes, as well as specialty drinks like white chocolate mochas and caramel macchiatos. Dazzle Coffee also sells cold beverages perfect for hot Austin days, including the popular Frezian, which includes your choice of milk blended with ice and coffee. Milkshakes and 100% fruit smoothies also make delicious treats after dinner or to cool off during a hot summer day.

Dazzle Coffee is open 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Sunday hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dazzle Coffee
100 N. Second Street
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 670-1100
www.dazzlecoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/dazzle-coffee-pflugerville

Meet Your Personal Fitness Best With Help From BVM Crossfit

One of the most popular fitness trends of the 21st century, Crossfit is now practiced in over 9,000 licensed gyms worldwide. If you’re unfamiliar, the general principle is that a varied mix of aerobics, flexibility, and weightlifting can get better results than just one workout at a time. Classes are high-intensity, with participants shifting from station to station quickly.

BVM Crossfit in Austin draws raves from devotees for a personal touch. Owners Valerie and Brent Hunt are both gifted personal trainers who really know how to get the best out of their students. A wide variety of people work out here, encompassing all ages and body types. Classes typically last for an hour and transition from warm-ups to skill development, a high-intensity exercise, and then a stretching period. As always, consult with your physician before embarking on a new exercise regimen.

BVM Crossfit
6711 Burnet Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 779-2113
www.bvmcrossfit.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bvm-crossfit-austin

Austin’s Boat Tours: See Austin from the Water

A day of boozing and cruising on Lake Travis is highly encouraged by Captain Angel and Austin of Austin's Boat Tours. The pair takes guests out on its party boats for a day of sunbathing and socializing. You're welcome to bring your own beer and anything you can cook up on the grill, as well as other snacks.

Austin's Boat Tours has watercrafts to accommodate groups of all sizes, from the Baja Speed Boats that hold a mere five people to the massive Luxury Party Barges for 15 to 25 people (the latter have the grill, plus restrooms). Austin's Boat Tours also leads sunset tours, both public and private, if you're looking for something a bit more romantic. Rent jet skis, learn how to flyboard, or even go scuba diving with the help of Austin's Boat Tours' captains.

Austin's Boat Tours
5931 Hiline Road
Austin, TX 78734
(512) 476-2628
austinsboattours.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austins-boat-tours-austin

Ritual Salon + Spa: A Stylish Salon Specializing in Modern Hairstyles

From the moment you walk through the large glass doors and into the immaculately decorated, modern industrial-style salon, you’ll likely fall in love with Ritual Salon + Spa. This full-service Rosedale beauty shop specializes in all of the most current hairstyling services, from cutting that elongated bob to giving customers the perfect ombré color. Ritual is separated into a number of different areas, including a comfortable waiting area with eclectic throw pillows and hair product displays, a media bar, and comfortable styling stations surrounded by unique light fixtures.

Services include not only haircuts and coloring services, but also more intricate beauty treatments like eyelash extensions, brow tinting, and hair extensions. Ritual even provides full spa treatments such as massages, nail care, and facials. Pop in to treat yourself to a trim, or spend a full day being pampered!

Ritual Salon + Spa
4800 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 391-0010
www.ritualsalonaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-salon-spa-austin

Old Settlers Park: Outdoor Recreation in the Heart of Texas

Old Settlers Park is one of Round Rock's most popular parks. It is a well-known sports destination for both amateur and youth leagues, and it boasts one of the highest rated disc golf courses in the greater Austin area. Residents in the area also commonly enjoy biking, swimming, and playing volleyball in the sand, and there is ample space to run and even fly a favorite kite.

The park boasts more than 645 acres, providing ample space for fishing, cricket, tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, and more. Additionally, locals flock to Old Settlers Park to barbecue or take in a game of horseshoes at one of the two provided pavilions. Parking is plentiful, and while kids enjoy the playground, parents and adults can take in breathtaking views of the area.

Old Settlers Park
Harrell Parkway
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 218-5540
www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Settlers-Park-Baseball-Field/265636880136580?rf=150003518406042
www.yelp.com/biz/old-settlers-park-round-rock

Grand Nail Spa: Buff, Polish and Pamper

Not all nail salons are created equal, and regulars insist that Pflugerville’s Grand Nail Spa is one of the best in the Austin area. This stylish nail salon features a friendly staff of technicians who are skilled in all of the latest nail trends, and the salon itself is stylish and comfortable. Teal colored walls and modern furnishings create a relaxing environment, and the spacious waiting area is filled with magazines for customers to page through while waiting to get their nails done. Grand Nail Spa even offers complimentary drinks and a candy bar for guests to munch on, and the high-tech massage chairs are completely customizable.

Once it comes time for the manicure or pedicure, Grand Nail Spa buffs away dead skin, then moisturizes and polishes fingers and toes to your specifications. The salon even offers a much larger assortment of shellac polish colors than most salons for those who want to splurge a bit more on their manicure.

Grand Nail Spa is open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Grand Nail Spa
1700 Grand Ave Parkway
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 990-7300
www.grand-nailspa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grand-nail-spa-pflugerville

Tap Your Foot to the Beat at The Roost in Austin

Many music lovers say that few things in this world are better than an evening of foot-stomping, hand-clapping live music, and that's just what The Roost delivers. Once you visit this Austin club, you'll likely understand exactly why it’s such a local hotspot. Shows range from blues performers to rock bands, small local acts to internationally-known musicians, so there's something to suit just about everyone's taste.

With professional lighting that creates a concert-like atmosphere, several bars located throughout the venue, and a lively, dancing crowd, The Roost cultivates a festival-like atmosphere. Yelp reviewers say that sight lines and acoustics are top-notch, and there's plenty of seating available for music aficionados who prefer to sit and relax. The Roost does not serve food, but patrons are welcome to bring in snacks from the neighboring taqueria or crawfish shack.

Check the website for a current calendar of shows and to buy your tickets before they sell out.

The Roost
2113 Wells Branch Parkway
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 394-5727
www.theroostaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-roost-austin

Spice Up Your Fitness Routine at N’Caliente Fitness in Round Rock

After opening its doors in 2012, N’Caliente Fitness quickly established itself as a powerhouse of a fitness club in Round Rock. Here, the focus is on creating a welcoming environment through unique workouts that appeal to people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and athletic abilities.

That said, N’Caliente offers many innovative workouts. Aqua zumba, for example, takes the popular dance-based workout into the water for the added benefits of resistance training, while Piloxing combines the principles of standing Pilates with a non-stop cardio workout that includes boxing moves. In other words, if you find yourself feeling a little bored with your current fitness routine, signing up for a class at N’Caliente Fitness might be just the way to spice things up!

Half a dozen professional instructors lead classes throughout the day, seven days a week, so you should be able to find something that works with your schedule. Follow N'Caliente Fitness on Facebook to keep tabs on class schedules and special events!

N’Caliente Fitness
2111 Sam Bass Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 773-7790
www.ncalientefitness.com/about.html
www.yelp.com/biz/ncaliente-fitness-round-rock

Design Your Own Frozen Dessert at Front Porch Frozen Desserts in Round Rock

Front Porch Frozen Desserts is a family-owned and -operated self-serve frozen yogurt shop in Round Rock. Replete with Southern hospitality, this space boasts reclaimed wood walls and rustic pine tables, the latter of which were handmade by a family friend.

Front Porch’s high quality yogurt (“the true original good-for-you treat”) is sourced from Honey Hill Farms. The yogurt is crafted into inventive fro-yo flavors such as sea salt caramel pretzel, white chocolate mousse, and monkey bread. In addition to 16 flavors (some rotate seasonally), the yogurt shop has more than 90 toppings from which to choose. If you’d prefer something non-dairy, Front Porch Frozen Desserts serves sweet and refreshing sorbet. French press coffee, made with fair trade, locally roasted beans, is also on offer.

Front Porch Frozen Desserts is open seven days a week.

Front Porch Frozen Desserts
3107 S. IH 35
Round Rock, TX 78664
512-388-6330
frontporchrr.com
yelp.com/biz/front-porch-frozen-desserts-round-rock

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