There's lots to do in Austin this summer.

Check out this list of awesome things to do near Lamar Union. You surely know a few, but we guarantee there are some surprises. It's one of the beauties of living here!

Some highlights:

Enjoy Lady Bird Lake — Rent a sailboat and relax on one of Austin's greatest jewels, or bring a bike and enjoy the surrounding trails.

Ride, Ride, Ride — Hutto's Maverick Riding will teach you how to ride horses in the Texan wilderness.

The Cathedral of Junk — Definitely one of Austin's weirdest.

Trailer Night Tuesday — On the last Tuesday of every month, Austin's best food trucks gather at Long Center for a taste extravagana.

Saturday Nights at Hill Country Galleria — Featuring kids' musicals and fun, fun, fun!

Let us know what you think of the list, and if you have anything to add!

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Flickr/Sweet Flour Bake Shop

Fast food chains may have conquered the American countryside, but there is still room for a good old-fashioned local burger joint to prosper. Case in point: The Frisco, which has been serving up excellent hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes to Austin locals since 1953. With more than a half-century in business, you know that these guys have speedy service down to a science. The history of this place is pretty cool, too: It was opened by actor Harry Akin and was the first Austin restaurant to practice racial integration in its hiring.

Some of the specialties here include the awesome chopped steaks, made from specially-ground USDA sirloin, the exceptional deviled eggs, and of course the burgers, which are accented with the perfect combination of sweet pickle relish and “Frisco sauce.” Leave room for dessert, as the coconut cream pie here is out of this world. Portion sizes are huge, and prices are incredibly reasonable.

Don't miss it near Lamar Union.

The Frisco
6801 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 459-6279
mainstreethub.com/thefriscoaustin
www.yelp.com/biz/the-frisco-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Neeta Lind

Austin is one of the most literate cities in Texas, so it’s not surprising that the town supports a good many excellent independent bookstores. One favorite near Lamar Union is South Congress Books.

Unlike many used bookstores, this place is light, airy and clean. They specialize in interesting and rare books, so their selection is carefully-curated and reasonably priced. The majority of what they sell is current and classic fiction and non-fiction, so if you’re looking for a recently-published novel at a good price, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here. The staff is unanimously pleasant, happy to shoot the breeze or help you find just what you’re looking for. Their photography section wins raves from frequent shoppers, and fans of Texas history have lots of cool tomes to choose from as well. Don’t miss the vintage map display!

South Congress Books
1608 South Congress
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-8882
http://www.southcongressbooks.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-congress-books-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Thomas Hawk