Toy Time: Where It’s Always Time to Play

Just about every store in the Austin area is a bit quirkier than most, and Toy Time is one of those truly unique establishments. This independent toy store carries a wide selection of toys that you won’t find at most big box toy stores, and it even offers pop culture memorabilia that adults will love, as well.

The colorful, jam-packed shop is small, but it’s filled to the brim with children’s dolls and toys. The candy selection includes hard-to-find items like chocolate rocks, and the walls are lined with electronic games, costumes, model kits, and much more. Toy Time also includes a party room where guests can book fun-filled birthday parties. This room is set up like a treehouse, and the affordable package includes your choice of entertainers ranging from magicians to princesses and even full-scale petting zoos.

Toy Time is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the store is closed on Sundays.

Toy Time
101-B Pecan Street West
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 990-8697
www.toy-time.com
www.yelp.com/biz/toy-time-pflugerville

Terra Toys: An Independent Toy Store for Kids and Adults Alike

While there are a number of big box toy stores in every city, there’s something charming and nostalgic about visiting an independently owned toy store. Terra Toys is just that type of store, with a sweet storefront tucked into a plaza near popular restaurants and other shops.

It’s very easy to spend an entire afternoon browsing the endless selection of unique toys here, so be sure to visit when you have some time to spare. The inventory is stacked from floor to ceiling, with a number of cozy nooks and play areas scattered throughout. The book section has a few small tables where kids can read, and there’s a large train table to check out the model trains.

Terra Toys carries all types of toys, from dolls and action figures to games and science toys, and it can seem overwhelming to attempt to locate a particular item. Regulars recommend sending the knowledgeable employees on a mission to track down the toy you need, and don't forget to grab some novelty candies before you go.

Terra Toys
2438 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 445-4489
www.terratoys.com
www.yelp.com/biz/terra-toys-austin

Maverick’s Country Rock: Pull on Your Boots to Boogie the Night Away

Austin is known for its live music venues, but Maverick’s Country Rock shows off the city’s dance moves, as well. If you love to kick up your heels to upbeat country music, Maverick’s spacious dance floor and some of the area’s best DJs will ensure that you have a rocking good time.

The dance floor isn’t just your usual open space, however: Here, a 5,000-square-foot dance floor features state-of-the-art lights and sound and a number of multimedia projectors that work in time with the music. Outside, Maverick’s 3,000-square-foot deck area features lots of outdoor seating and another full bar to service those who wish to enjoy the Texas evening. The bar also makes a fun place to dance the night away.

Maverick’s is open 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Maverick’s Country Rock
1700 Grand Ave Parkway
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 514-5650
www.maverickscountryrock.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mavericks-country-rock-pflugerville

Front Porch Frozen Desserts: Not Your Typical Fro-Yo Shop

While most cities have their fair share of chain frozen yogurt shops, Austin’s Front Porch Frozen Desserts is a family-owned operation with a whole lot more charm. This stylish shop serves sorbet and frozen yogurt made with real milk and fruit purees and sourced from Honey Hill Farms, and the yogurt is certified to contain live and active cultures. Front Porch also offers more than 90 different topping choices to jazz up your already delicious yogurt, from fresh fruits to syrups and even crushed candy pieces.

The shop itself is just as high quality as its yogurt, featuring walls constructed out of reclaimed wood from all over Texas and tables handcrafted out of reclaimed long leaf pine to create a uniquely modern, rustic look. Front Porch Frozen Desserts does a great job of creating a casual, welcoming atmosphere while still taking the quality of its desserts extremely seriously.

Front Porch Desserts is open noon to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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

Tejas Golf: Learn the Ropes at This Accessible Driving Range

Beginning golfers know all too well how intimidating some golf courses can be, but Austin’s Tejas Golf caters especially to those just learning the game. This driving range and learning center features real turf tee boxes and an 11,500-square-foot putting green that feels anything but amateur, but the professional golf instructors and informative clinics are meant to help visitors to learn the basics of golf.

The course’s short game practice area is the ideal place to practice for those who are already familiar with the game, and the stylish clubhouse is much larger than most. Tejas Golf also offers all of the balls that you can hit for $15 max, no matter how long you choose to stay, so it’s just as cost efficient as it is approachable.

Tejas Golf is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Monthly memberships are available for $125 per person or $190 for families.

Tejas Golf
3631 Greenlawn Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 310-8911
www.tejasgolf.com/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tejas-golf-round-rock

Blue Velvet: A Vintage Clothing Store with 20 Years of History

With a long-standing community presence and a loyal customer base, Blue Velvet is considered one of the best vintage clothing stores in a city that boasts quite a few. In fact, Austin’s Blue Velvet clothing store has been in the area for so long, many of the items that came out when it opened are now considered vintage! The prices are very reasonable for the items that the store sells, and the knowledgeable, stylish salespeople are friendly, but not overly pushy.

Blue Velvet offers a wide variety of women’s dresses and skirts, vintage band t-shirts, men’s jackets and buttondown shirts, and a number of retro accessories. From the fedora hats to the rows up on rows of vintage jewelry and sunglasses, this store sells the types of items that you’ll wear for years to come.

Blue Velvet is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Blue Velvet
217 W. North Loop Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-2583
www.bluevelvetaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/blue-velvet-austin-2

Mills Pond: Relax by a Countryside Pond

Mills Pond is a tranquil oasis tucked into the middle of Austin’s Lakes at Wells Branch subdivision, and locals say it's a great spot to gather with friends and family. The pond offers a pier for anglers who want to try their hand at catching the local fish, as well as a floating boat dock for use by any non-motorized boats.

Winding trails around the pond's perimeter offer scenic views and the chance to glimpse local ducks, geese, and cranes, as well as the opportunity for a bit of exercise (joggers and bikers are both welcome). Sunny, grassy fields nearby are ideal for spreading out a blanket and sharing a picnic, reading a book, or just enjoying the fresh air.

Whether you decide to enjoy the view from a park bench on the bank, or climb into a canoe to explore the pond itself, you can expect a quiet, peaceful visit to Mills Pond.

Mills Pond
15108 Wells Port Drive
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 251-9814
www.wellsbranchmud.com/parks/mills-pond.html
www.yelp.com/biz/mills-pond-austin

You’ll Be in Stitches at The Cloth Pocket

Austin is widely known as a very crafty town. The city’s sewing scene is particularly powerful, and one of the key places artisans shop supplies is The Cloth Pocket. This fun, funky fabric store was established by a mother-daughter team who knew that the town had a need for a carefully-curated stock of textiles designed for crafting, quilting, and other fabric arts.

The square footage of the space is not huge, but it’s so expertly organized that you’ll have no problem finding the perfect bolt of fabric for whatever you plan to do. The staff here is super nice, too, offering you tea or water when you step in the door and helping you work out your project needs without spending too much money.

The Cloth Pocket is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. If you’re into the fabric arts, this is going to be your new favorite store.

The Cloth Pocket
5448 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 524-5684
www.theclothpocket.com/index2.php#!/home
www.yelp.com/biz/the-cloth-pocket-austin

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
theroostaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-roost-austin

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

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