The Trail of Lights is an Austin tradition. It's 1.25 miles of Christmas displays and lights in Zilker Park. It may almost give you a seizure, but it sure is a fun walk. Lots of cute stuff for kids, too. Go between 7 and 10 PM, and get there by the 23rd because that's the last day.
We've been meaning to go bowling here for a long time, since it's not far from where we live. It's a basic, nice bowling alley with lots of lanes... perfect for the amateur bowler. For the best deal, come on Sunday night between 8 PM and midnight: bowling is $9 per person for unlimited bowling, and that includes shoe rental and a free bowl of popcorn. 
The kayaks we rented were simple, beginner's kayaks. It was an amazing experience. We saw all kinds of wildlife... turtles, fish, tons of different birds including Blue Herons and Egrets. Keep in mind, this is only a few miles from downtown!
Mom & Dad kayaking past a limestone cliff:
A Blue Heron, as we slowly approached:
We rented our kayaks from Rowing Dock, and the prices were pretty good. To rent a 2-person kayak for 1 hour is $15, but they've got a coupon on their website that allows you to get a second hour for free! So it's really $15 for two hours of kayak rental. And of course, that includes life vests. Another cool thing is that they have season passes for $99, so if you plan to come a lot, that's a great option.
Mt. Bonnell Park has an amazing views of Lake Austin and the hills. I could sit here all day. 
We went to see 4 political authors discuss the upcoming election in the state senate chamber. The calendar shows you when various authors are speaking or debating.
This sculpture garden and museum, dedicated to showcasing the works of Charles Umlauf, is tucked away just off Zilker Park. You'd never expect a place like this just a stone's throw from downtown. The sculpture above is of Icarus. 
It's a very peaceful place, either to walk around or just sit and enjoy.
Zebras chilling in the shade:
There seem to be a lot of kangaroos in Texas. You even see them at petting zoos. I guess cause they like warm weather.
Water buffalo:
The pool for use by people staying overnight in the cabins:
In conclusion, this place is fabulous. Take your kid or borrow one and get yourself here! I did a little online searching, and it looks like there's yet another one of these safari places near San Antonio- so if you haven't had your fill after the Exotic Zoo, check out Wildlife Ranch, which looks even bigger.
South Congress has tons of interesting shops and restaurants, and they also host First Thursday every month, which we'll blog about soon. It's a great area to find unique gifts & clothes.
The Domain is a new outdoor shopping center north of Austin. It's one of those new mixed use developments, and it has apartments and offices in addition to restaurants and shops. Most of the stores are luxury stores, so you may not want to actually shop here if you're cheap like we are. However, there are a bunch of good places to eat at the Domain, and it's a pretty center to walk around in. It's also the location of the annual Austin Wine Festival, which is coming up again in May.
Duck sighting on the lake:
Canoes on the lake, going under one of the several bridges:
Pedestrian-only bridge across the lake, part of the trail:
Statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan:
Spot on the trail for dogs to get in the water:
The entrance to the trail from the Four Seasons:
A dock on the trail. There are plenty of little docks and side areas off the trail where you can sit and take a break.
Turtle sighting!
Bridge on the trail:
Entering one of the bridges:
Can you see the rainbow?
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