The weather has thawed and daylight savings time (spring forward) is quickly approaching. Nature is healing. All I want to do now is find the perfect spot near campus to enjoy the sun on my skin. Here is my list of the top places near UT to simultaneously study and tan.
- The Etter-Harbin Alumni Center
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The Alumni Center will always be my favorite place to enjoy some fresh air. This hidden gem lies between the stadium and Gregory Gym, tucked away alongside Waller Creek. They have a couple of tables and chairs for patrons of the Texas Espresso coffee shop to sit and enjoy their food and drinks. I have it on good authority that their iced coffee and chia seed pudding is amazing. But, above all, I really just love the sounds of the creek, and how the greenery makes me feel transported into a lush paradise. It’s a true getaway.
- Littlefield patio cafe
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This quaint spot on campus has everything you might need: Peet’s coffee, smoothies, a sandwich bar, indoor booths, and plenty of outdoor tables and couches. The newly renovated cafe is the perfect place to do work outdoors; they have a huge selection of seating options, so there is something for everyone.
- Pease park
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I love going to Pease Park to go on a hot girl walk with a friend and our dogs, and I always see so many people sprawled out on blankets in the grass. People go there to read, eat, hammock, or just hang out. I could see this being an ideal place to study because it has such a calm atmosphere and peaceful vibe.
- the tower lawn
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This one is a classic, but terribly busy when it’s nice out. UT students come out of the woodwork to lay on the lawn and exist in a perfect space together. The Tower lawn is a prime napping spot, organization meeting place, and, of course, study space. All you need is a blanket and your laptop.
- mozart’s coffee roasters
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In all honesty, I have never been to Mozart’s, but I had to include it because I have heard such great things about it. In the winter, the coffee shop is turned into Santa’s Workshop with an incredible light show and a steaming cup of hot chocolate in every hand. In the spring, iced coffees litter the patio tables and Austinites come from all over the city to work outdoors. I fully intend on going to Mozart’s this season and enjoying the expansive outdoor seating.
As midterms season takes me by storm, I will be gathering my schoolwork, a cold drink, and some sunscreen, and taking them outside. None of my work seems quite as difficult when the sun is shining!