AUSTIN = OUTDOORS, LIVE MUSIC, BBQ AND YOU

In the hundreds of responses we received for Austin, three words kept coming up: outdoors, music, and BBQ. Sounds like you can’t go wrong in what you do there or where you go as long as it involves some combination of the aforementioned, but here are the details…

The Sixth Street/Downtown area is the capital of Texas’s urban core, and the nine-block stretch is on the National Register of Historic Places. Make some history of your own by checking out the countless bars and restaurants where you’ll be able to wander around and catch all kinds of live music. Work up an appetite and grab a bite, as many tout 6th street as the spot for the best BBQ in town. No matter where you end up, you’ll be welcomed, as they all are classy dives.

FOOD WITH A SIDE OF ART

Austin’s Warehouse District is thriving and a bit on the upscale side. The bars and restaurants are repurposed from the town’s manufacturing hub. The Mexic-Arte Museum is a must, and if you’re the dancing-the-night-away type, there are plenty of great spots to get your groove on. You’ll discover a lot of unique art galleries featuring off-kilter local work, so take a little Austin home with you that doesn’t involve swiping that pint glass from the last pub.

NOT PAINT BY NUMBERS

You’ll hear the “Keep Austin Weird” mantra, and visually here it is: Graffiti Park at Castle Hills is BYOP—as in Bring Your Own Paint. Do so and make your statement or enjoy looking at others (“Every day is different art”). After you’ve gotten your surrealism fix, make your way to the nearby cafés and cheap eateries, or indulge in some of the city’s famous food trucks.

358 ACRES OF PARADISE

Looking for something apart from the food, bars, and live music? We’re told, “absolutely the best thing about Austin is the water.” So head to Zilker Park’s 358 acres and take a dip in the Barton Springs Pool. It’s fed from underground springs and will welcome you with perfect 70-degree water.

Then head over to Lady Bird Lake and kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard. Apart from the water sports, you’ll also find a nice hiking and biking trail.

We’re just getting you started on your own Austin adventure – there are so many other great neighborhoods with music, bars, BBQ…and more bars and music. Austin is also home to famous festivals such as SXSW and Austin City Limits.

Other for-sures include the Austin Aquarium, the Blanton Museum of Art, and the really cool Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. We’re told we should also mention Hippie Hollow Park, which is an adult-only, clothing-optional opportunity…so there’s that for you to discover.

It is clear Austin has so much to offer: “6th Street, UT Campus, Lady Bird Lake, Texas State Capital … the list goes on!”

So, we’ll see you there. Cheers!