I recently visited the great city Austin. I had heard wonderful things about the area, but it was never high on my list of places to visit since I've been focusing on international destinations recently. Fortunately, a national conference changed all of that. I don't travel frequently for work, but when I heard this particular conference would be taking place in Austin this year, I knew I wanted to go and tried to position myself to make it irresistible for my work to send me. I even went so far as to propose a couple of seminar presentations to see if the conference wanted me (among others) to present. Well, it worked! And, since I now had the financial backing of my employer, I decided to stay for the weekend as well to see as much of the metropolis as I possibly could. Here's what I learned . . .
The Colorado River flows through downtown Austin, but not the one you might think (this one starts and ends in Texas). The river has plenty of activities including a great trail for running, kayaks for rent, etc.
Due to a hectic work schedule, I hadn't done much of my normal pre-trip research. In addition, I knew that my free time would be limited because of the conference. Fortunately, I'm not afraid of talking to strangers and the folks in Austin are SUPER friendly. So, from the Super Shuttle ride to my hostel and onwards, I interrogated everyone I met about what I should do, where I should eat, etc. Not only was everyone I spoke to extremely willing to offer suggestions, but their recommendations were also amazing! This was undoubtedly my absolute favorite part of Austin . . . the people! Everyone I met was kind, generous, and beyond friendly. They bought me drinks, gave me souvenirs, cheered me on while I struggled on a bicycle, and encouraged me to move to the city after I had fallen in love with it. These people are, without a doubt, the best asset of Austin!
Carson Creek in Austin
River tubing was one of the only things I had decided was necessary while I was in Austin. There are a number of companies that provide tubes and coolers for a float down one of the rivers on the outskirts of the city. Unfortunately, the night before I arrived there was a massive storm and nearly everyone I spoke to informed me that the rivers were likely closed and, at the least, extremely unsafe as a result. I hate it just as much as the next person when things don't go to plan. But it's important to remember that a vacation should be fun and you should take as much advantage of a new city as you can, regardless of whether your plans are ruined. Fortunately, I had already spoken to plenty of people in town about things I should do when in Austin. And, when in the Live Music Capitol . . . go to a music festival!
LA Witch at Psych Fest
I was fortunate enough to be in Austin during a music festival. It wasn't one of the famous festivals in Austin, but when I heard it was happening, I knew it would be interesting. The Psych Fest is a festival for psychedelic rock music. I had heard of a couple of the bands that were playing, but was not familiar with any of their music so it was the perfect festival to visit. There was no pressure to make sure I didn't miss this band or that, I could just casually view whatever band caught my fancy. And, although I wasn't even familiar with the genre of psychedelic rock, I definitely became a fan of multiple bands while I was at the festival. The music was amazing, the scenery was absolutely beautiful, and some of best food trucks and shops in the area were present at the festival as well. It was an absolutely fabulous day and proved that sometimes even the most unexpected things can become your favorite experiences.
The best known karaoke bar in Austin, Ego's. As it turns out, it's in a parking garage. Literally - you have to walk through a parking garage to reach the entrance. Super popular so just hope you don't have to wait two hours to get your song request played!
Austin Recommendations are below. Enjoy and remember that The Adventures Await received NOTHING in exchange for listing these businesses on the site. I only recommend businesses I would actually suggest to friends!
Activities (things I would have done in Austin if I could have):
- River Tubing - I did research and this is the company I would have gone with if I could have.
- Running Tour - these tours visit various destinations in the city depending on what interests you and you don't have to be a fast runner to participate.
- Brewery Tour - there are many excellent breweries in Austin so this would be worthwhile.
Brunch:
- Moonshine - Sunday brunch buffet (wear pants with an elastic waist . . . don't say I didn't warn you).
- Taverna - Saturday and Sunday brunch with $2 (YES TWO DOLLAR) mimosas!
Restaurants:
- Chupacabra Cantina - yummy tacos and you can get a giant beer margarita if you are so inclined.
- Barbeque - Austin is famous for its barbeque. I didn't try any so I won't make any recommendations, but everyone says you shouldn't miss it!
Shopping:
Nights Out:
- Pete's - a dueling piano bar . . . scoff away, but this place is a fantastic night out!
- Rainey Street - a great street of bars in houses. My favorites were Clive and Bungalow.
- Sixth Street - there's something for everyone on "dirty sixth," from mechanical bulls to rooftop patios. My favorites were Blind Pig and Pete's (see above).
- Ego's - the best karaoke in Austin. Only a true dive bar could make you enter through a parking garage and I, for one, LOVE it.
- Handlebar - described to me as the male version of Coyote Ugly. Male bartenders have handlebar mustaches and wear tank tops and cut-off denim shorts. Nuff said.
- Firehouse Lounge - for a quieter and classier night out, this lounge is hidden behind a sliding bookshelf in a hostel just off of Sixth Street and it serves some of the best cocktails around.
Accommodation:
- Firehouse Hostel - a hostel with many different room options (including private rooms), friendly staff, a first-class lounge on the main floor, and an unbeatable location that's close to all of the nightlife in downtown Austin.