Western meets modern in a clash you’d expect to be a lot less wonderful! Home to one of the country’s most aggressively conservative legislatures, Austin is an oasis desperate to break away from the Texas archetype.
I wasn’t expecting to love the city as much as I did, so here are a few of my favorite things to do!
Barton Springs/Zilker Metro Park
Perhaps the city’s most iconic attraction, Barton Springs is much more than a glorified pool. The city has turned the headwaters of the springs into a pool with a dam separating it from the creek. You have to pay to swim in the pool, but wading in the trailside creek is free. I didn’t go in either, but the water was warm; it felt nice against a chilly morning! To get to the springs from downtown, you’ll walk down a trail that slowly takes you deeper into the city’s woods. Beyond the springs sits Zilker Metro Park. It hosts a myriad of trails, a botanical gardens and even a few waterfalls.
South Congress Street
South Congress is very reminiscent of Nashville’s 12South. It draws inspiration from the city’s Western aesthetic and ties it with modern architecture — think Marfa Modern style. SoCo, as the locals call it, is home to boutique hotels, small shops, upscale national chains, boujee coffee shops and so much more. Downtown sparkles opposite the river. Poke around cowboy boot shops like Tecovas and Allens Boots, sample handmade leather goods from imogene + willie and cool off with some ice cream from the city’s beloved Amy’s Ice Cream. Grab some coffee from shops like mañana and Cafè no Se. There’s also a ton of murals, so get a camera ready.
Boutique Hotels
Though I didn’t stay in any of them, we took our time exploring the boutique hotels around the city. The culture of the city embraces the unique, paving the way for some of the coolest western properties. Probably the most famous is the neon-lit Austin Motel. The 50’s themed hotel carries its thesis through the property, from touches in the room to their sparkling pool deck. The Hotel San Jose has small cottages acting as rooms around the property. In the center is a pool bar which makes making friends easy. My personal favorite was the South Congress Hotel. It’s the epitome of Marfa Modern! There’s an open and concrete staircase that leads to the pool courtyard, which is above the lobby. Western architecture hints at the city’s cowboy culture with courtyards stocked with cactus. The Carpenter Hotel also deserves a shoutout, as does The LINE.
The Bats
Every night, Austin comes together to watch one of the world’s largest bat colonies take flight. It is one of the most wholesome experiences I have witnessed! Mosey up to the Congress Street Bridge on a warm summer evening to see the some of the 1.5 million bats take flight. As the steady stream flies out from under the bridge, the sky clouds with groups of hungry bats. The official site shares the bats usually emerge about half an hour before sunset. Read up before your trip to plan a good night to see them.
Here they are flying away:
Breakfast Tacos
Oh my god you guys. I have been longing for a meal that sticks with me long after I’m done and I could’ve never guessed it would come from some nondescript food truck! Pictured above is El Primo which is on First Street, but you really can’t go wrong with any! Usually, you pick a protein and couple it with eggs before wrapping it in a flour tortilla. A lot of these places operate on a cash-only basis and each taco is only a few bucks.
Blanton Museum of Art
This small art museum sits on the University of Texas campus. One of its most famous tenants is the strangely cult-like ‘Austin,’ a white stone building with rainbow glass. On a clear day, the sun illuminates through the glass and into the room in a brilliant array of color. The main galleries have an impressive collection of European art and a cool film/technology gallery. The Tate Gallery has a cool interactive temple-like piece. Admission to the museum is free on Tuesdays.
Teal House Coffee & Bakery
This place is pretty damn good, my friend described as ‘life changing coffee!’ There are two locations around the metro, but the South Congress is probably the easiest to access. They’re famous for their cinnamon rolls and it’d be a crime to leave without ordering a dozen to take home. A lot of cinnamon rolls cheap out on their creation, but these don’t. They also come out warm with the icing melting off. Like, LOOK AT THEM!
The City’s Little Trails/Greenways
I have never seen so much green space set aside in a city! You’ll be walking down a street when it abruptly ends in a trailed forest, only to pick up on the other side. Aside from the Colorado River running through the center of the city, Austin has a ton of little creeks that branch into the neighborhoods. Almost every single one has a trail. Some of my favorites are Shoal Creek Trail, the riverside Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
Rainey Street Bars
At its heart, Austin is a party town. It has one of the nation’s biggest colleges and a host of congressional staffs eager to escape their political world. Dirty 6th is known by trashy clubs and cheap drinks and West 6th has a classier atmosphere. I can’t say any of the bars I visited were gross, but my favorite district was definitely Rainey Street. It’s an up and coming neighborhood and has a cleaner and more upscale scene. The drinks are a bit more expensive, so I would recommend pregaming before heading out. Be sure to stop by tiki bar Placeholder, multi-level party house Clive, the quieter courtyards of Parlor Room, Augutsine’s live music and Unbarlieveable; it literally has a slide to get you from the second floor to the first.
Pennybacker Bridge
Six and a half miles from Downtown Austin is this bridge where Highway 360 crosses the Colorado. The bridge itself is a spectacular sight, but the best part sits a small climb up the cliffside. The panorama over Lake Austin lends views all the way to the city’s skyline. There’s a small lot on the shoulder and the trail is pretty hard to miss. After the viewpoint, the trail continues along the cliff giving more views of the lake.
Lime Scooter Tour
Like most non-East Coast cities, Austin grew with cars. Because of this, it’s a pretty spaced city. I would recommend ditching an Uber in favor of those little Lime scooters. Take the backroads and explore the neighborhoods! Shayley and I did so on the way from Barton Creek to SoCO and wandered into a neighborhood with some of the prettiest houses I’ve ever seen! They probably have some guided tours, but I’d recommend grabbing a scooter and following your gut to something interesting!
Lake Travis
Whether you’re eating at the wonderfully tacky Oasis or spend a day boating on the water, Lake Travis feels incredibly out of place in the dry Texas stereotype you’ve chalked the state up to. The lake sits in the middle of the state’s hill district, stretches 60 miles and is over 100 feet deep! Boat rental sites have a range of boats, from yachts to kayaks. After you’re done, The Oasis has relatively cheap drinks and has been voted to have the best sunset in Texas. It’s more than just a restaurant. The complex has at least ten different dining rooms and stadium seating maximize the sunset views.
Turquoise Skies 