Hello, Austin!
Picture the perfect weekend getaway!
The destination is about two hours away and filled with my essentials for a top-notch weekend.
1. Great food 2. Plenty to do outdoors 3. Live music
Austin, Texas, is a favorite for these few reasons! Where to stay? Depending on the activities you want to do, search for a place in an area that fits your itinerary. I have stayed at a hotel downtown, where bars and restaurants were a block or two away and easily accessible by foot, and trendy Airbnb rentals across town.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
I discover something new each time I visit and compiled a list of TTN Things to Do in Austin! ENJOY!
Here are my recommendations!
GREAT Food
1. la Barbecue - Expect a long line, because its grass-fed BBQ is GOOD and worth the wait. When I last visited, it was a food truck with a keg of free beer to get you toasty! Now, la Barbecue has a brick and mortar on 2027 E. Cesar Chavez St. Tip: Place your order in advance, so that your food will be ready, when you arrive. PSA: Get the moist brisket and burnt ends.
2. Odd Duck - Have you had a pretzel with pig face carnitas in fried egg puree?! Didn’t think so. You will find this among other unique dishes at Odd Duck. All made with fresh ingredients from local farms.
3. Blenders and Bowls - I had my first açaí bowl here, and it was one of the BEST I have had. They have five locations in Austin, and a few are temporarily closed. The downtown shop is set inside a yoga studio, so get your booty to work before getting your açaí fix. This bowl of fresh fruit and goji berries will get you fueled for a fun day!
4. Gourdough's - Donut goodness. The Mother Clucker is fried chicken topped with a honey glaze. Mmm… And, dessert on a donut? You can have that here, too. Try the strawberry Nutella donut.
View my food photos on your desktop to see each caption. :)
5. Chi'lantro - This restaurant is home of the kimchi fries, so try THE ORIGINAL kimchi fries with Korean BBQ tacos!
6. Barley Swine - I had one of the best dinners EVER here. This cozy establishment offers a 12 course meal over two hours. Tiny, creative plates are made with local ingredients and packed with lots of flavor. You will never get bored, because the menu changes monthly! If you like Odd Duck, you may also like Barley Swine, because they have the same owners.
7. Café No Sé - Start your Sunday at this charming restaurant on South Congress Avenue with a bloody Mary and brunch on their outdoor patio. Then, walk to the vintage boutiques, like Feathers, and art & local goods shops to take a piece of Austin home with you forever.
8. Soup Peddler - Make a pit stop for a juice, smoothie, or a soul warming bowl of their soup.
9. El Tacorrido - In the mood for tacos and an horchata? Have your pick of tacos and order an horchata, a rice milk beverage with vanilla extract and cinnamon. No need to go inside, when they offer a drive-thru and are open until 3 a.m.
Nature
ALL THE GREENERY AND WATER
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail - Enjoy the morning glory flowers, after a run!
Lady Bird Lake - Had lunch and dinner with this view.
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail - Austin is beautiful, during springtime, when all the flowers are newly bloomed.
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail - I like to go for a run around this lake, every time I visit!
Barton Creek - Wade in the water and bask in the sun.
Barton Creek Greenbelt - Hike this trail to the creek and caves.
Twin Falls - This is part of Barton Creek Greenbelt and has three sets of rapids along the trail. TIP: Avoid visiting after it rains, because the trail will be muddy. SECOND TIP: Bring a bathing suit, towel, and change of clothes and take a dip!
Zilker Park - This park is HUGE! It comprises of 351 acres of green. Enjoy it with a picnic and games of frisbee & soccer.
Pennybacker Bridge (aka Austin 360 Bridge) - This bridge goes over Lake Austin and connects sections of Loop 360 Highway. Park on the side of the road and climb up the rocks for this view!
Texas Rowing Center - Row, kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddle board (SUP) at Lady Bird Lake! Texas Rowing Center offers rentals for kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. On the weekends, you can rent a paddle board for $20 an hour or $40 for an unlimited amount of time. They will hold onto your ID/credit card, while you go out into the water.
Jacob’s Well - I felt scared on this ledge (at least 10 ft. high) at Jacob’s Well, a 140 feet deep swimming hole that is 45 minutes from Austin! I jumped from the ledge beneath the one I am standing on. Exhilarating and worth it! TIPS: I recommend booking a reservation (I booked 1.5 months in advance to swim) and wearing water shoes, since the rocks are slippery. COST: $9/adult and $5/veteran
I have never been to Barton Springs, Lake Travis, or Hamilton Pool, but they are on my must-explore list!
live Music
FUN FACT: Austin is deemed the "live music capital of the world", because it was discovered to have more music venues per capita than anywhere else in the United States! Before the pandemic, you could find live music at music venues, big and small, every day of the week.
Visit the Elephant Room for live jazz music, if that’s your thing, in a basement daily. They plan on reopening in July.
Diverse artists come through to Austin, so look online to see what concerts are popping up.
Austin is also home to the Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, film, & music festival!
Rainey Street
Can you see why I love Austin?! Let me know where you have been and where you plan on going!
Stay To The Nines,
Teresa Thuy