Alright, Alright, Alright. Austin is a weirdly awesome mix of street murals, live music, bluebonnets, bats, and barbecue. It also knows how to make a catchy t-shirt. (Don’t Mess with Texas! Everything is bigger in Texas! Keep Austin Weird!)
MUST SEES
Congress Ave. Bats
See the bats emerge from the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset. 700,000 Mexican free-tailed bats depart each evening to feed. They go as high as 10,000 feet and 65 mph. In November, they migrate to Mexico.
6th Street
6th Street is the rambunctious heart of Austin’s live music scene. Musicians strum their guitars and belt out songs inside dark corner windows. Neon, wall murals, cowboy hats, and packs of well-dressed people vie for your attention.
Zilker Park
Zilker is the site of the Austin City Limits music festival. It is also the place to go on a blustery day to see an armada of kites. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden is at the southeastern end. From Zilker, you can kayak in the river next to skyscrapers.
Lady Bird Lake
Walk/run the perimeter of Lady Bird Lake. The Ann and Roy Butler Trail follows the northern shore with the Boardwalk to the south. The loop is about 10.4 miles, but you can always use one of the many bridges to shorten the loop.
Mount Bonnell
Mount Bonnell is the highest point in ACL at 775 feet, offering a great view of the downtown skyline. There are 102 steps to the top. Legend has it that a woman named Antoinette leapt off the peak to escape from Native Americans who had just killed her fiancé.
Lady Bird Wildflower Center
The bluebonnets bloom in April. You see them at the edge of freeways and next to airport landing strips. Or visit Lady Bird Wildflower Center at the edge of Texas hill country with over 900 native Texas plant species.
Jeremiah the Innocent
This is a mural on a former record store wall near UT. It was inspired by Daniel Johnston’s cover art on his album, “Hi, How Are You.” Kurt Cobain popularized the frog by frequently wearing a t-shirt with the image.
Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse was the first cinema to let you eat dinner and drink alcohol during a film. There is a long table in front of each row. Write your order on a slip paper and enjoy during the show. Menu items have movie-themed names.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue
October 3rd is Stevie Ray Vaughan Day. The statue on Auditorium Shores is the first public monument dedicated to a musician in Austin. He was a legendary blues and rock guitarist, perhaps one of the greatest.
McKinney Falls
At McKinney Falls, hike around the limestone ledges, pools, and waterfalls. Onion Creek flows down from the rocky slabs. The fishing is great as the park stocks the creek with plenty of rainbow trout.
Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is the sixth tallest capitol in the nation and was built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The open rotunda beneath the dome visually connects the levels of the building in dramatic fashion.
Rainey Street
Rainey Street emerges from the edge of the river beneath the shadows of Austin’s skyscrapers. Historic bungalows have been converted into bars and lounges. At a silent disco, people dance to the DJ’s music via headphones.
FOOD
Franklin Barbecue
Franklin’s BBQ brisket is truly transcendent from hours of optimal heat. The juicy brisket is so soft and luscious. The bark is like candy and the red ring preserves the smoky post oak flavor. (Wait Time: 3-4 hours)
la Barbecue
la Barbecue is in the upper echelon of brisket. The brisket glistens from the juices and grease. The black bark is juicy and peppery, some of the best around. The thick smoke ring has a deep red hue. (Wait Time: 1-1.5 hours)
Black’s Barbecue
This is one of the best spots for brisket, and its meat is delivered from Lockhart. The fatty brisket is succulent and juicy. The texture is right in the sweet spot entering meat butter territory. The connective tissue has melted into the meat. (Wait Time: 5 minutes)
Terry Black’s
A quintessential Texas BBQ joint with dingy lighting, neon, icy brews, and exceptional beef ribs. The meat falls off the dinosaur-sized beef rib bone. There’s a solid red smoke ring and the black peppery crust is flavorful. (Wait Time: 20 minutes)
LeRoy and Lewis
At Pickle Road, they use off cuts and are moving ‘cue in cosmic directions. The round beef cheek is succulent, perfect, and tender, with a giant, peppery bark and intensely thick, red smoke ring. They are also known for their tangy beet BBQ sauce and a yellow, creamy mustard BBQ sauce.
Veracruz
Veracruz has a great selection of tacos, breakfast tacos, and smoothies. The food is inspired by the cuisine of the Mexican state of Veracruz. This spacious spot in East Austin has a large open space with lots of lunch tables and multiple food trucks at the edges.
Canje
Canje on 6th brings a bit of the Caribbean to East Austin. It takes dishes from Guyana and puts its unique spin on them. It’s a bright spot with giant leaf graphics, hanging plants, and vibing grooves. Standout dishes include Wild Boar Pepperpot (a popular Christmas dish in Guyana) and Guyanese Style Roti.
Loro
Aaron Franklin’s Loro is all about Asian-inflected BBQ, sweet corn fritters, and boozy slushies. The brisket has a red smoke ring, chili gastrique, herbs, pickled onions, and garlic. The pork ribs are topped with pickled carrots, grilled green onions, and a mound of cilantro.
Valentina’s
Don’t mess with Tex-Mex! Valentina’s turns mesquite smoked beef, pork, and chicken into sandwiches or tacos. A thick slice of brisket covers a soft flour tortilla. The moist and juicy beef blends seamlessly with the creamy guacamole, serrano salsa, and lime.
Kebabalicious
Kebabalicious is a sublime purveyor of fresh and juicy Turkish doner kebabs. The beef and lamb, flatbread, fiery sauces, and cool crispy vegetables play well together. The dining area reminds you of someone’s backyard space with decks and tables.
Fixe
Fixe is a gem serving modern Southern cooking. The Lobster & Crawfish Pot Pie has ginormous chunks of seafood in every spoonful, a perfect bite of crust, Bearnaise sauce, Maine lobster, and tender Louisiana crawfish. Get the fluffy biscuits. It’s like eating clouds with butter, jam, and honey.Keep Exploring!
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