What to do on a short weekend trip in Austin, Texas?

Ok, so I may be a little biased when I say Austin, Texas is INCREDIBLE!! I almost moved here twice- once for graduate school and once after deciding to leave Orlando to try something different. My opportunities led me elsewhere, but it’s definitely not to say that Austin wasn’t a close contender! Live music, good energetic vibes, and just the right amount of eclectic. I had a couple requests on what was good to see and do here, so here goes! This is what I did on my short weekend trip to Austin, Texas.

 

(1) Pasta Mardi Gras at Pappadeaux

Ok, this is definitely a chain, but I first learned about the Pappas Brothers restaurants when I visited my brother in Houston. They have locations throughout the US, but mainly concentrated in TX. This particular restaurant offers seafood with a Louisiana/Cajun spin. I always get the fried calamari (get the large size because the half size isn’t enough and only a few bucks more) and split the pasta mardi gras. Buttery, savory, and you’ll feel kind of guilty having it all to yourself.

(2) Barton Springs

This is a man-made, spring-fed pool. The water is super chilly, even though it was practically 100 degrees outside. It’s $4 per non-resident adult and $3 for residents. There are different prices for seniors and children, too. You can’t bring in a lot of stuff, but I definitely saw people smuggle that shit in. There’s an area just outside the pool that has similar benefits- the water, but there’s no lifeguard. You pay nothing, and can bring your furry friends on that other side.

(3) Grub on Texas-style BBQ

I ended up going to Terry Black’s BBQ right off Barton Springs Road.  This is a new restaurant in Austin, Texas and has apparently created a lot of buzz. Not only did my brother suggest it, the guy at the car rental suggested it. And with really good Yelp! Reviews, I definitely wanted to check it out. They don’t have pulled pork, but definitely offer some delicious brisket and jalapeno cheese sausage. The ribs were yummy as well.  Mac and cheese was just ok. No 2-hour Franklin’s BBQ waiting, so I highly recommend! 🙂

(4) Check out Congress Avenue Bats at Dusk

Head to the bridge off Congress at dusk to see millions (I’m pretty positive its 1-2 million bats) emerge from underneath the South Congress Bridge into the sky. The “show” lasts about 10-15 minutes and you can see this black cloud just float along the sky. I’ll be perfectly honestly, it’s not the most amazing sight you’ll set eyes on in your life, but it’s a neat experience because the bats are chilling all day underneath that bridge and then near dusk they fly out. Where they go? Who knows? Hopefully to eat all those bugs.

(5) Rainey Street (Historic District)

Right at the edge of downtown Austin, this is a street lined with “bungalow” style homes that have been converted into bars and restaurants. There’s plenty of food trucks in the area, too. A little hipster meets yuppie America, but definitely better than a shameful night on Dirty Sixth. Check out Half Step- amazing Moscow mules!

 

(6) Dirty Sixth

6^th street in downtown Austin. This street is about 9/10 blocks of bars, restaurants, clubs, pizza stands, street meat, and drunk college students. Walk up and down the street for some enjoyable people watching. Very lively and energetic vibe. You’ll smell a faint hint of vomit and shame too. I prefer 4^th street or Rainey, but you have to check it out at least once.

 

(7) Keep it Weird off South Congress

This area right on the corner of downtown has a lot to see. It’s lined with local shops, thrift shops, restaurants, food trucks, and lots of vintage finds.  “Keep Austin Weird” is a slogan that’s been adopted to promote local businesses in the city.

(8) Try some local brews

Hop into an independently owned liquor store and check out some local brews and liquors. Tito’s, Dripping Springs, and Banner Vodka is made locally in Austin, Texas (..well in the Austin-ish area). There’s a number of breweries here, too. I tried some 512 Wit (Belgian wheat beer) at a random bar in near South Congress. Check out this liquor store for some good finds, too.

(9) Rent Bikes

There’s a number of “Austin B-Cycle” stands downtown where you pay $8 for a 24 hour pass and get 30 minutes free to ride. Anything after 30 minutes is $4/30 minutes. You can also buy the $8 pass, ride free for 30 minutes, park the bike at another stand, then check it out and ride another 30 minutes for free. Since I’m quite the amateur bike rider, we didn’t have to worry about this, but I suggest checking your bike in as often as you can because it definitely adds up.  Bike locks are already included for your convenience!

 

(10) Listen to some Live Music!!!

Austin, Texas is dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” – Check out Stubb’s BBQ for live music, or hop into a random bar in downtown Austin.  Also, check out South Congress (SoCo).

(11) Food trucks

These were all over downtown at night and offered more than just the typical hotdog/street meat fare. We had Vietnamese, BBQ, Thai and Tex-Mex.  Check out this link I found with some tips.

 

 

Where to stay- If you can, I highly suggest staying downtown/Barton Springs area. This is centrally located around everything I mentioned above, so walking and short Uber rides are all you really need to get around. I rented a car for other reasons, but the airport is pretty close.

Next Time, Austin – I need to go back and check out Hamilton Pool, Greenbelt Waterfall, Austin City Limits, Mount Bonnett, Franklin’s (if I dare wait that long for food), and a Longhorns game.

Hope this was helpful! Enjoy Austin! xo