I was hoping to visit three new American cities this year in the domestic travel category, and I’m glad to say that Austin, Texas, is now off my list. Such a fun location! In this town, there are a ton of awesome things to do and see. For the first day, my cousin Lisa’s family, who have lived in Austin for 15 years, played tour guide. After that, I went exploring on my own to find the locals’ favorite secret hot spots.

There are various ways to get around Austin. If you live in the downtown area, you may hire electric scooters and bicycles at several locations; this was one means of transportation I used. Since my Airbnb home was only a 5-minute drive from the city center, I was also able to explore with the aid of a rental car. Additionally, I used Uber to get around when I had sore feet or in areas where I knew parking would be difficult (downtown and on popular Rainey St).

Brewery Scene East Sixth Street After a dish of barbecue, this was one of our first stops because we adore beer (see below). Austin’s population is expanding quickly, and the brewing scene is keeping up by providing a wide selection of regional beers to try. Many locals and college students frequent the popular food trucks and breweries on East Sixth Street.

FOOD TRUCKS EVERYWHERE In Austin, where food trucks are very popular, several public lots have been converted into parking spaces with picnic tables in the middle. You can eat at any that appeal to you because there are plenty of them in Austin.:)

GOVERNORS MANSION AND THE STATE CAPITOL These two structures, which are worth visiting, are located right next to one another in the center of the city. The governors residence is picture-perfect on the outside, and the pink granite structure has a magnificent dome inside.

KAYAK, CANOE, AND SWIM IN BARTON SPRINGS Barton Springs is well-known for its beauty among the locals, but as a visitor from out of town, I was awed by this natural spring turned swimming hole. I visited on a weekday when it wasn’t as busy and enjoyed an hour in the sun there.

My cousin Lisa and I spent an hour paddling down the Colorado River to Ladybird Lake under the Austin bridges after renting kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards just a short distance from the entry.

We hired canoes, and when we got there, they gave us life jackets. My cousin and I joke about this image. We mistakenly believed that wearing them was a requirement of the rental, but they are not, LOL. All you have to do is make sure they are in the canoe or kayak you rent. Keep in mind that these waters are shallow, so no life jacket is necessary if you can swim reasonably well.

One of my favorite outdoor activities was canoeing down the river and taking in the downtown area. Did you spot the cranes? Austin is undergoing a ton of construction to keep up with expansion. Hello to Lisa, my cousin!

After working up an appetite, stop by one of the hip restaurants on Barton Springs Road; I had enchiladas at Chuys, and the Shady Grove is a terrific place for burgers. It made me grin to see the quirky Airstream parked out back.

Investigate the South Congress (SOCO) scene. Cross the Congress Bridge, park close to James Street, and take a stroll down the street to find a variety of unique boutiques, cafes, and businesses that sell everything from trendy home décor to western dress to locally made crafts.

1
The Willie for President mural and the instagrammable I Love You So Much are both located in SoCo, next to Amys Ice Cream.

BAR HOPPING ON SIXTH STREET One of the main attractions in Austin is the bar and music scene. On Saturday night, my cousin and I headed downtown to check it out and listen to the live music. Every bar on this street lives up to Austin’s reputation as the world’s live music capital, and they’re all open day and night to provide you with entertainment.

Later in the evening, when the roadway is solely for pedestrians, things get frantic. It made me think of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, where revelers love to have a great time! Even so, we enjoyed the nice music scene, a couple drinks, and people-watching.

7
Hire one of the many pubcrawlers and ride around the city with your mates if you want to go out drinking.

BARS ON RAINEY STREET The bungalows on Rainey Street, close to Highway 35, have been transformed into an entertainment district. Here, you can find homes that have been turned into bars along the street and bands performing. It was a hipster scene and a fun place to hang out in the afternoon and evening hours while enjoying a beer and listening to music.

BRIDGE BAT COLONY CONGRESS Hundreds of people gather every evening in warm weather to see the over a million bats that reside in a colony beneath this bridge emerge at dusk. It’s a show, and you can see people viewing it from boats on the water. The distance from Rainey Street to the bridge is not that great.

SURF A LOT OF BBQ There are so many BBQ restaurants in Austin that a traveler can’t possibly visit them all. Franklins BBQ is well-known, and people often spend hours in line there, but I didn’t have the time, so I looked elsewhere for my brisket. I ate brisket tacos from a food truck, ate at Salt Lick and the County Line for lunch. all very good.

This article by Visit Austin is a fantastic resource that provides a wealth of information on where to get delicious BBQ in Austin.

APPRECIATE THE QUARK Keep a look out for various laugh-out-loud expressions around town since Austin has a sense of humor.

IMPROVE YOUR CULTURE WITH ART The Umlauf Sculpture Garden is close to Barton Springs and Zilker Park, so you may visit all three in one day to experience the zen. Beautiful sculptures by a single artist, Charles Umlauf, a professor at the University of Texas for 40 years, are on display in this serene and shaded outdoor exhibition. You can complete a tour of the gardens in under an hour, but take your time—a it’s beautiful location with a serene, refined atmosphere.

MOUNT BONNELL IN THE DUSK To watch the bats at dusk on Congress Bridge (see above) and to go up a short staircase to see the vistas from Mt. Bonnell, you’ll need at least two nights in Austin. It’s a simple drive. The million-dollar houses that line the water and the vista of the Austin skyline will astound you.

My four-day trip to Austin taught me to appreciate the outdoors, beer, barbecue, and live music while being strange. Although I spent the majority of my time downtown, there are additional attractions outside of Austin, such as the visit the wineries in Fredricksburg or Fixer Upper enthusiasts can drive to Waco and explore the Magnolia silos .

What else can you advise, locals? Do you have a favorite barbecue restaurant or food truck?