Wendy and Thomas' Guide to Austin
Feeling Touristy
Here are some of the most iconic sights that Austin is known for - these are family-friendly and great to see more of the history of the city.
Local favorite - if you are coming with children, be sure to check out the big red fire truck and little train that goes through the park! If you're in for a VERY cold swim in a natural spring, you can buy a ticket to Barton Springs, a natural swimming hole in the center of Texas. This is a great park to visit at any time of day - there are always events going on, whether it be outdoor yoga, frisbee, or fire spinning.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdLocal favorite - if you are coming with children, be sure to check out the big red fire truck and little train that goes through the park! If you're in for a VERY cold swim in a natural spring, you can buy a ticket to Barton Springs, a natural swimming hole in the center of Texas. This is a great park to visit at any time of day - there are always events going on, whether it be outdoor yoga, frisbee, or fire spinning.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveMust visit museum
This is very close to the property - typically Austinites will gather at dusk to watch the bats migrate. Park along S Lakeshore Blvd and you can walk along the waterfront (Ann and Roy Butler Trail) to get to to the bridge!
286 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueThis is very close to the property - typically Austinites will gather at dusk to watch the bats migrate. Park along S Lakeshore Blvd and you can walk along the waterfront (Ann and Roy Butler Trail) to get to to the bridge!
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveAustin is the capital city of Texas
This is a chilly naturally occurring swimming pool in the heart of Zilker park. It's a really fun experience if you're looking for a refreshing swim and you can leave your items in the lockers or on the large rocks surrounding the entire spring. Tickets are a couple dollars and the pool is open dawn til dusk in the summer.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrThis is a chilly naturally occurring swimming pool in the heart of Zilker park. It's a really fun experience if you're looking for a refreshing swim and you can leave your items in the lockers or on the large rocks surrounding the entire spring. Tickets are a couple dollars and the pool is open dawn til dusk in the summer.
ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdAustin City Limit
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton Rdlocal garden
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardArt Museum
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailSightseeing or Dinner Cruise on Lady Bird Lake
Austin Duck Adventures
602 E 4th StWonderspaces Austin
1205 Sheldon CoveCircuit of The Americas
9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd
Mount Bonnell
enjoy guided boat tour of Lake Austin and sunset views
The Driskill In The Unbound Collection By Hyatt
604 Brazos St
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse AveMuseum of The Weird
412 E 6th StThis is Austin
360 Bridge
4801 Plaza on the Lakehiking around the bridge too
Food scene
Sixth Street Historic District
don't miss this one
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress Avepremier music club
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Avelauded by some as the best BBQ in Texas - personally I'm more a fan of Rudy's but let me know your opinion!
372 locals recommend
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs Rdlauded by some as the best BBQ in Texas - personally I'm more a fan of Rudy's but let me know your opinion!
Greater Goods Coffee Roasting Co.
160 E 5th St
County Line
5204 Ranch Rd 2222enjoy sunset and great views
Oasis is known for it's KILLER views - while it's a bit of a trek out there and the food can be pricey, this is one of the best places to watch the sun set over Lake Travis.
97 locals recommend
Oasis Texas Brewing Company
6650 Comanche TrailOasis is known for it's KILLER views - while it's a bit of a trek out there and the food can be pricey, this is one of the best places to watch the sun set over Lake Travis.
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveCute brunch place in Soco known for oysters/seafood
In my opinion, the best TX BBQ. Their brisket is amazing. How to eat BBQ in Texas: Arrive. Order a lot of meat (usually brisket) and sides. Request some bread. Grab toppings, drinks and wax paper placements. Cover bread liberally in BBQ sauce (at the tables) and a lot of brisket. Check out their handwashing stations and buy some BBQ sauce to go.
62 locals recommend
Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q
3914 N Lamar BlvdIn my opinion, the best TX BBQ. Their brisket is amazing. How to eat BBQ in Texas: Arrive. Order a lot of meat (usually brisket) and sides. Request some bread. Grab toppings, drinks and wax paper placements. Cover bread liberally in BBQ sauce (at the tables) and a lot of brisket. Check out their handwashing stations and buy some BBQ sauce to go.
Neighborhoods
fun areas to hang out in and walk around
SoCo is a hip part of town where there's tons of boutiques, coffee shops, brunch places, live music and great shopping. Grab brunch at Magnolia cafe in the morning, then spend the afternoon checking out vintage shops. Thirsty? Stop by for a wine tasting at Austin winery, and then have some queso while relaxing to sunset live music at Guero's. The below link is a great guide to all of the top spots in Soco:
https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/around-town-south-congress/
650 locals recommend
South Congress
SoCo is a hip part of town where there's tons of boutiques, coffee shops, brunch places, live music and great shopping. Grab brunch at Magnolia cafe in the morning, then spend the afternoon checking out vintage shops. Thirsty? Stop by for a wine tasting at Austin winery, and then have some queso while relaxing to sunset live music at Guero's. The below link is a great guide to all of the top spots in Soco:
https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/around-town-south-congress/
Feeling Active
Austin is a very hip and very fit town - think athleisure, craft beer, and corgis. Here are some good recs for activities like biking, hiking, practicing yoga, or kayaking.
My favorite bouldering location ever. This place is huge and has a great functional fitness gym, yoga studio, fitness classes, coworking space, and locker rooms with showers. If you like to climb or lift, this is a great place to check out!
If you're feeling thirsty afterwards, their Springdale location is right next door to Austin East Ciders and across the street from Sa-Ten, a hip little Japanese coffee shop.
160 locals recommend
Austin Bouldering Project
979 Springdale RdMy favorite bouldering location ever. This place is huge and has a great functional fitness gym, yoga studio, fitness classes, coworking space, and locker rooms with showers. If you like to climb or lift, this is a great place to check out!
If you're feeling thirsty afterwards, their Springdale location is right next door to Austin East Ciders and across the street from Sa-Ten, a hip little Japanese coffee shop.
Donation based hot yoga studio with several different locations in the city. This is a fun class but can get crowded so be sure to reserve your spot and arrive early! The orchard location is downtown and near tons of great brunch spots.
93 locals recommend
Black Swan Yoga
403 Orchard StDonation based hot yoga studio with several different locations in the city. This is a fun class but can get crowded so be sure to reserve your spot and arrive early! The orchard location is downtown and near tons of great brunch spots.
My favorite place to rent kayaks/canoes. This is at Zilker park and is a great way to see the park and be active without going far and while being in the heart of town.
124 locals recommend
Zilker Park Boat Rentals
2101 Andrew Zilker RdMy favorite place to rent kayaks/canoes. This is at Zilker park and is a great way to see the park and be active without going far and while being in the heart of town.
waterfront running and biking trail on Lady Bird Lake. This is where I like to go run since it's so close and is right on the water. There's free parking along S Lakeshore Blvd and I will typically park near Peace Point and run along the south side of the lake. You're sure to encounter many Bird or Lime scooters here for rental. There are a few outdoor exercise equipment points and if you're running at sunset, this is where the bats are (Congress Avenue bridge).
257 locals recommend
Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
waterfront running and biking trail on Lady Bird Lake. This is where I like to go run since it's so close and is right on the water. There's free parking along S Lakeshore Blvd and I will typically park near Peace Point and run along the south side of the lake. You're sure to encounter many Bird or Lime scooters here for rental. There are a few outdoor exercise equipment points and if you're running at sunset, this is where the bats are (Congress Avenue bridge).
Barton Creek is the main hiking/outdoor area in Austin. This is a huge greenbelt with lots of different hiking entrances along the water. You can't go wrong!!
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailBarton Creek is the main hiking/outdoor area in Austin. This is a huge greenbelt with lots of different hiking entrances along the water. You can't go wrong!!
Iconic Austin
Places that just scream "Austin"
The best way to watch a movie - small theaters that serve great food and drinks (and boozy milkshakes) during the movie. Their food selection is great, and the Drafthouses always have fun events going on with special menus. One of the best inventions from Texas.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdThe best way to watch a movie - small theaters that serve great food and drinks (and boozy milkshakes) during the movie. Their food selection is great, and the Drafthouses always have fun events going on with special menus. One of the best inventions from Texas.
If you are road tripping to San Antonio or New Braunfels, stop by a Buc-ee's to refuel and grab a bite to eat. This is a very iconic Texas convenience store/gas station/tourist stop that revolves around their mascot, a giant beaver.
32 locals recommend
Buc-ee's
2760 I-35If you are road tripping to San Antonio or New Braunfels, stop by a Buc-ee's to refuel and grab a bite to eat. This is a very iconic Texas convenience store/gas station/tourist stop that revolves around their mascot, a giant beaver.
Cute outdoor coffee shop and workspace on the main strip in Soco. This is where the famous "i love you so much" graffiti is, and where all the influencers go to get their selfies.
495 locals recommend
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveCute outdoor coffee shop and workspace on the main strip in Soco. This is where the famous "i love you so much" graffiti is, and where all the influencers go to get their selfies.
HOPE Outdoor Gallery
741 Dalton LaneGraffiti park with hundreds of graffiti murals
This is a giant sculpture/building/space made entirely out of trash in one man's backyard. You can drive up, but need to call ahead for appointments/to enter. Entrance is free and this is about as Austin as it gets!
110 locals recommend
Cathedral of Junk
4422 Lareina DrThis is a giant sculpture/building/space made entirely out of trash in one man's backyard. You can drive up, but need to call ahead for appointments/to enter. Entrance is free and this is about as Austin as it gets!