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What Austin, Texas is known for.

in North America, TEXAS, Uncategorized on 07/01/19

Before you go, brush up on your knowledge below to find out what Austin, Texas is known for. I’ve included my top picks to maximise your experience.

I actually had no idea that Austin was the capital of Texas. What brought me here were vibrant tales of live music, epic food and the cities artistic vibe.

Does Austin live up to the hype? You can bet your sweet ribs it does… I fell head over cowboy boots in LOVE with Austin, Texas. So much so, I now rank it as one of my all time favourite US cities.

Dana is twirling in front of the, greetings from Austin mural.
Welcome to Austin, y’all

Where to Stay

From high end to hostel, Austin, Texas is known to have a scene to suit every budget. I’ve scoured them all with a fine tooth comb, and have delivered you properties that serve up; boutique detail, passion for their brands and an experience that will turn your stay in Austin, into a lifelong memory to cherish.

The hotels I have listed are focused around Downtown & East Cesar Chavez, as well as South Congress & Bouldin Creek which are directly over the lake. Staying in these areas gives you easy access to explore by foot, Lime or Bird scooters, or a low cost Uber or Lyft ride.

$$$ Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt – You’ll find the newly designed hotel in Downtown Austin, near the famed Rainey Street. Built to immerse you in the music scene and give you a truly authentic taste of Austin, laced with creativity and class.

$$$ The Line – This location is second to none, set in Downtown, on the lake and opposite South Congress, you can’t get better. The history, design and emerging art on showcase, is all part of the appeal for this newcomer.

$$$ Hotel Saint Cecilia – If privacy is key, This stylish 14 room converted mansion in South Congress is for you.

$$$ South Congress Hotel – In the heart of South Congress. Minimalist design focuses on elements that showcase Texas, such as; reclaimed wood, leather and denim. The rooftop pool is the perfect spot to take time out in that hot Texan sun too.

$$ Hotel San Jose – A South Congress gem. This bungalow style hotel, hidden behind a curtain of ivy, offers free concerts in their lush courtyard.

If your budget is more beer than champagne, I have your back too;

Dana is waling towards the large Austin Motel sign that says, let love in.
Do you see what I see?

$ Austin Motel – An iconic Austin Motel on South Congress that has been completely redesigned by Liz Lambert. The decor is bright and the property has a really fun vibe for this budget. I love their play on the phallic sign with, let love in.

$ Outsite Austin – If you are staying longer term and living a digital nomad life, like me. This is a favourite of mine to live, work and collaborate with like minded people. A 6 bedroom house in Bouldin Creek, showered in natural light and surrounded by lush greenery. A short walk or scooter to South Congress, I fell in love with my stay here.

$ Native Hostel – An experiential hostel on the border of downtown and East Cesar Chavez. Their motto is; creating a culture of fuck yes. You can count on the team here to steer you in the right direction and deliver in spades.

$ HK Austin Hostel – Established by renowned travel blogger, Nomadic Matt. He has set up a unique and collaborative space in East Cesar Chavez, for people to meet up and create, in a historically listed landmark. The design is no frills and so is the price.

$$$ Miraval Austin Resort & Spa – An hour out of Austin, nestled in Texas Hill Country. If you are looking to treat yourself and escape the city, Miraval have created a stunning sanctuary to unwind.

If you are an avid Air Bnb guest, Austin offers a wide range of properties to suit too. Save money off your first Air Bnb stay by using my link.

Dana is wearing a red floral dress, sat on a rock, overlooking South Congress Bridge.
Finding some shade, and overlooking South Congress Bridge

Where to Eat

Austin, Texas will tantalise your tastebuds, That is a known fact. With the city expanding at a rapid rate, so too are the hundreds of new restaurants and food trucks that are opening up every year.

I found Eater Austin, to be on the pulse, as they highlight the hottest newcomers and update their list monthly.

With so many choices, I obviously had to try as many as I could. Austin is world famous for BBQ and Tex Mex. Also home to the flagship store for Wholefoods, I recommend you pay a visit, It is huge!

My waistline in Austin is a true testament to these amazing places that contributed to its success in expanding rapidly.

BBQ – Franklin’s is the most famous (and also has the longest lines… I don’t generally do lines but the brisket was legit worth the wait).

Every local I spoke to had their own view on which BBQ joint was their favourite, this made me start a game of how many barbecues can I try out.

Every restaurant or food truck I visited, was completely different to the last. They all have varying styles and dishes unique to the pit masters, I recommend you try a few. Some others I tried and loved were; Coopers Old Time Pit BBQ, Terry Black’s BBQ & La Barbecue.

Torchy’s Tacos – In multiple locations across the city, Make sure you try at least one. This place is so famous, even Barack Obama treated himself here.

Via 313 serve deep dish Detroit style pizza which you do not want to share, buy one for yourself and if you can’t finish it, take it home and munch on it on the next day. They have multiple locations, I visited the one in the courtyard of Craft Pride (A bar on Rainey Street that serves Texan craft brew) and listened to live music.

Austin is packed with food trailers (over 1000 of them), hence another reason why I am obsessed with this city. There is something about being able to order from a small menu, that specialises in its fare, that makes eating so easy. If you’re usually paralysed by too much choice, food trucks are for you. Again, Austin Eater has the best of the best lists and they update it regularly.

Dana is jumping off a cliff into the deep blue water hole of Jacob's Well
Jumping straight into Jacob’s Well, the natural highlight of my time in Austin

What to Do

ATX (The quickest known way to say Austin, Texas) is the live music capital of the world. With over 250 live music venues, you will find something you love and discover buzzing new acts.

The Austin Music Venue Guide, lets you filter by genre, venue type and district, they also let you enter keywords if you really want to define your search.

With more music venues than you have time to visit, Austin, Texas is known to play host to some of America’s most popular festivals. Think SXSW, Austin City Limits and Urban Music Festival (among many other lesser known gems).

Aside from music and food, Austin will stun you with its natural beauty and outdoor activities aplenty.

Spend time around Ladybird Lake; walk, run, bike, SUP or tube down the river. Another must do in the city is to head to Zilker Park to cool off in the natural Barton Springs.

Spend a day on a treasure hunt for Austin’s famous street art murals; warning, you will need more than a day by the time you track them down and take all the photos.

One of the most famous experiences (and to be honest… I could leave this out but maybe it’s your thing) is to watch the million or so bats fly over South Congress Bridge around sunset ( check exact times when you arrive as they vary on the time of year, and catch them from March through November).

With that Texan heat beating down, my favourite thing to do in the day was take short day trips to check out nearby swimming holes. Check out Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole & Deep Eddy Pool. Make sure you check out the local park sites as some need reservations to swim, and can book out far in advance, especially in the height of summer.

Hiring a car is a must if you want to venture out of the city. Pennybacker Bridge has a beautiful view over the river and is the perfect spot for a sunset picnic – Make sure you get there early to claim your spot.

Dana is standing on . a cliff, facing out towards the river, overlooking Pennybacker Bridge.
Park by the side of the freeway, and take a short hike up to this vantage point overlooking Pennybacker Bridge

Looking for more information?

With over ten years experience as a Personal Travel Manager, I love nothing more than tailoring holidays for my clients and turning travel dreams into reality. Get in touch to discuss your trip and book with an expert.

Dana is standing in front of the, Ilove you so much, mural in Austin.
It’s true… Thanks for reading x

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Instagram post 2191722527200805438_4531509422 California is NOT only Hollywood & Beaches! ⁣
⁣
It’s one of the most diverse places on the planet. Hit the link in my bio to find out why⁣
⁣
I’m breaking down the top 11 reasons why you need to Visit California⁣
⁣
@visitcalifornia @united @karryontravel @shastacascade #dreambig⁣
⁣
📸 @thiswildtime
Instagram post 2188109242509460148_4531509422 Have you seen this rainbow crossing?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
You’ll find it in The Castro District, San Francisco. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The Castro was one of the first gay neighbourhoods in the U.S and is still one of the most prominent LGBT areas in the world. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
As a human (& straight woman) I feel it’s important to recognise, hold space and support our LGBTQIA 🏳️‍🌈 community in having the same rights, inclusions and safety as we have⁣. ⁣
⁣
One of the easiest ways we can do this is by voicing our support and having open conversations. ⁣
⁣⁣
ONE HEART, ONE WAY 💛✨⁣
⁣
@visitcalifornia #dreambig⁣
@onlyinsf #alwayssf⁣
⁣
📸 @thiswildtime
Instagram post 2185894535560016456_4531509422 Waking up at 4am to drive an hour to meet the sun and breathe in these California views are what makes me feel alive⁣
⁣
It also could have something to do with my inappropriate dress choice for freezing conditions... but hey, you have to dream big... right?⁣
⁣
@visitcalifornia #dreambig
Instagram post 2185190492801997833_4531509422 Accurate depiction of how I feel about being in northern California in fall 🍁 ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If the leaves don’t it do for you, a behind the scenes tasting tour @sierranevada brewing company will 🍻 ⁣⁣
⁣
@visitcalifornia #dreambig⁣
⁣
📸 @thediaryofadreammaker⁣
⁣⁣
Instagram post 2183766128235824850_4531509422 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄 (sing that aloud) which whether you celebrate it or not, is a reminder to turn up the fun & give gratitude for all that you have⁣
⁣
From mid November on is one of my favourite times to be in America, especially here in San Francisco. The trees are up, lights are twinkling, skates are on and you can feel all the magic of the festive season upon us.⁣
⁣
Have you ever had Christmas in the US of A?⁣
⁣
@onlyinsf #AlwaysSF @VisitCalifornia #dreambig 📸 @postcardsfrompeta
Instagram post 2182248274176802680_4531509422 Welcome to San Francisco 🇺🇸 Where I’ve spent the past week exploring the city and the Northern part of California with @visitcalifornia @united & @karryontravel⁣⁣
⁣⁣
You know me for mainly travelling solo, but this week was a treat (and occasionally a challenge) travelling and collaborating with the A Team as part of Australia’s Top 8 Travel Agent Influencers. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If you missed the stories, check out the California highlight in my bio. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Share some love with the rest of my team too, each and every one of them are extremely talented and our creative styles show off California from different perspectives.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
@jezdrake⁣⁣
@melbellbednall⁣⁣
@thiswildtime⁣⁣
@travel.with.tess⁣⁣
@claiirebella⁣⁣
@charliebolter⁣⁣
@thediaryofadreammaker⁣⁣
@postcardsfrompeta⁣⁣
@kulturekate⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Have you been following my journey? What do you think of what we got up to?⁣
⁣
#DreamBig #AlwaysSF 📸 @thiswildtime
Follow on Instagram

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