Things To Do
South Congress Ave.
If you've never been to Austin, this is a must-see spot with food and shopping and a spectacular view of the Texas State Capitol! We recommend checking out Jo's Coffee (which features one of the city's most popular murals/photo ops); Home Slice for pizza and subs; Lucky Robot for crudo, dumplings, and desserts; Amy's Ice Cream for brownie sundaes; and Allen Boots to get into that cowboy spirit.
Congress Avenue Bat Bridge
Bet you didn't know that Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America! The colony of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roosts under the Congress Avenue bridge and emerges each night at sunset. This is an awesome site to witness and attracts many tourists. You can also observe this site from the water if you choose to do a night kayak or boat rental.
Ann and Roy Butler River Trail
If you like exercising and exploring new cities by foot, we recommend getting on either side of the trail that borders the Colorado River. We walk it daily!
Colorado River
Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the city from the water! This is obviously weather-permitting, but it was in the high 80s last Halloween.
Texas State Capitol
The largest state capital in the country.
Museum of the Weird
You'll have to find out for yourself.
Rainey Street
College fraternity houses turned bars. Beware the Rainey Street Ripper, though!
Lamberts
BBQ joint / steakhouse. You really can't go wrong here but we recommend the jalapeno caesar, queso, brisket, ribeye, cheeseburger, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and banana pudding! Clearly we like this place a lot...
Terry Black's Barbecue
If you know you know! We recommend the beef ribs, baked potato salad, and the black margarita.
Local Foods -- 2nd Street District
Casual eatery. We recommend the truffled egg salad sandwich, crunchy chicken sandwich, and the matcha lemonade.
Cosmic Pickle
Fun outdoor space with coffee and food truck options. Quintessential Austin!
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
Coffeehouse with an outdoor patio overlooking Lake Austin.