Emily & Shane
Things To Do
la Barbecue
Le Barbecue just received a MICHELIN STAR! It's our favorite BBQ spot in Austin. So get there EARLY! There is always a line and they always sell out during the afternoon.
Terry Black's Barbecue
Another famous BBQ spot in Austin. But you gotta get there early. The line always wraps around the building, and they run out of BBQ usually by mid day.
Franklin Barbecue
Another great BBQ option in Austin. Just like the other 2, you will have to wait in a long line so get there early!
Torchy's Tacos
Austin is known for it's tacos, and this is one of our favorite spots!
Magnolia Cafe
One of Emily's favorite breakfast/brunch spots!
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
Austin also has a really great coffee scene. Mozart's has great coffee and sits along the Colorado River making it a great spot to hang out.
Medici Roasting
Medici also has great coffee!
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden
This place has amazing brunch (get the Manmosa!) and a whole wall of tap beer! They have a live band too.
Rainey Street
This area is full of fun bars and food spots. It's a fun party street for the more laid back partier and is great for brunch!
6th Street
Sixth Street is very historic and has a cool bar scene. However, I do warn that it has gotten quite dirty and rundown over the years so use caution when walking down. But it is definitely worth checking out as it is an Austin staple.
Voodoo Doughnut
A famous donut shop known for it's crazy creations.
Barton Springs
This is a fun place to hang out during the day! It's a naturally occurring spring turned local swim spot.
South Congress
This is a street filled with eclectic shopping and amazing eats. It also has awesome views of downtown Austin. The South Congress bridge is also home to a colony of bats and April is prime viewing time. At dusk, they fly out in masses ready to forage for food. During the day, you can hear them squeaking if you listen closely.
“I love you so much” Mural
Austin is full of iconic murals all over the city. This one is the most popular and has great views of downtown Austin.
Texas Capitol
Can't forget to visit the great capitol building of Texas!
University of Texas at Austin
The greatest university in the state of Texas! Walk around the campus and see where Emily wandered around for 3.5 years! Don't forget to check out the Tower at the center of campus as well as the stadium. Hook em Horns!
Zilker Metropolitan Park
This is a huge park right off the Colorado River that runs through the city. Lots of great trails, wide open spaces to hang out, and kayak the river!
County Line
Another great BBQ spot! Has great Baby Back ribs. A little bit of a drive, but the Bee Cave area is really beautiful as well. If you're going to the 360 Bridge for hiking/views, then this is the perfect lunch/dinner spot.
Lady Bird Lake
Go kayaking or take a boat ride on Lady Bird Lake! It runs through the heart of downtown Austin.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
If you have time for a movie, the Drafthouse is a fun spot to go to. It has a full menu and bar so you can eat a meal and drink while you watch your movie. It began in Austin and is a huge part of the SXSW festival that happens in March.
YETI
Yeti was founded in Austin. Check out their huge flagship. They also have a bar inside of it.
Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room
Deep Eddy has a tasting room and huge area to hang out. It's fun place to spend the afternoon.
The Oasis On Lake Travis
This restaurant has amazing views of Texas Hill Country and Lake Travis. If you don't plan on eating, take a drive around the lake if you have time!
Circuit of the Americas
Any F1 fans? The Circuit is home to the Austin F1 race that happens in October amongst other racing events.
Floating the River
A favorite activity amongst Central Texas is floatin' the river! Rent some tubes for you, your family/friends, and one for your cooler and spend the day floating down the river.
Fredericksburg
This is another day/overnight trip that is well worth the drive! This is Texas's wine country. It has a ton of very cool wineries, and has very German roots! A lot of great food and drinks to be had down there.
San Antonio
For an awesome day or overnight trip, I HIGHLY recommend going down to San Antonio. It's a beautiful and historic city, and is an easy drive from Austin. I can also promise that you'll have the best Mexican food in your life in San Antonio. Check out spots like the Alamo, the historic Riverwalk, the Selena memorial, and be sure check out the Missions Historical Park.
Dallas-Forth Worth
This is more so for people who are making a vacation out of Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth is where Emily grew up. Fort Worth is full of history with the Stockyards, go to a honky tonk at Billy Bob's, and wander around downtown. Dallas has the JFK museum, Margarita Mile, and is the iconic skyline. For all the Birds fans, stop by AT&T Stadium to flip off the Cowboys. Austin is just a 200 mile drive south of DFW. A fun drive with a couple of fun stops. One stop being the famous Czech Stop to get some kolaches. In Waco, stop in Chip and Joanna's store, the Magnolia Market. In Temple, can't pass up the chance to stop at Buc-ees!
Houston
Houston is also very close to Austin! Emily has truthfully never been (Dallas is notorious for not liking Houston so never made a point to go haha). BUT Houston has an amazing food scene and NASA! Go check out the Space Center Museum, grab some good bites to eat, and check out the brewery scene! Another great option if you're planning on doing a longer trip to Texas.