Hannah & Rob
Cool things to do in Austin!
Austin Bats @ the South Congress Bridge
Going to the Congress Ave. Bridge to see the bats fly off for the evening is one of the most compulsory Austin experiences. 1.5 million bats emerge nightly from narrow crevices in the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridge and take off in an epic swarm - it's quite a sight to behold. They usually start to emerge from the bridge around 20 minutes before sundown. That said – the bats start hibernating sometime in late fall/early winter, so make sure to check the website before visiting to make sure their nightly flights are still happening! Note: Free parking after 6pm is at the southeast side of the bridge, and located near Hyatt Hotel and 10 blocks south of State Capitol
Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail
Lady Bird Lake sits right next to downtown, and you can get some of the best views of the Austin skyline from here. It’s popular with runners and bikers, but it’s also perfect for just taking a leisurely stroll. You can walk around the waterfront with its many bridge that cross the water, or even rent a boat or stand-up paddleboard if the weather is warm enough. Tip: Start at this address - park under the bridge in the dirt parking lot, then cross the bridge to get to the trail.
SoCo District
The South Congress District is an eclectic mix of boutiques, restaurants, antiques, galleries, music venues, and just everything weird and wonderful! This is definitely worth a visit if you have some time to kill. Take a stroll down its colorful streets and enjoy some great coffee from Jo’s, a killer burger from Hopdoddy’s, or something more spontaneous at the various airstream food trucks. And if you’re in the mood to shop, especially for anything vintage, weird, or both, you’ll definitely find something worth taking home. No matter what though, Allen’s Boots is a MUST SEE, even if you’re not interested in buying anything – rows upon rows of every shape and size and color of cowboy boot imaginable line the store. Tip: Park near Jo's (the address we provided here), grab a coffee, and start strolling!
Motzart's Coffee Roasters
No trip to Austin is complete without a visit to one of the city’s many local coffee shops. One of Hannah's favorites was Motzart's, which is well worth a visit if you have the time. Located right on Lake Austin, Motzart’s has well, not spectacular coffee, but great desserts and AWESOME ambiance. There's often live music and how can you not enjoy, even mediocre coffee, with such an awesome view of the lake? Hannah used to come here all the time and read – you guessed it – Harry Potter.
La BBQ
We’ll be serving BBQ on Saturday night for our rehearsal dinner, but if only one BBQ meal in Austin isn’t enough for you, La BBQ is definitely worth a visit. What started as a food truck is now a real brick and mortar, and their BBQ is EXCEPTIONAL. Note: The most famous Austin BBQ is, of course, Franklin's, but we figured La BBQ is just as good and also might be a little easier than spending six hours in line at Franklin’s! But in case you're curious: https://franklinbbq.com/
Zilker Botanical Gardens
These gardens are fantastic – 26 acres of awesome native, hybrid, and exotic plants. There’s a rose garden, herb and fragrance garden, Japanese garden, and so much more.
LBJ Library
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries across the United States, and it is dedicated to LBJ’s presidential influence. The library is a fascinating mix of the life and sometimes turbulent period of North America and how LBJ dealt with it. It has three floors filled with exhibits that include an 11 minute film of his vision for the Great Society. It also has a very fascinating and fun interactive exhibit including the telephones which, when lifted, offer the voice of the President as he talks about various war room strategies and making decisions about the Vietnam war. The museum also includes an impressive replica of the Oval Office.
Mount Bonnell
If you’re in the mood for a hike, this is a very easy one, but the view at the top is one of the best places for the most picturesque sights of Austin. Mount Bonnell has been a popular tourist destination since the 1850s, and the mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills.