Jessica & Rorie
Things To Do
Eat ALL the BBQ
Austin is known for BBQ. Some famous names here include Franklin BBQ (at the address listed, but plan on waiting in line for hours for this world-renowned treat), The Salt Lick, Micklethwaits, Freedmen's, Kerlin, or Valentina's. Some of these are food trucks, and some will have a super long wait, so plan ahead and come hungry.
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
Barton Springs is a year-round, natural spring-filled pool in a beautiful park. It's cool-to-chilly all year round, so if the weather is warm, this is where the locals come to hang out and swim!
See the Bats
The famous Austin bats fly out from under the Congress Bridge every evening. This is the largest urban bat colony in the world! You can watch from the bridge itself or from a park on the southern edge of the river. You can also check out https://freefuninaustin.com/how-to-see-bats-in-austin/ for more info, including a bat hotline to see what time the bats are coming out that time of year!
Hike the Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a beloved 12+ miles of trail that follows a creek. There are lots of places to access the trail, including this address right across the street from a Tacodeli (delicious tacos), or you can enter near Barton Springs, or check out the link for more details. There are plenty of swimming holes, and it's a great hiking, walking, or running trail if you want to get out into nature while still being right in the city.
Texas State Capitol
State capitol building of Texas, for a shot of culture and history.
The Scene on 6th Street
This is the famous "Dirty 6th", known for rowdy bars, honky tonks, live music, and lots of activity at night. If you have an extra evening, come check out the scene (but no guarantees on cleanliness).
The White Horse
You can't visit the music capital of the U.S. without seeing some live bands at a true honky tonk bar! Located literally across the street from our apartment, they have free two-step lessons most nights at 7pm (check their website) that morphs into a night of dancing and yee-hawing.
LBJ Presidential Library
If you've spent too much time eating and drinking your way through Austin, then slow down by visiting the famous library and museum of former-president Lyndon B. Johnson. Bonus points if you aren't creeped out by the moving/talking mechanical statue of him.
Float the River
The address is for Don's Fish Camp, one of several companies you can use to embark on a favored Austin pastime: floating down the San Marcos River in a tube for a few hours with a beer in hand while your cooler floats by your side. It's located roughly 1 hour outside of Austin, so it's easiest to access if you have a rental car. If you don't, then some companies (e.g., Texas State Tubes) will provide pickup/dropoff service from Downtown Austin for an additional fee.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
Natural serenity is the underlying theme of the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, located in Austin, Texas. Native plants grow vibrantly amidst the sculptures passed along to the city by artist and sculptor Charles Umlauf.