Things To Do
Suerte
This is one of Alexis and Michael's favorite restaurant in town. It's elevated Mexican cuisine that doesn't lose it's soul in the process. They nixtamalize their own corn in house and use it to make wonderful dishes with their homemade masa, from tamales to fresh corn tortillas. The menu is rotating so there are always exciting new things to try! Get the Suadero tacos, you won't regret it!
Hyde Park Bar & Grill
Best chicken fried steak in Austin! You will not be able to move if you eat the whole thing. Michael and Alexis usually split it to avoid feeling too guilty. If you go, please bring Wom Kim's Peach Pudding to the wedding for sharing.
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
A non frills, home style, Mexican food joint perfect for breakfast and lunch. It has also been given a James Beard award in 2023 as a classic american restaurant. Michael and his fellow Bean Boys rated the beans here as top tier level beans and they were a finalist for best beans in Austin. This is no small achievement as The Bean Boys have eaten a lot of beans from a lot of places. A note: The Bean Boys do not accept payment or bribes from the places they visit.
Taqueria de Diez
A taco "speakeasy" in downtown Austin. These are true Tijuana style tacos grilled over live fire! Michael's favorite tacos in town as they respectably scratch the itch for what he grew up with in San Diego.
Barton Springs
The iconic crown jewel of Austin. The spring fed pool has a temperature that stays a consistent 68-70 degrees year round so it is feasible to go for a swim, even in early December. If you're not looking to swim, you can enjoy the grassy bank with a beach towel and a nice book or good company!
Pease District Park
A very unique public park and great for kids and little ones! It has unique jungle gym type structures, a spherical tree house, paths along Shoal Creek, and a giant storybook troll sculpture.
Interstellar BBQ
For those with a vehicle and willing to drive to the burbs, you'll be rewarded with the best BBQ of your life. This was Texas Monthly's #2 BBQ Spot in all of Texas. It also received a Michelin Star in 2024. The upside to it being in the suburbs is that you'll only have to wait in line for about an hour and a half as opposed to a 5 hour wait at Franklin's BBQ downtown. Pro Tip: Get there at 10am and wait for opening or you'll end up waiting even longer and you'll run the risk of them running out of some of the menu items. Honorable Mention: Stiles and Switch BBQ will have little to no wait and will be better than any BBQ you get outside of Texas.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is the perfect place to walk, jog, or bike. It has a number of different entrances (address provided being one of them). This is a trail entirely within the city of Austin, yet you'll feel you're somewhere else completely. It's the perfect place to go for a few hours to get some easily accessible nature in. The creek usually is dry, but occasionally rainfall will make the then running creek, even more dynamic and special.
Elisabet Ney Museum
Elisabet Ney Museum is in the original historic home of one of Texas' most successful sculptors. The old stone home is filled with her works depicting many famous Texans. It's free, easy to access, and a place you can get in and out of in 30 minutes.
Lady Bird Lake Trail
There are many places to access the 10 mile long trail in the heart of the city. This address is just one of those options. It's a great place to get a run in. And in early December, there is a good chance Austin will still have some fall foliage hanging around making it a scenic place to take a walk. Along the trail, you can venture off to a number of places like Zilker Park, Deep Eddy Pool, Roy G Park, or different nearby bars and restaurants.
The Oasis On Lake Travis
One of the best views in all of Austin can be found at The Oasis. It's a popular location to view the sunset over Lake Travis. The awesomeness of the views is only matched by the mediocrity of the food, but you accept that going into it as great food is not why you're there.
Austin Comedy Scene
The Austin Comedy Scene is something near and dear to Michael's heart as he spent 4 years performing improv comedy with his group Mediterranean Avenue. The city has seen an explosion of comedy the last half decade and is worth checking out. Fallout Theater has incredibly funny shows and is located in the heart of downtown. Michael's alma mater, Coldtowne, was recently purchased by UCB! (founded by Amy Poehler among others), and is on the Eastside. There you can watch chicago style improv in the same vein as what SNL greats like Mike Meyers and Chris Farley mastered during their time in Chicago. For stand up lovers, there is The Creek and the Cave, the venue where Shane Gillis filmed his first special. The Comedy Mothership is owned by notable podcaster Joe Rogan, with famous guests frequently dropping in for sets (book way ahead for their shows). There are also countless open mics on any given night throughout the city. We encourage you to check it out!
Outdoor Adventures Outside ATX
If you're more outdoorsy and are looking for accessible day trips from the Austin area, there are a number of wonderful state parks within a reasonable distance. Enchanted Rock (pictured) - A 1.5 hour drive northwest will take you to a huge pink granite dome, where at the top (1825 ft above sea level), you'll find an unsurpassed view of the Texas Hill Country. There are also easy to follow loop trails around the domes. Colorado Bend State Park - A 1.5 hour drive away, this is Alexis' favorite park, primarily because of the multitude of native Texas armadillos you can find rummaging around the trails that follow the peaceful Colorado River. Gorman Falls is also a sight to see with it's lush foliage and fossilized ferns. Honorable mentions: McKinney Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park Reserve day passes in advance!