Austin, Texas is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and it’s easy to see why. It’s the state capitol, home to the University of Texas, a haven for BBQ joints, an up and coming foodie destination and has an abundance of outdoor activities. And if you’re a music lover, Austin certainly lives up to the slogan of “The Live Music Capital of the World”.
My wife and I spent three days in Austin. We met her sister and brother-in-law, who had gone down to Austin the day before.
Food and Drink
Terry Black’s BBQ
Our first mission after leaving the airport was to get lunch at a local BBQ joint. We have really good barbecue in Chicago so I was a little skeptical that Texas barbecue would live up to the hype.
There are so many great barbecue restaurants in Austin to choose from. Some that were recommended were Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue and Micklethwait Craft Meats. However, we ended up at Terry Black’s BBQ and it was amazing.
We got there around 12:30 pm on a football Saturday and the line stretched outside and around the building. I’d estimate it took about 45 minutes to get through the line, but it didn’t feel that long. About halfway through the line, we came to a little window where you could purchase local beers to drink while waiting in line. A nice touch!
There was plenty of seating inside and out on the patio. And the food was outstanding. The four of us split a beef rib, brisket, sausages and several sides. The beef rib was just enormous and had so much meat on the bone. It was delicious! And the brisket was so tender, it basically melted in your mouth. The sides were good with the mac and cheese being the clear winner.
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
Our favorite spot while in Austin was Sunday brunch at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden. Banger’s is located in the heart of Austin’s Rainey Street entertainment district, offers 30 different kinds of sausages and more than 100 craft beers on tap. What really makes the place special is the outdoor beer garden that seats approximately 350 at communal tables. During Sunday brunch, a local band played live music, which really added to the already outstanding atmosphere.
Wu Chow
If you like Chinese food, Wu Chow is a can’t miss. It’s a farm to table, modern Chinese restaurant with the most incredible handmade steamed soup dumplings.
Other Eateries We Visited
- Salty Sow – an American Gastropub that serves contemporary farmhouse fare and quality handmade cocktails. The food is good but didn’t quite live up to our expectations.
- Juliet Italian Kitchen – serves Traditional Italian fare in a charming atmosphere. Has a big, covered outdoor patio area.
- Mozart’s Coffee – besides coffee, they have a nice selection of pastries, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, etc. We went there for dessert one night and the setting is so pleasant. It overlooks the waters of Lake Austin and has a huge outdoor deck.
- Hula Hut – serves traditional Tex-Mex with a Hawaiian twist. It’s also located in the complex with Mozart’s with the same great setting on Lake Austin. The food was only average.
- Moonshine Bar and Grill – a relaxed and easy going bar and grill that serves american comfort food and their own moonshine. We had a great time trying various moonshines mixed into craft cocktails. We’d go back again next time to try the food.
- Easy Tiger – a bakery and beer garden. We didn’t love the service at the bar but they have a ton of local draft beers. The patio is set along Waller Creek, and feels a little like being tucked away in a concrete jungle. Try the soft pretzel!
Activities
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake
One of the fun activities we did during our weekend in Austin was kayaking on Lady Bird Lake. There are many kayak rental places but we used Congress Avenue Kayaks. You can choose between single kayaks, double kayaks and stand-up paddleboarding. The water is calm and the views are amazing. It’s a nice way to get a little exercise and see the city at the same time.
University of Texas
The University of Texas is the flagship institution of the University of Texas system. I always enjoy walking around college campuses because it reminds me of the great memories of when I was in school. We walked around a little bit on the Saturday we arrived, which also happened to be a Longhorn Football game day.
We ended up walking through the newly created pregame tailgate area called Bevo Boulevard. It’s situated on San Jacinto Blvd., along the west exterior of the football stadium from 20th St. to the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. It’s an action-filled pregame street party, complete with food trucks, beer and wine spritzers, giant LED screens to watch Big 12 football and the official Texas Football pregame radio show broadcasting live.
There’s a street parade, lead by Bevo the mascot, where fans can see the football team walk into the stadium. It’s was a pretty cool thing to see.
We went back on Monday and walked up the Speedway Mall to see more of the campus while class was in session. It was fun to be in the middle of campus and feel the energy of the student body.
Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol conducts free tours that last 30 minutes long. Annie and I just happened to show up a few minutes before one was scheduled to begin, so we took the tour. The tour guide joked that we could leave at any time and he wouldn’t take it personally, so we had an out if we needed it!
The tour moved along at a nice pace, combining interesting facts and some humor along the way. I learned that the Texas State Capitol is the sixth tallest state capitol in the U.S. and one of several that are taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
What I found interesting is that the Texas Legislature is part-time. It meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. The Texas Constitution limits the regular session to 140 calendar days.
The capitol’s dome interior
Another interesting fact I learned is that Texas has had six nations that have had sovereignty over the state. At various points in time, Texas has been owned by Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. The sixth nation was Texas itself, when it was independent from 1836 to 1845.
I thought the tour was definitely worth 30 minutes of time as I found it very interesting. It’s also kind of exciting to stand in the house and senate chambers and imagine the legislative history that’s occurred here.
Other Historic Sites
During our few days, we managed to see several of Austin’s most historic sites.
- Barton Springs Pool – a spring-fed swimming spot with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees year-round.
- Driskill Hotel – The recently restored Driskill hotel was built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill as a frontier showplace. Have a drink in their old-world Texas bar, where you’ll feel like you stepped back in time.
- Paramount Theatre – a century-old performance venue and movie theater located in the heart of downtown Austin.
- Scholz Garten – founded in 1866, this bar and beer garden is Austin’s oldest drinking establishment. We spent a little time here tailgaiting before the Longhorn football game.
Bottom Line
We loved our trip to Austin. It’s an energetic, young city with great food and entertainment options. The temperate climate offers year-round outdoor activities as well, such as hiking, biking, and water sports of all kinds on the area’s lakes and rivers. Finally, as the state capital, history buffs can immerse themselves in Austin’s rich cultural heritage.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.