Help this tourist from the Great White North
June 16, 2011 9:03 AM Subscribe
Playing tourist in Austin, Texas. Suggestions?
I'm very likely going to be heading over to Austin, Texas to visit a friend for 4 days at the end of August (Aug. 26-29) of this year. I am prepared for hot and humid weather (lots of shorts, light tees, sunscreen and sunglasses). Friend has mentioned lots of food and live music, and lakes/parks.
I'll be crashing at her place, so no hotel for me. What are the must-experience things in Austin for four days? Unless her job throws a wrench into things, she will be taking days off for my trip; possibly, so will her boyfriend, so I'll not be charging off alone in a scary new city.
Hit me, MeFi!
I'm very likely going to be heading over to Austin, Texas to visit a friend for 4 days at the end of August (Aug. 26-29) of this year. I am prepared for hot and humid weather (lots of shorts, light tees, sunscreen and sunglasses). Friend has mentioned lots of food and live music, and lakes/parks.
I'll be crashing at her place, so no hotel for me. What are the must-experience things in Austin for four days? Unless her job throws a wrench into things, she will be taking days off for my trip; possibly, so will her boyfriend, so I'll not be charging off alone in a scary new city.
Hit me, MeFi!
Maybe I'll get lucky and be the first to suggest Barton Springs. It's a spring fed swimming hole in a huge lovely park. It costs a couple of bucks, but cool fresh spring water swimming in August in Austin is pretty terrific.
Eat as many tacos as you can.
posted by dirtdirt at 9:16 AM on June 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Eat as many tacos as you can.
posted by dirtdirt at 9:16 AM on June 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Park at Barton Springs, do what dirtdirt says, then take the walk from Barton Springs to the Tacodeli on Barton Skyway (Spyglass Drive exit). It's a lovely ~1.5mi walk along Barton Creek mostly in the shade that ends in tremendously awesome tacos--I recommend the Mojo Fish and the Heather!
posted by laconic titan at 9:18 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by laconic titan at 9:18 AM on June 16, 2011
Barton Springs, definitely. I can spend all day hanging out there, alternately baking in the heat, freezing in the water, and dozing off.
Forget Whole Foods. Wander around in Hyde Park for a while and have a sandwich at the Avenue B Grocery for lunch.
Don't go out for tacos in general, go out for breakfast tacos, which are kind of a local thing. Everybody has their favorite joint, and may exchange harsh words when they disagree. My favorite place for them is Mi Madres.
Barbecue would be another good local food about which people have strongly-held opinions. I like Hoover's (across the street from Mi Madres).
Austin is (IMO) lacking in typical tourist attractions. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the Laguna Gloria museum are both nice, but not enough to fill a day.
South Congress is lined with shops, some of which are interesting. Uncommon Objects is a crowded antique mall there that's fun to poke around in.
posted by adamrice at 9:37 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Forget Whole Foods. Wander around in Hyde Park for a while and have a sandwich at the Avenue B Grocery for lunch.
Don't go out for tacos in general, go out for breakfast tacos, which are kind of a local thing. Everybody has their favorite joint, and may exchange harsh words when they disagree. My favorite place for them is Mi Madres.
Barbecue would be another good local food about which people have strongly-held opinions. I like Hoover's (across the street from Mi Madres).
Austin is (IMO) lacking in typical tourist attractions. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the Laguna Gloria museum are both nice, but not enough to fill a day.
South Congress is lined with shops, some of which are interesting. Uncommon Objects is a crowded antique mall there that's fun to poke around in.
posted by adamrice at 9:37 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
FOOD
Franklin BBQ - recently noted in Bon Apetit as some of the best BBQ in the country
Torchy's Tacos - A bit overplayed these days, but still awesome. And a must for anybody in from out of town. Get a Ranch Hand for breakfast. So good.
TacoDeli - Great lunch tacos. Breakfast leaves a bit to be desired.
Polvo's - Good, cheap Mexican food.
Uchi (or Uchiko) - Spendy-yet-consistently-awesome, James Beard award winning Japanese restaurants.
Justine's - Hip French Brasserie
Barley Swine - Excellent tapas-style dining.
Any of the various awesome food trailer parks around town.
DRINK
Draught House Pub - awesome craft beer selection, and good tailgating at an old tudor house.
Rio Rita - Best bloody mary in town
Peche - In sort of a bougie area, but easily the best classic cocktails in town.
Liberty - A good, relaxed bar on the east side.
DO
Alamo Draft House - great movies, with beer and food!
Barton Springs - it's been said!
Blanton - good art museum!
posted by kaseijin at 10:23 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Franklin BBQ - recently noted in Bon Apetit as some of the best BBQ in the country
Torchy's Tacos - A bit overplayed these days, but still awesome. And a must for anybody in from out of town. Get a Ranch Hand for breakfast. So good.
TacoDeli - Great lunch tacos. Breakfast leaves a bit to be desired.
Polvo's - Good, cheap Mexican food.
Uchi (or Uchiko) - Spendy-yet-consistently-awesome, James Beard award winning Japanese restaurants.
Justine's - Hip French Brasserie
Barley Swine - Excellent tapas-style dining.
Any of the various awesome food trailer parks around town.
DRINK
Draught House Pub - awesome craft beer selection, and good tailgating at an old tudor house.
Rio Rita - Best bloody mary in town
Peche - In sort of a bougie area, but easily the best classic cocktails in town.
Liberty - A good, relaxed bar on the east side.
DO
Alamo Draft House - great movies, with beer and food!
Barton Springs - it's been said!
Blanton - good art museum!
posted by kaseijin at 10:23 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
be aware that we're heading into a nasty drought, so Hamilton Pool may not be open by August. Hope I'm wrong. I'd go to Cavenders and buy a paid of boots, then go to the Broken Spoke where the people watching is just perfect. Stee clear of the food, IMHO.
UT has some badass telescopes open to the public. Check w the ut astronomy dept. For times.
I'd head to schlitterbahn (about 45 min. South). It's the best waterpark in the nation by leaps and bounds.
there's a lot of Mexico here. Enjoy it, we do.
posted by kristymcj at 10:41 AM on June 16, 2011
UT has some badass telescopes open to the public. Check w the ut astronomy dept. For times.
I'd head to schlitterbahn (about 45 min. South). It's the best waterpark in the nation by leaps and bounds.
there's a lot of Mexico here. Enjoy it, we do.
posted by kristymcj at 10:41 AM on June 16, 2011
I really like Juan in a Million for delicious breakfast tacos, totally authentic neighborhood joint where the owner shakes your hand when you walk in.
Barton Springs is lovely but if you have some time to kill absolutely get a car and hit Hamilton Pool which is about 30 miles outside of Austin. Unbelievably beautiful swim spot at the end of a very short hike. Caveat: I've never been in late summer and I don't know how it might be affected by drought/extreme heat.
The South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery is also great!
posted by telegraph at 11:03 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Barton Springs is lovely but if you have some time to kill absolutely get a car and hit Hamilton Pool which is about 30 miles outside of Austin. Unbelievably beautiful swim spot at the end of a very short hike. Caveat: I've never been in late summer and I don't know how it might be affected by drought/extreme heat.
The South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery is also great!
posted by telegraph at 11:03 AM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wow... teach me to preview before I post. Refer to kristymcj's post above re: Hamilton Pool :-\
posted by telegraph at 11:03 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by telegraph at 11:03 AM on June 16, 2011
If you're going to Barton Springs, stop by Uncle Billy's for some beer.
posted by craven_morhead at 11:35 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by craven_morhead at 11:35 AM on June 16, 2011
If you wind up near the University at all, walk right in to the Ransom Center and see a Gutenberg Bible and the First Photograph (and whatever exhibit is going on)--all free. BookPeople (at 6th & Lamar) is also an awesome book store worth checking out.
I also agree that the #1 thing you should do is go to Barton Springs (and eat some tacos).
posted by mattbucher at 11:47 AM on June 16, 2011
I also agree that the #1 thing you should do is go to Barton Springs (and eat some tacos).
posted by mattbucher at 11:47 AM on June 16, 2011
As a recent first-time Austin tourist from the Great White North:
Go to the Alamo Drafthouse as early as you can in your trip. We went on the first night of our five-day trip, and loved it so much we went back 2 other nights. If you think "It's just a movie theater and I don't like going to movies that much", you're wrong. It's the greatest movie-going experience ever, so much so that we ended up paying to see movies we might not have bothered to watch on TV (hello Big Trouble in Little China!).
Same thing with migas - have migas early, and have migas often. Then go home and learn to make migas.
posted by Gortuk at 11:53 AM on June 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Go to the Alamo Drafthouse as early as you can in your trip. We went on the first night of our five-day trip, and loved it so much we went back 2 other nights. If you think "It's just a movie theater and I don't like going to movies that much", you're wrong. It's the greatest movie-going experience ever, so much so that we ended up paying to see movies we might not have bothered to watch on TV (hello Big Trouble in Little China!).
Same thing with migas - have migas early, and have migas often. Then go home and learn to make migas.
posted by Gortuk at 11:53 AM on June 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
In the interest of expectations-management, I want to run counter to all the people who are posting about how great Barton Springs is... not because I want to diss all of them or start a fight, but just because they are building it up so much that I'm worried you'll get here and actually see it and be really disappointed.
You're from Vancouver, which is a wet place and an ocean-adjacent place. I suspect a lot of people who think Barton Springs is the best place in the world are Texans or from landlocked and very dry locales. Because... it's just a weird creek/pool hybrid, very crowded and filled with disgusting tentacles of pondweed. It's great for cooling off on hot days, but it's not picturesque or anything.
Other thoughts:
Franklin BBQ has long lines and sells out, so get there early if you're gonna go.
Alamo Drafthouse is a good bet -- see what's playing.
There's tubing on some rivers in the area, but check ahead of time before driving out to New Braunfels because, with the drought we're in, the rivers might be pretty dry by late August.
Lots of food trucks in south Austin and on/around East 6th Street. Many fun/different options.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 12:06 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
You're from Vancouver, which is a wet place and an ocean-adjacent place. I suspect a lot of people who think Barton Springs is the best place in the world are Texans or from landlocked and very dry locales. Because... it's just a weird creek/pool hybrid, very crowded and filled with disgusting tentacles of pondweed. It's great for cooling off on hot days, but it's not picturesque or anything.
Other thoughts:
Franklin BBQ has long lines and sells out, so get there early if you're gonna go.
Alamo Drafthouse is a good bet -- see what's playing.
There's tubing on some rivers in the area, but check ahead of time before driving out to New Braunfels because, with the drought we're in, the rivers might be pretty dry by late August.
Lots of food trucks in south Austin and on/around East 6th Street. Many fun/different options.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 12:06 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also want to mention Lala's, a Christmas-themed dive bar with elves that dance on strings when you open the bathroom door and a great jukebox.
The best barbeque just outside of Austin can be found at the Salt Lick. It's BYO. Highly recommended.
Go to Toy Joy, a wonderful/bizarre toy store with great souvenir options.
Try chile con queso while you are in town (known locally as just 'queso'). It is hard to find a similar food item outside of Texas. I recommend the queso at Chango's.
I *think* that the restaurant Trudy's has an early morning happy hour from something like 6-8am. Wake up early and go get an eye opener frozen margarita.
Try Lone Star beer, the national beer of Texas. Don't forget to look under your bottle cap.
Definitely tubing. Barton Springs. South Congress.
Weird Wednesdays at the Alamo Drafthouse are particularly recommended.
Enjoy!
posted by natural log at 2:36 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
The best barbeque just outside of Austin can be found at the Salt Lick. It's BYO. Highly recommended.
Go to Toy Joy, a wonderful/bizarre toy store with great souvenir options.
Try chile con queso while you are in town (known locally as just 'queso'). It is hard to find a similar food item outside of Texas. I recommend the queso at Chango's.
I *think* that the restaurant Trudy's has an early morning happy hour from something like 6-8am. Wake up early and go get an eye opener frozen margarita.
Try Lone Star beer, the national beer of Texas. Don't forget to look under your bottle cap.
Definitely tubing. Barton Springs. South Congress.
Weird Wednesdays at the Alamo Drafthouse are particularly recommended.
Enjoy!
posted by natural log at 2:36 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, you're there on a Sunday, which means you must indulge in some Chicken Shit Bingo. And not because it's corny, but because the music is usually great and you can have a couple of pickled eggs and chili dogs, two-step a little and forget that there's daylight outside. If you should win, it's nice to tip it to the band or buy a round.
posted by peagood at 6:25 PM on June 17, 2011
posted by peagood at 6:25 PM on June 17, 2011
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posted by swift at 9:09 AM on June 16, 2011