Apr

08

2011

Awesome things to do in Austin, Tx

Apr. 08. 2011

As Spring approaches (well, practically summer at this point with these 93 degree days) I get more and more excited about all the things that become available. Austin is such an outdoorsy, active, live music watchin’, socially drinkin’, entrepreneur embracin’, always down for trying new stuff-type of city. The people that live here embrace all that it has to offer–or at least attempt to.

Here are a few things, if visiting, or lived here for a while you must do while here:

  • Bat watching under the Congress bridge
  • Umlauf Sculpture gardens
  • Go dancing at the Broken Spoke
  • Play chicken shit Bingo at Ginny’s Little Longhorn
  • Visit the Texas State History Museum or Blanton Museum of Art
  • Austin Duck Tour
  • Stroll down Congress visiting new shops, odd shops, a food trailer and Amy’s Ice Cream
  • Grab lunch at Whole Food’s HQ
  • Take a dip in one of many of Austin’s great water spots: Barton Springs Pool, Deep Eddy, Hamilton Pool, Lake Austin, Lake Travis
  • View a taping of Austin City Limits (in its new location at the W Hotel)
  • Visit Manor Down for horse racing
  • Feel artsy and sophisticated and listen to the Austin Symphony
  • Hike the Greenbelt Preserve
  • Take photos of all the interesting Austin murals along walls of S. 1st, S. Congress, Guadalupe and more
  • Run one of the many 5ks or 10k races around Austin (Austin Marathon is also a great race throughout central Austin)
  • Feel like your on Rodeo Drive, shop the Domain, dine in one of the many fantastic restaurants and splurge on that bag from Nieman Marcus you’ve always wanted
  • Take the kids to Boggy Creek farm to educate them on animals, fresh produce and more
  • Visit one of the most funk-a-delic shops-Lucy In Disguise-careful, it is hoppin’ in October
  • Take a tour of the Governor’s Mansion, residence of every Tx Governor since 1856
  • Check out the studio and works of the state’s first eminent sculptor at the castle-like Elisabet Ney Museum
  • Take a breezy ride on Lady Bird Lake with Capitol Cruises
  • Have a chuckle at Capitol City Comedy Club or many of the other venues in town-Esther’s Follies, The Velveeta Room
  • Take a Segway tour of downtown Austin
  • Climb the UT clock tower and check out the amazing views and learn it’s history
  • Ascend all 99 steps to Mt. Bonnell, one of Austin’s finest vantage points
  • At night hit up 6th street in all of it’s glorious shenanigans
  • Saddle up! Enjoy horseback riding along the Onion Creek greenbelt at the White Fences Equestrian Center
  • Head down to Aquarena Springs in San Marcos and take a trip on the glass bottom boats, also check out the shopping at the large outlet malls
  • Head over to one of the small surrounding towns for award-winning win and winery tours
  • Attempt to find all the Moonlight Towers left throughout Austin
  • Visit the numerous galleries, graced with gifted local Artists
  • Teach a little one a little more about Science-the Dell’s Children Discovery Museum
  • Catch a flick and dinner at one of the many Alamo Drafthouse locations
  • Dine in at any of the local Austin restaurants-don’t forget to have a margarita with any Tex-Mex meal!
  • Stroll along the drag and re-live college days
  • Strut with the peacocks and visit the ponds at Mayfield Park

If you already live in Austin, I hope there are a few ideas on the list you feel inspired by and if you plan to visit I hope you are staying a while.