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Austin - Texas as a whole, really - is a mecca for meat! Even the worst BBQ in Texas would garner accolades and awards in most other places, so you really can't go wrong. If you truly want to make a pilgrimage for BBQ while in Austin though, head a little ways out of the city to Lockhart where storied families have all been quietly competing for the top. Between Kreuz, Black's, and Smitty's, each have their strengths, but I lean towards Smitty's.
It's a constantly changing place, but you can still catch glimpses of the old vibe of Austin down on South Congress or "SoCo" as it's come to be known. The little stretch of SoCo is a perfect microcosm of anything you could want from a trip in Austin between live music at The Contintental, Tex-Mex at Guero's, a morning with breakfast tacos at Jo's, and plenty of cosmopolitan shopping.
Austin is hands down going to be one of the friendliest places you'll find yourself in. Put yourself out there and say hi! The conversations, the people, the opportunities you'll come across in Austin will always surprise you and add so much memory to your trip.
We loved Wu Chow! They gave us a wonderful group dining experience, giving us a round table with food served family style for 9 people. Everyone was able to engage with one another the food was fabulous!! The accommodated us for gluten free, vegan and vegetarian without any difficulty.
We went to The White Horse Honky Tonk to listen to live music and dance. So much fun!
Hula hut
Lady bird lake, picnic at zilker park. So many hikes
Be flexible and relax. If you get stressed , the kids lose it too!
We looked at many places before we arrived to Austin but some of our favorites are definitely Slab BBQ, Ramen Tatsu-ya, and JewboyBurgers. Slab has the best BBQ we've had by far, Tatsu-ya has amazing flavors, and the owner of Jewboy Burgers is so friendly! The food is amazing, too!!
Zilker Park. Walk the trails and check out Barton Springs. Rent a kayak or paddle board! Mural hunting Food truck courts We did not get to do this, but there are walking ghost tours where they tell you about the history and haunted tales of downtown Austin. The Driskell Hotel is a neat Austin landmark and centrally located.
Fly in and don't drive! 😂 Construction in Texas is a nightmare and parking in downtown Austin is difficult. Austin is spread out so map it out and cover what you can. You definitely need more than a day or two to see the city. Eat all the good food! There is so much to choose from!
RamenTsatsuya
Shop SoCo, go to Zilker, or get out and enjoy some of the nature things in the area (Hamilton pool, Blue Hole, etc)
Don’t spend all your time drinking on the bar streets! There’s so much other stuff to do and see!
La Tunita 512
A run on town lake
Pack light! sneakers and activewear only. There's so much to do outdoors!
Franklin's BBQ. It is worth the wait! If you don't have a few hours to tailgate in their parking lot, consider Loro, a Franklin's BBQ fusion.
I love renting a paddle board and exploring the creeks of Lady Bird Lake!
Consider going in the winter! It doesn't get very cold in December (sweater weather) and there is hardly a wait for exciting activities, restaurants and bars!
Time your road trip so you aren't coming in town right in the middle of rush hour!
Must see the bat bridge!
Botticelli's is a great restaurant for some amazing Italian food. It's small and very busy so reservations are recommended. Terry Black's BBQ has melt in your mouth brisket. Also very busy and can have a wait time although it moves fast. They do not take reservations. The other top restaurant I would recommend is Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill. Great cocktails and again food is simply amazing.
We love wandering South Congress when in Austin. Dinner at Guero's Taco Bar (complete with live music), ice cream at Amy's Ice Cream, and just wandering around the side streets looking at the eclectic and wonderful mix of houses and shops.
Lake Austin is SO fun and Dirty Sixth on Thursdays is a great time!
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