Houston and Austin have a great, neighborly relationship. When it comes to quick adventures and sightseeing, we swap visitors regularly.
While Austin loves to “keep it weird,” Houstonians love to venture the 165 miles to be a part of it at our state’s Capital.
If you plan to make the trek to check out our weird neighbor to the west, we’ve highlighted the best places to check out that will leave you with incredible memories!
Let’s Do This
Of course, there’s a ton to do in Austin, but we’re going to share a few of our favorites!
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Head over to The Breaking Point to rage out and let some pent-up aggression out!
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Splash into Jacob’s Well for a dive into Austin’s submerged cave!
- Take a break from the Texas sun in the chill of Chaparral Ice. Why not try ice skating for size?!
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Check out Austin’s largest public art installation, the Mueller Sunflowers, made of solar panels to return electricity to the power grid in the area.
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Lake Travis! All kinds of fun water activities to beat the heat with the whole family.
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If you’re visiting Austin between July 17th and August 26, gaze upon the night sky for the Perseids annual meteor shower! With its most active dates being August 12-13, you can venture away from the city lights and take in the galactic beauty!
- Lady Bird Lake, where the city meets nature. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
- All board the Austin Steam Train! Take a ride on the historic locomotive, perfect for a memorable day.
- Grab a brew at Austin Beerworks! Make sure you get a table near the misting fans!
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If history is your thing, a visit to the Bullock Texas State History Museum is a great Austin destination! Lots of historic artifacts to behold that delve deep into Texas history.
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In keeping with the historic trends, you can’t pass up the Mexic-Arte Museum that spotlights exhibits and collections of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture.
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Venture into J. Lorraine, Texas, a ghost town near Austin.
- Watching the bats fly from under the South Congress Bridge is an experience your kids will love… and you might get the heebie-jeebies from!
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America’s largest indoor water park, Kalahari, is waiting for you to visit!
- Explore Mount Bonnell for an incredible experience with nature and some breathtaking photos.
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Austin loves its murals, and you will too! Take a tour of the many murals that creatively color the city!
- Visit the State Capitol! The oldest state office building in Texas with three stories of history to explore is great family field trip!
Rustlin’ Up Some Grub
Just like the vast majority of Texas, the food in Austin is… *chef’s kiss*! Of all the many places to chow down or chug in our state’s capital, here are just a few we wanted to highlight!
- You can’t beat a delicious burger after a day at Lake Travis! Beachside Billy’s has you covered! Personal favorite: The WTF burger… you’ll see. DELISH!
- Enjoy live music and a cup of joe at Mozart’s Coffee.
- Rudy’s “Country Store” and BBQ may not be exclusive to Austin, but this location is a perfect stop to grab a bite and buy souvenirs during your visit.
- There’s a little bit {or a lotta bit} of everything at the Waterloo Ice House. Dig in!
- Treat your sweet tooth at The Baked Bear! A hot summer day calls for a custom-made ice cream sandwich with all the fixins your heart desires!
- Cruise on over to Easy Tiger to enjoy the beautiful venues, good eats and the perfect patio drinks.
- Top Notch Burger Stand is famous! It made its movie debut in Dazed and Confused in 1993… CLASSIC! You’ll definitely want to pay a visit to this Austin mainstay that has been in business since 1971!
- Feel pretty in pink at Taquero Mucho! This super girly and fun restaurant is adorable! The food options are yummy, and the drinks are unique… but the merch? YES PLEASE!
- Grab a BBQ for the whole family and Austin’s famous Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. You’ll be licking your fingers and jamming to awesome live music!
- Take the family to Mangieri’s Pizza Cafe for delicious pizza with fresh ingredients. Taste the difference in slow-made, hand-crafted pizza as Mangieri’s uses a cold fermentation process on its dough.
- Who knew you could create delicious meals that mesh traditional Tex-Mex with Hawaiian flair? Hula Hut did!
- After 43 years, Magnolia Cafe is still serving breakfast any time and smiles all the time!
- Tarka Indian Kitchen in the heart of Austin is a go-to spot to find “Fresh + Healthy + Flavorful” authentic Indian dishes!
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The ORIGINAL Chuy’s is in Barton Springs! Pull up a seat and dig into our Tex-Mex favorite!
Rest Your Weary Head
- Check out the lofts at The Guild, within walking distance from the Austin nightlife and Lady Bird Lake!
- The perfect little Bed and Breakfast can take your visit to the next level! Camp Lucy is 30 minutes outside of Austin and full of warm Austin hospitality.
- The Lost Parrot Cabins are right along Lake Travis, giving you a mini-resort experience. The cabins all have fun, unique looks to them and you’ll never forget your stay!
- An oasis amongst the trees at Lake Travis Tree Lodge is what you need for a quiet, serene home away from home!
- Austin’s Omni Barton Creek Resort will meet your family’s every need in its luxury facility and cozy rooms. And maybe mama can squeeze in a little pampering while she’s there! Maybe?
- Near Austin’s awesome Zilker Park and the State Capitol, Capitol Villa is a quaint location for visitors passing through.
- Under the Texas Sun rental properties are the ideal vacation rentals: Pristine, fully furnished, close to so much of what Austin has to offer, and affordable!
No matter what you check out in Austin,
remember to “Keep Austin Weird!”
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