Why Go
The unofficial motto of the Texas state capital is “Keep Austin Weird,” and the city's thriving and zany counterculture proves that the locals are doing their best to live up to the saying. But even the squarest of squares will find elements of Austin that delight and dazzle them. With a mild climate most of the year, travelers will find ample opportunity for outdoor activities, and plenty of open-air concerts and festivals make getting outside all the more enjoyable. In fact, the city's live music scene draws international attention, with bands and fans alike flocking to Texas for the city's acclaimed South by Southwest Festival every year. Hordes of museums, galleries, and performing arts venues promise cultural experiences for every palate, and a burgeoning film industry means that celebrity-spotting down in Texas is becoming as feasible as trips to LA. And thanks to the city's status as a powerhouse of economic growth, a boom in high-end housing and entertainment is balancing the tons of cheap fun that can also be had. It's one of those cities where a fulfilling and fun night out only needs to break the bank if one wants it to, which is a relief for those cash-strapped travelers looking for a great time.
Insider Tips
- Austin, like many cities in the South, is a sprawling metropolis. It has good transportation, but if you want to take advantage of it, you will need to situate yourself somewhere in the central corridor. A light rail moves between downtown and north-central Austin. Buses run frequently, with multiple routes down major roadways. Trolley service runs through the downtown area, with extensions to the popular South Congress Avenue neighborhood and to UT-Austin. Cab service is available, though it is easier to call and arrange a ride than to hail one on a street corner. So it is possible to reach most of the major attractions without a car, but requires a little planning. Those who want freedom to make split-second travel decisions might find themselves happier exploring by car.
- Traffic can get very heavy, especially during peak travel times between 7:30 and 9:30 am and 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Because Austin is so spread out, it can take a long time to get from point A to point B, whether you drive or take the bus, even when it's not rush hour. So if you have a specific arrival time to keep, be sure to plan for traffic delays as you consider your schedules.
- Central Texas has famously mild winters and balmy spring and fall weather, which means that most of the year, the temperatures average in the 70-85°F range. But summers can really bring the heat—especially in the muggy months of July and August, when the temperature often hits 100°F. If you visit during summer, bring light clothing and heavy-duty sunscreen. And while the city rarely experiences a freeze, January and February see a number of chill, rainy days; a fleece and rain gear are good companions.
- Austin Bergstron International Airport (AUS) is located on the eastern edge of the city. If you want door-to-door service from your lodgings, you can hire a taxi ($12-20 if you are staying in Austin Central), or book a reservation with Supershuttle ($13-25 each way depending on the neighborhood). Capital Metro runs the Airport Flyer, a public bus service with stops in downtown and near UT-Austin, for as little as $1 per trip.
- Austin hosts quite a number of conventions, festivals and special events each year. Finding a reasonably priced hotel or a restaurant without an hour’s wait to be seated can be challenging at those times. If you have a flexible schedule and want to save cash, plan your trip for a quieter weekend. If you are looking for a deal during one of those events, invest in a rental car or research the public transportation options and seek hotels and restaurants away from the downtown area. If you want to compare Austin’s social calendar to your own travel calendar, visit Austin360.com.
- A number of hotels and bars have sprung up in recent years in response to a certain trends in retro culture and urban culture. Read up on a place before you make a decision to go, as some popular venues tend to charge premium prices for experience without offering remarkable service. Some of the remodeled historic hotel/motels in Austin have a particular reputation for being pretty but loud, overpriced and uncomfortable.
- Many popular, high-end restaurants and bars will offer happy hour or Sunday specials that make their cocktails and food much more affordable. If you hear about a place you would like to try, do a little research to see if they run special promotions.
Where to Stay
Austin’s most expensive accommodations tend to be in the downtown area. Choosing a hotel near one of the central public transportation lines can give you access to all of the fun without the premium prices of locations near the capital, so budget travelers should consider this option. One good pick is the Aloft Hotel, located in the Domain on the MetroRail line, which features rates starting at $120 per night. Modern rooms, a pool, and workout facilities make this an attractive option for single adults or couples. Aloft is perhaps less weird than hip, but when it comes to accommodation, comfort matters as much as style. This property offers plenty of modern appeal, without the noisy rooms and poor service that plague some of the other retrofit properties in town.
If you really want to be in the thick of things and still watch your bank account, there are several hostels in Central Austin. Keep in mind that the best way to confirm whether or not one is open is to call before trying to book online. The best-established and longest running pick is HI – Austin ($25 per night shared, $55 per night private room). Hostel Beehive ($30 per night) is a new option worth considering, with a prime location a short walk from downtime, inexpensive pick-up service from the airport and bus and train depots, and bicycle rental service for guests who want to see the city like a local.
The city also has more than a dozen bed and breakfast choices, from stately homes down the street from the capital and romantic getaways at nearby lakes. The Austin Folk House combines a more traditional housing experience(plenty of chintzy comforters and brass bed stands) with its own eclectic humor. An in-house art gallery reflects the owners’ funky, irreverent taste and gives guests something to peruse at their leisure. And if your relationship is on the rocks, you can book the “Unromantic Package”, which features Peeps and cheap beer. Rates range from $109 to $229 per night.
Where to Eat
Austin has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants in the United States, so visitors will find no lack of cheap eats. Local favorites run from Tex-Mex to barbecue to Indian. Walk down any major street and you will likely see a dozen choices in a mile radius. While dining economically is no problem, picking places that combine local flavor, good value, and a unique experience can be more of a challenge. Here are a few unorthodox choices:
Food trucks, a growing trend for entrepreneurial chefs across the country, have exploded across Austin. They can be found everywhere from downtown to South Congress to parking lots in the suburbs. Because their overhead costs for space and utilities are greatly reduced, you can often find fabulous food for very reasonable prices. East Side King has trailers in two bars—the Liberty and the Grackel—in east Austin, so you can have a pint while you sample their savory and sweat-inducing Asian-fusion fare, like the curry buns and fried brussels sprout salad. The South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery on S. 1st street features three ventures working in collaboration: Torchy’s Tacos, Man Bites Dog (Hot Dogs), and Holy Cacao’s sweet shop.
Austin also hosts two major “foodie” grocery stores, Whole Foods and Central Market. While there are multiple locations for each, the Whole Foods on Lamar and Central Market on North Lamar are the easiest for visitors to find. Fresh fruits, breads, deli meats, jewel-like pastries, world-class selections of beer and wine mean picnickers or short-term condo renters can find everything necessary for designing their own meals. And both have café restaurants on the premises, where diners can order everything from soup to sushi for less than local restaurants charge.
For great deals on libations, do a bit of research on the happy hour specials for Austin watering holes before you go in search of a drink. House Wine on Josephine Street features all-day Sunday specials on bottles opened for Saturday night; order a Mediterranean plate or some hand-made truffles to go with your value-priced vino. Or, treat yourself to a champagne and sorbet float. The Highball on South Lamar runs a daily happy hour from 4:30-7:00pm that includes discounts on beer and well drinks. They feature well-shaken classic cocktails as well as pints from local breweries. You can take advantage of the free Karaoke or discounted bowling as you sip a drink and nibble one of their appetizer plates.
What to Do
If you finally tire of bowling at the Highball, or if the Austin heat finally gets the better of you, there is plenty of centrally-located cheap entertainment.
In the downtown area, the Lucky Lizard Gift Shop runs a small—but trippy—Museum of the Weird at 412 E. 6h Street. For the $5 entry fee, you can gape at shrunken heads, fiji mermaids, and other oddities. Or, buy a t-shirt from the Lucky Lizard, and get in for free. In South Austin, the Cathedral of Junk at 4421 Lareina (in the backyard of resident Vince Hanneman) is a continually-evolving labyrinth of, well, junk. But, it’s artfully arranged. Visitors can drop by, but remember that the Cathedral is located at a private home, and the owner has a day job. The South Austin Popular Culture Center, 1516 South Lamar, has permanent and rotating exhibits by the Armadillo Art Squad, special exhibits such as “Punk Pioneers: Austin’s Early Punk Scene,” and a large collection of ephemera related to the city’s cultural history. SAPCC’s hours are 1 pm to 11 pm Thursday through Sunday, and the museum accepts donations for entry.
If your tastes run more to the elegantly eclectic than the truly bizarre, wander through the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, a small park filled with the elegant art work of the famous sculptor Charles Umlauf. Admission is $3.50. If you visit at 10 am on Wednesday mornings, you can participate in yoga classes on the grounds. Bring water; the small facility does not host a cantina, and most of the art must be viewed by exploring the outdoor paths.
Movies provide an economical escape from the August heat, and Alamo Drafthouse has several locations around Austin. In addition to first-run movies, these theaters sponsor events like “quote-alongs” for cult favorites like The Big Lebowski and Dumb and Dumber. For those who love b movies and the truly cheesy, their calendar includes Weird Wednesdays, with showings of films that should probably never be seen again.
Austin is famous for its live music scene, but has a thriving live performance culture that encompasses more forms than the simply musical. Vortex Theatre focuses on innovative stage productions, but also sponsors variety performances such as CirX VorteX, which combines circus and vaudeville. Their Butterfly Bar is available to those who need a stiff drink after (or during) one of their more daring shows. Salvage Vanguard Theatre is a hub for off-beat performers like the Church of the Friendly Ghost—a collective dedicated to experimental music and sound performances—and Trouble Puppet, whose very adult puppet shows include adaptations of Frankenstein and Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. Tickets for most local arts organizations are in the $15-20 range; many companies also have student pricing and pay-what-you-can nights. Check out the local alternative news rag, The Austin Chronicle, for current listings in local venues.
It’s also delightful to window shop on South Congress, where you can make your way through the various antique and junk stores, art galleries, and novelty shops. Make a point of dropping by Uncommon Objects; there is truth in advertising in this name, and you will find everything from costume jewelry to antique medical equipment. Stylish hipsters and fashionistas should also stop in to Allen’s Boots and try on a pair of hand-tooled cowboy boots. Most of the footwear and wester nwear is pretty pricey, but the salesfolk are glad to let you strut around for a few moments. When your ship comes in, you can always order a pair over the phone or online.
While large-scale festivals like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits Music Festival bring throngs of visitors into the city, there are also more low key, local events to enjoy. Eeyore’s Birthday Party, which began over 40 years ago with local musicians, occurs every spring in Peace Park. It is an opportunity to hear favorite local bands, watch hula hoopers and unicyclists, and buy goods and foods from local artisans. All visitors are encouraged to come in costume, and the event raises funds for many local charities.
In December, the city hosts the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Visitors can hear live music, dance, eat, watch local performance groups, and take in presentations from local non-profits, and get holiday shopping done. The bazaar hosts over 160 vendors, with everything from handmade clothing and art to imported curiosities.
When you have had your fill of freaky fun, decompress with a free walk or run on Ladybird Lake (still called Town Lake by the locals). Kayaks and paddleboats are available to rent, if you want to get out on the water. Or, go swimming at nearby Barton Springs Pool, located in Zilker park, which has a $3 entry fee for adults. Be aware: the facilities are man-made, but the water is spring-fed, which means it is cold!
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Photo Credit: HI Austin, Aloft Hotel, Austin Folk House, zenoglow, C. Young, bonita sara, sean toyer, i am ming, tojosan, seanmasn, kimberly meade, wfuv, m.harvey NYC, jrandallc, manue_aka_crazeecrafteez, Visualist Images, diorama sky, birzer