I can't express how much I love Austin, TX. It is literally the coolest, weirdest, and most beautiful city. I love Texas. I am proud to be from such an independent and stubborn state. I'm all for making Texas a country. We would be the best country. But here's the thing: Texas is a Republic state with very strong views on everything. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means we are willing to fight for anything and everything. I love Texas. But I like to describe Austin as a hippy bubble in the middle of this independent desert. Austin is a free spirit with easy going folks. It's like a melting pot of all different kinds of cultures, backgrounds, morals, and lifestyles and yet we all seem to be in sync. We harmonize because we are different.
So here are some of my favorite places to experience the full capacity of what Austin, TX offers.
So here are some of my favorite places to experience the full capacity of what Austin, TX offers.
1) POETRY SLAM NIGHTS AT SPIDER HOUSE CAFE
Spider House Cafe is a cooky coffee house and bar hidden within a bunch of trees. It is decorated with hanging multicolored lights and has an outside grove to listen to live music. The inside is dimly lit and the walls are covered with writings from people who have passed through. It is very artful and you will see lots of beanies, high waisted shorts, and people who are currently escaping reality. It's a deep place. But what I want to highlight is what happens right next to the cafe.
Spider House Cafe is connected to the Spider House Ballroom. The ballroom lights up at night and hosts open mic nights and poetry slams. Here is where you will really get to know the people who inhabit Austin TX. The poetry slams usually last for 3 hours and you hear from about 15-20 poets. You will be able to dive into the lives of other people and snap to their relatable words. YOU can even sign up to read your own poetry. It's pretty remarkable because for 3 hours, you are vulnerable and in sync with about 100 other people. No slam is ever the same, so going to one is a memory that can never be repeated. It's a moment in time that is impossible to replicate. So if you want to see what the people of Austin are like, go to a Spider House Poetry Slam.
2) SUP-ING ON LADY BIRD LAKE
Lady Bird Lake is so beautiful and there is a ton of stuff you can do there. Whether you want to just take a walk around the lake or actually immerse yourself in the water, I guarantee that you will experience some beauty that Austin has to offer.
There is a place along the trail called SUPATX. It offers boats, kayaks, canoes, and my favorite-Paddle boards. Stand up paddle boarding offers a freeing and unique experience. On the lake, you can see the skyline and paddle to remote places that you can only get to by being in the water.
It's $15 an hour and best to go the second half of the day.
Lady Bird Lake is so beautiful and there is a ton of stuff you can do there. Whether you want to just take a walk around the lake or actually immerse yourself in the water, I guarantee that you will experience some beauty that Austin has to offer.
There is a place along the trail called SUPATX. It offers boats, kayaks, canoes, and my favorite-Paddle boards. Stand up paddle boarding offers a freeing and unique experience. On the lake, you can see the skyline and paddle to remote places that you can only get to by being in the water.
It's $15 an hour and best to go the second half of the day.
3) GRAFFITI PARK
Yeah this place is a super artsy place in Austin. It is also called Castle Hill or the Hope Outdoor Gallery. I'll give you a little bio on it: So there was a man who wanted to build his business at this location. He started construction but had to stop partway through. So he was left with a bunch of concrete walls on a hill. He decided to not let it just be a creepy cemetery looking place, instead he freelances it out to artists to graffiti and show their art. I have graffitied and filmed there myself. It's a really cool place. And when you get to the very top of the hill you can see the entire skyline of Austin.
Yeah this place is a super artsy place in Austin. It is also called Castle Hill or the Hope Outdoor Gallery. I'll give you a little bio on it: So there was a man who wanted to build his business at this location. He started construction but had to stop partway through. So he was left with a bunch of concrete walls on a hill. He decided to not let it just be a creepy cemetery looking place, instead he freelances it out to artists to graffiti and show their art. I have graffitied and filmed there myself. It's a really cool place. And when you get to the very top of the hill you can see the entire skyline of Austin.
5) SOUTH CONGRESS(SoCo STREET) This is a super popular place to go check out in down town Austin. It has tons of local and unique shops, restaurants, and art. There is a famous mural on the side of a coffee shop that's says "I love you so much." It can take hours to explore or can just be a nice stroll to get a feel for Austin. |
4) MOUNT BONNEL
Ready for a hiking adventure? It's a bit of a climb to get to the very top, but once you get there the view is breath taking. There is also a hiking trail you can explore.
Ready for a hiking adventure? It's a bit of a climb to get to the very top, but once you get there the view is breath taking. There is also a hiking trail you can explore.
6) 6TH STREET
There are many reasons why Austin is called
"The Live Music Capital of the World." You don't
even have to be on 6th Street to hear all of the
live music coming from the bars, clubs, and restaurants.
6th Street is also super historic. Most of it still
has the original brick used to build it in the 1800s.
It's home to the haunted Driskill Hotel too! Take a tour!
There are many reasons why Austin is called
"The Live Music Capital of the World." You don't
even have to be on 6th Street to hear all of the
live music coming from the bars, clubs, and restaurants.
6th Street is also super historic. Most of it still
has the original brick used to build it in the 1800s.
It's home to the haunted Driskill Hotel too! Take a tour!
7) PAINTING WITH A TWIST ON BURNETT
You don't even have to be an artist to do this. There is an instructor at the front of the room who is taking you step by step to complete a painting. The paintings are usually themed and something you can keep or give as a gift. The twist is: you can bring and drink alcohol while you're painting. It's super fun and it's a place where you can create something but not take yourself too seriously.
8) HIKING/SWIMMING/ROCK CLIMBING AT BULL CREEK
Bull Creek stretches for miles and is a great opportunity to go exploring and experience nature. The creek itself has many small rapids and waterfalls. The trails are beautiful and there are also huge boulder rocks if you want to go rock climbing.
9) CATHEDRAL OF JUNK
Yeah this place is super weird but definitely something you have to experience for yourself. It's literally 3 stories of junk collected by the guy who lives there.
10) UNPLUGGED AT SHADY GROVE
This a place with a similar set up of Spider House Cafe. It's an American style restaurant with an outside grove where live bands play on stage. It's awesome.
11) BLUES ON THE GREEN AT ZILKER PARK
Bands will come and play at the front of the park with the Austin Skyline behind them. The park fills up with people, dogs, food trucks, picnics, and sporting activities. If you don't go to Austin in the summer when Blues on the Green is happening, going to Zilker is still pretty great.
Bands will come and play at the front of the park with the Austin Skyline behind them. The park fills up with people, dogs, food trucks, picnics, and sporting activities. If you don't go to Austin in the summer when Blues on the Green is happening, going to Zilker is still pretty great.
12) PETER PAN MINI GOLF
It's mini golf. Peter Pan style.
13) DEEP EDDY POOL
It's an all natural spring water filled pool. The water comes from Barton Springs and during the summers, Deep Eddy Pool hosts movie nights where you can sit in the pool or lawn and watch some classics.
It's an all natural spring water filled pool. The water comes from Barton Springs and during the summers, Deep Eddy Pool hosts movie nights where you can sit in the pool or lawn and watch some classics.
14) BARTON SPRINGS
Fun in the sun day.
Fun in the sun day.
15) COMEDY SHOWS AT COLDTOWNE THEATRE, NEW MOVEMENT THEATRE, AUSTIN JAVA, OR THE ZACH THEATRE.
I love comedy shows. The places listed above usually have little to no cover charge to get in. They are so funny get ready for some laughs!
I love comedy shows. The places listed above usually have little to no cover charge to get in. They are so funny get ready for some laughs!
16) THE DOMAIN
Shopping!!! The Domain is an outdoor mall and is considered "the mini downtown" of Austin.
Shopping!!! The Domain is an outdoor mall and is considered "the mini downtown" of Austin.
17) PENNYBACK(360) BRIDGE
It's a little bit of a hike to get to the very top, but the view is so beautiful. You can see the Austin skyline and hike if you want to.
It's a little bit of a hike to get to the very top, but the view is so beautiful. You can see the Austin skyline and hike if you want to.
18) BLUE STARLIGHT DRIVE IN THEATRE
Old fashioned drive-in movie theaters are still around! And we've got one right here in Austin!
These are just a few places in Austin where I personally love to go and hang out. There are hundreds of other places but these are my favorite. Austin is so unique and special so if you have a chance to experience it, these are some places you should start with.