Austin’s renowned live music venues,outdoor recreation and food scene make the city a top destination for visitors. The thriving community is also known for its culture and diversity.
Henbit started as a New York style pizza food truck,but it has now expanded into a brick and mortar eatery that serves comforting Italian cuisine like its almost viral cacio epepe arancini.
Musicians
Austin’s music industry contributes 1.7 billion dollars annually to the economy. You can enjoy live music in more than 250 venues throughout the Texas capital,including internationally renowned festivals.
Rub elbows with cowboys at the Little Longhorn Saloon,an Allandale dive bar that hosts country acts; soak up smooth jazz in the cramped confines of the Elephant Room; or explore Tejano rhythms at a cozy East Austin bar. The smallest venues can produce the most powerful sounds. For example,Grammy-nominated Black Pumas performs at downtown’s Continental Gallery and the rising funk-rock group The Skunks plays at the famous Cactus Café on campus.
Austin is a great place for musicians who have been unable to find success in Nashville,LA or NYC. They move here because of its creative atmosphere and lack of competition. Here,it’s not so much about the money or radio hits you get; just getting your work out there counts as success.
Outdoors
If you love to be outdoors,Austin has plenty of fun activities to offer. There are many trails to hike and bike,lakes and rivers to swim in,or beaches where you can soak up the sun.
Take a paddleboard or kayak trip on Lady Bird Lake. This wide section of Colorado River is popular for non-motorized boating,and it offers a beautiful view of downtown Austin. On a lunch or dinner cruise you can watch the sunset or see the Mexican free-tailed swarms of bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
For a more educational experience,head to the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria,a contemporary art destination that includes outdoor sculptures and natural habitats,all in a beautiful,peaceful setting. Or,visit the Austin Nature & Science Center for hands-on activities from fossil digs to wildlife animal encounters.
Quirky Things
Austin’s quirky side is evident throughout the city. It uplifts creativity and small local businesses flourish,while national chains struggle to make a dent in the unique scene (whatever,Whataburger). The result is a fun and offbeat atmosphere.
Austin TX is home to a number of quirky attractions,including the Cathedral of Junk where Vince Hannemann creates awe inspiring sculptures out of trash,and the Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata,which features strange items such as a fork bent using telekinesis,and memorabilia of World’s Fairs,and other exhibitions,at Scott and Jen Webel’s Liberty Hill residence. The LBJ Presidential Library pays tribute to the 36th President of the US,and contains 45 million pages from his personal and professional files.
Watch the Mexican free-tailed bats at sunset from Congress Avenue Bridge. A guided bat kayaking tour is also available. Visit the Bullock Museum to see exhibits about Texas history and shop on Sixth Street,where you can find everything from vintage clothes to locally-made goods.
Family Fun
If you have young children,you’ll want to check out the cool kids attractions in Austin TX. Living Spaces Furniture Store,in Pflugerville,has a fantastic indoor playscape which is completely FREE! The Central Public Library offers a fun storytime on Tues-Fri from 10 am to 11 am,and BookPeople hosts a storytime on Tuesdays,Thursdays,and Saturdays between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m.
It’s a great activity for children in Austin,because it is a multisensory experience all about ICE CREAM! They can eat,play with it and even learn about its history.
For older children,you can visit the Museum of Science and Industry for hands-on STEM activities. And ZACH Theatre has a Family Series that’s totally kid-friendly and short enough so they won’t get fidgety. The Austin Zoo is a great place to take your kids for some animal-related entertainment. And if you’re feeling adventurous,try hiking up Mount Bonnell for the best views in town.