Where are the must sees and dos when visiting Austin, Texas
Photo by Spencer Davis
Austin, Texas is arguably one of the most unique places on the planet to visit from large urban bat migrations to celebrating the beloved character Eyore’s birthday every year. Austin is also famous for its music scene, many food trucks (some featuring the Austin favorite breakfast taco), lively festivals, and oodles of shopping.
Below, we have compiled a list of some of the things you must see and must do in the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas.
Watch The Bats Fly
Austin has the highest urban bat population in North America with about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats. The South Congress Avenue Bridge is the single best place to watch the millions of bat’s nightly flight, starting at around 8 PM. From March to October, the Mexican free-tailed bats chill out under the bridge all day until it's time to take flight at night. If you want to boost the fun, get a kayak or canoe to watch the flight.
Visit The Broken Spoke
One of the best things about Austin are the dive bars. As the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin Texas has many fantastic dive bars with live music performed by amateur locals or major recording artists! The Broken Spoke markets itself as of the last true Texas dance halls. It's been open for over five decades. Find live country music paired with great beer and home cooking. They even offer classic dance classes. Overall it's just the perfect place to have a drink and chat with locals.
Stop by Barton Springs Pool
The Barton Springs Municipal Pool in Zilker Park is a 3-acre spring-fed pool. It's surrounded by thick green trees and foliage making it a paradiscle sight. . The Barton Springs Pool is kept at 70 degrees year round, making it the perfect swimming hole. While you’re basking by the pool’s edge, you can hang out at the park and just enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of Austin.
Take in a Drag Show
Going to a drag show is a must in Austin. Austin has some of the best drag queens in the country, famous for their theatrics, drama, and interactive performances. Pair a drag queen with live music and you've got some of the best entertainment in the world! Drag queens may dedicate themselves to artists such as Depeche Mode or Tina Turner, while others bounce around from different artists. No matter which show, you’ll be entertained by some music, dance, and sass from Austin’s finest drag queens.
Visit South Congress
The SoCo District, located south of downtown Austin, is all about Austin's motto, "Keep Austin Weird." "SoCo" has all of the shopping and the sights that you love. Retro shops combined with trendy boutiques line the street. It's also known for amazing eateries like Amy's Ice Creams and Torchy's Tacos. You can find the iconic mural, "i love you so much" next to Jo's Coffee, too, which is a great photo op.
Soak in the Live Music Scene
Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World! . They have so many music venues that it's hard to know where to start, but you’ll no doubt find some type of music you love. The Continental Club in the SoCo District has classic tunes. Hotel Vegas is more hipster with garage and punk bands, while Cheer Up Charlie's is a gay club with old school dance parties. Of course, there's always the ACL Festival each year stuffed full of hit singers and bands. You’ll find you can’t be disappointed as there’s a taste of everything in Austin. .
Eat at the Food Truck Parks
Austin has the second highest number of food trucks in the US per capita. From vegan to Filipino to soul food, there's a food truck for you. There are food truck parks throughout the entire city so you can have an entirely different cuisine than you had the meal before. Some of the best chefs in the world work out of a small food truck to make you something that'll make your tastebuds dance for a low price and a one-of-a-kind experience.
Taste Some World Class BBQ
You might get in a fight trying to decide the best place to eat BBQ in Austin. For the most part, people seem to agree that Franklin Barbecue is the best. People arrive about 6AM to get in line to get a taste of Franklin’s barbecue platters. Others go with LeRoy & Lewis for their pork belly or La Barbecue for their ribs. No matter what you decide, you’ll find that you can’t go wrong with your choice. Texas is known for its barbecue, and Austin is known for its pitmasters, making a stop in Austin, Texas for BBQ a must-taste.
Get To 6th Street
Austin’s 6th Street is iconic and is the entertainment center of the city. You'll see people of all ages bar hopping, listening to live music, and enjoying a drink with friends and family. Weekends are known for the multi-block party and has been hopping every weekend since the 70s. It's stuffed with clubs, bars, and music venues. Even if you don't go to party, it's a lot of fun to people-watch in this area.
Visit the Cathedral Of Junk
The Cathedral of Junk lives by the motto “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. The owner, Vince Hannemann, began creating this cathedral of random objects since 1988. There's about 60 tons of "trash" in the structure. You can find things like dolls, television sets and bicycles in the mix. The Cathedral of Junk is a pride of Austin and just adds to the endearing weirdness of the city. .
Dine at The Oasis
The Oasis is an amazing place to eat with an even better view as it overlooks Lake Travis. You can have unique Mexican food like fried and stuffed avocado, bean and cheese nachos, and signature margaritas like the Puesta del Sol. There is an outdoor patio a few stories tall so you can sit anywhere and still have a perfect view of the lake. Staying for the sunset at the Oasis will be the cherry on top to your already flawless dining experience.
Report a Typo
