A Truly Texan Weekend in Austin
The capital of the Lone Star State, Austin has transformed itself into the haven for liberal culture and tech domination in the area. It’s a fantastic place to visit, as it piques a variety of interests from music to sports, history to nature. We had a chance to visit in April 2022 for a work trip, and found ourselves taking advantage of the whole weekend. Follow along for a short 2-day itinerary of what would be a perfect time in the city.
Day One: Enjoy the History, Food and Music of Austin
People in Austin surely know how to enjoy life, so you should start your first day in the city by enjoying the tasty treats it provides. Although it is a chain in the state, I think Torchy’s Tacos provides an awesome selection of breakfast tacos that’ll surely leave you wanting more. There are a few locations scattered across the city, but going to the one in Central Austin puts you in a great position to keep your day on track.
Next, I urge you to check out UT Austin, the state’s flagship university. While going back to college may not seem like the most attractive city option, you have the chance to walk around the massive, beautiful university. Check out the Memorial Football stadium, the 7th-largest in the country, and the UT Tower. If you’re an art lover, the Blanton Museum of Art on campus is also a popular site.
Make your way from the university to the Texas State Capitol, one of the more popular ones in the US. I took a guided tour inside, where you can see its beautiful rotunda and its themed chandeliers. It’s also a great place to have a late lunch, as on the lawn is a congregation of food trucks, another thing the city is famous for.
It makes for a nice walk back to the downtown, where you may start to get hungry and want to try some of the TexMex the city is famous for. My favorite spot was Texas Chili Parlor, where I had some incredible enchiladas and a bowl of chili. It’s also a cool bar to grab some drinks to prep you for your night out. For your first night in the city, I’d recommend diving into Texan culture by doing some honky-tonk-style, square dancing! The White Horse is one of the more popular country music bars in Austin, where they host dance lessons and play some funky music all night long. It’s a unique chance to close out the night trying out a skill you may have never thought of doing!
Day Two: Experience some Nature and Sixth Street Culture
For your second day of the weekend, we think it’s a must to check out some of the serene waters that make Austin what it is. The most famous of which is Lady Bird Lake, but there’s also popular spots like Lake Travis and Barton Creek. They have kayaks for rent on the lake, which make for a nice lunchtime physical activity; it’s a chance to also enjoy the Colorado River that runs through the city.
After exercising, you’ve probably worked up an appetite, so we think you should get the other cuisine Texas is famous for: barbeque! Brown’s BBQ is an essential spot in the city, boasting both a truck and restaurant location with all the barbeque essentials. Terry’s Black BBQ and Franklin Barbeque are also quite popular locales.
You can walk back to the downtown and relax for a bit. I suggest heading to Mort Subite, a great Belgian-style bar. It’s a good spot to hang out at, as it has a great outdoor patio space and a wide selection of brews. Alternatively, Elephant Room and Small Victory are nice spots to spend your afternoon.
To close off your night, enjoy Austin’s most quintessential going-out spot: Sixth Street. Nicknamed the Dirty Sixth, it’s blocks of smalltown-feel bars that play host to bachelor/bachelorette parties, college students, and out-of-town groups visiting Austin. It’s a cool place to go barhopping and enjoy the cheap drinks the city has to offer. While some parts of it are certainly kitschy, we found it fun to lean into the culture and make the most of it!
Hopefully you end up having a fun weekend in Austin! Anything we missed that you found to be essential? Let us know in the comments!
