Because apparently Austin has some magic water that induces delirious happiness in its residents. According to the myriad of new articles, blogs, and research surveys that list Austin as a “Best Place to Live”, the city is kind of perfect.
So, in an effort to see for myself, I will be visiting Austin for a few days in a couple of weeks! During the day, I’ll be visiting the UT-Texas campus. At night, I’ll be staying with a student host downtown (so incredibly grateful for her offer – I’m saving a couple hundred dollars on hotel) and hopefully will have a chance to check out the city scene. 
So tell me, if I only have 10 hours of free time in Austin, what are some things that I must do?
And, Austin can’t really be as wonderful as the media make it out to be.. right? Or should I pack my bags now?
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I’m actually heading to Austin at the end of the month to see if I can get a job while local. I’ve been before, and the places I recommend are:
Congress
Texas State Museum
Alamo Drafthouse
6th Street nightlife
Waterloo Records
With only ten hours – of course go dancing!! (Of course that’s what I would do with any amount of time if I could.)
I’m so excited you’re coming to Austin!!! When you know the dates – let me know and I’ll hook you up with the milonga scene (the first Saturday of every month the milonga is at UT!! There are milongas Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – and most Fridays.) I work at UT, so maybe we can grab lunch (okay everything I know and love about UT, usually involves food. Just a warning.
) Shoot me an email and I’ll give you my contact info.
I agree with the above (especially the Alamo), plus: Kirby Lane for brunch, order the Paris Texas Platter, french toast and migas–I regularly fantasize about this–and check out some live music, depending on what you like, but 6th Street is a good place to start.
Austin is as wonderful as everyone says! I moved here a little over three years ago for law school and thought “Sure, it’s nice but it can’t be as great as everyone makes it out to be. I’ll be heading back to NY the second school is done.” Nope! I’ve moved here permanently now and have no plans to leave.
You must must must go to the Alamo Drafthouse. You can order tickets online at http://www.drafthouse.com (definitely do that, they sell out all the time) and be sure to show up about 45 mins prior to the showtime. I love going there and luckily there is one right near my apartment. Movie plus great food and adult beverages, can it get any better?
Kerbey Lane is an Austin institution . Great food. Be sure to check out the original location on Kerbey Lane just a couple miles from the UT campus. Their migas are to die for and be sure to get the Kerbey queso.
For happy hour or dinner check out Trudy’s right by campus. You must get a Mexican Martini. They are deadly good.
Of course, Austin is also the live music capitol of the world. So, whatever your musical tastes you’ll definitely be able to find a show to suit them!
Start packing! Austin is amazing!
Look at http://www.austin360.com/ for live music and other events for the time frame you’re in town.
I agree with seeing something (anything) at the Alamo Drafthouse (http://www.drafthouse.com/).
I also think you should make an effort to get good Texas BBQ. I recommend Cooper’s (in Llano), but it’s a bit of a drive. Ironworks (downtown) is decent.
After growing up in Texas my entire life, when I graduated college I decided if I was staying in Texas I was moving to Austin and I have lived in Austin for the past 3 1/2 years. It’s an amazing city with so many good things it rules out any bad. The live shows are awesome, there is something every weekend. When you get in town just get a copy of the Austin Chronicle and it will let you know all that is happening that weekend. They are free and at many locations. Probably even the airport.
You’ll notice, if you are flying in, that everything in the airport is local Austin. Austin is really big on buying local and eating local. Not going to chains, etc. All the food joints in the restaurant are austin based places, the bookstore is an austin bookstore and sometimes they have live music in the airport. That’s just a small dose of what Austin is like.
The food here is amazing. Get some real good tex-mex. I recommend Polvo’s on S. 1st or Gueros is a more “Austin” place on South Congress. South Congress Cafe is great, Vespaio is pricey but oh so delicious, Uchi is the best sushi in town and quite an experience, but you will probably wait an hour to two hours if you don’t do an early reservation. There are tons of great eats, those are just off the top of my head.
The Alamo Drafthouse is the best. Not only do they serve food and alcohol during the movie, they often create dishes and drinks to go along with the movie. Like a german beer bucket for Inglorious Bastards and some dishes from Julia Child for the Julie & Julia movie. They do special events, if you go to the alamo drafthouse website, check out which Master Pancake Theater they are doing. They pick a movie and then make fun of it, much like Mystery Science Theater. It’s almost always a good time. They have quote alongs and sing alongs, all kinds of fun stuff.
If you want to go drinking, you can check out 6th street, but I get the impression you might enjoy a scene with people older than just 21 and drinks better than coors light. I would recommend West 6th street with Key Bar, Molotovs, etc. Also, the East Side is really picking up as far as quirky bars go.
I will say that SXSW (in March every year, usually during UT’s Spring Break) is awesome. So many free shows and events so that you get to participate even if you don’t buy a $200 pass. I’ve seen Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver, Yeasayer, Blitzen Trapper, The Dirty Projectors, K’Naan, Devotchka and Blind Pilot all for free at SXSW the past 2 years. I bought a movie pass for $70 last year and saw I love you Man before it came out, Observe and Report, 500 Days of Summer and about 5 more movies. it was a blast and usually some of the cast was there. Austin City Limits is always a crazy mess, but it’s a blast and usually in September or October.
Anyhow, that is my super long list. As you can see, I love this city and I’ve never met anybody who has moved here and not loved it. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions or want any more advice. I hope you have a blast. UT is great. I didn’t go to college there, but my boyfriend got his masters there and I got to go to all the home football games for the past 2 years. Texas football fans are nuts, it’s always a good time.
I also heard that Austin, Texas is awesome. I really want to visit there myself so I’m curious to hear what you think about it, once you get back. Have fun!
I agree with almost everyone above, except I hate 6th Street. I lived near New Orleans and it just gives me a dumbed-down version of Bourbon Street feel. I much prefer bars on 4th Street. The crowd is a bit older and more laid back.
Absolute favorite bar in Austin is the Gingerman. I also really like the Elephant Room which is an awesome jazz dive down in the basement. I can’t remember if you like sushi, but I’ve heard the sushi place right above the Elephant Room is pretty amazing.
For barbeque, I really like The County Line. It’s out on 2222 which is a ways away from UT, but the portions are ridiculous & they have nice outdoor seating.
Definitely try the Mexican Martini at at least one restaurant you go to while you’re here (pretty much every place has them now).
Have a great time and give us all the juicy details when you get back! (Reading all of these comments are making me super hungry. I’m off to grab lunch.)
You are going to love love love Austin.
Every time I’ve visited, I’ve seriously considered just staying there permanently and asking for all my things to be shipped to me. The weather, the food, the scenery, the shopping, the people… cannot be beat.
You must visit these places:
Salt Lick BBQ: the main location is out in Hill Country but there is an Austin outpost too; it is beyond delicious
The Broken Spoke: a real-life honky tonk Texas dance hall; amazing and the crowd is wonderful.
I lived in Austin for the 4 years I was at UT and loved it, although it definitely took me a little while to fall in love. So many great suggestions here, so I don’t have much to add. (Unfortunately, my most favorite things to do in Austin, like going to Barton Springs or Town Lake, are all warm-weather activities.)
Definitely get a Mexican Martini somewhere and experience some delish Tex-Mex. My favorite Mexi Martini is at Trudy’s, and my favorite Tex-Mex is El Arroyo. 6th Street is definitely a younger crowd (and more sketch), but could be worth seeing before moving down to West 6th or to 4th Street.
Hope you enjoy campus! My sorority house is the first one off the street that ends at the fountain on the South Mall…I loved living so close to everything. This is making me nostalgic to go back for a visit!
I have such a romanticized idea of Austin. My husband and I went to UT and lived in Austin 1992-1996. I often wonder if my memories are true-to-life because of the city or because of the Best Time of My Life thing.
Oh! Check out Book People!
we LOVED Austin! check out south congress while you’re there and just explore. it’s an amazingly cute and fun town!
I lived in Austin for 5 years after college. I LOVED living there. The people are awesome, the weather is awesome, the music is awesome, the food is awesome… you get the picture. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, lived on the East coast and now live near Seattle. While I’ve enjoyed every place I’ve ever lived, I would move back to Austin in a heartbeat and my husband I and I have discussed buying land there for when we are ready to retire (yes that is a ways away). Have fun! Get a cowboy to two-step with you! Eat great food! Heck, just pack up and move there now…
Wow, these comments really do a great job highlighting some of my Austin favs! Looking forward to your visit