The perfect Austin vacation takes some planning and can be fun!
Austin, the Texas Capitol, is an excellent place for a getaway any time of the year. This diverse city has so much to do that you won’t ever get bored! Did you know that Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World? Read our recommendations so you can adequately plan your perfect Austin vacation.
Planning That Perfect Austin Vacation
Austin is one of the best destinations in Central Texas for families, couples, and even solo trips. With exciting activities on 6th Street, Lake Travis, scenic drives further in the hill country, wildflowers in springtime, and not to mention the Capitol, it’s easy to see why many choose to vacation in Austin. But if you want to make the most out of your trip, preparation is critical. Austin has much to do, but vacations only last for so long. Below, we will provide some ideas for planning the perfect Austin vacation.
Driving To Austin
In case you’re not aware, Austin is quite a busy city. Interstate 35 can be frustrating when driving into or away from Austin. I suggest you not get in a hurry when moving in for that perfect Austin vacation. Take your time, and adjust your schedule to allow more time on the road. If it’s not traffic, it’s construction — consider this your warning. However, Austin is a fun place to go, with many sites to see and things to do. It is worth a trip. Take these recommendations in stride and have fun!
Build Your Austin Itinerary Ahead of Time
Downtown Austin has must-see locations, from bars to festivals to the music scene on East Sixth Street. To ensure you don’t miss out on an attraction that appeals to you, take a deep dive into what Austin offers. Known for its “Keep Austin Weird” attitude, your time in the city may be something you’ll like or dislike. It can get hectic at the popular hangouts on the weekends, so keep that in mind.
If you want to hang out, drink beer or wine, and throw axes—Urban Axes is the perfect venue for doing that with friends. If you want the beer but prefer classic arcade games, stop by Kung Fu Saloon for a glass or two. Don’t skip the beer gardens – I hear there are plenty. Stop by local hotspots such as Franklin’s, Lamberts, or The Salt Lick for some of the best barbecue in Texas, which is a must-have when visiting Texas. All this would make your Austin weekend itinerary sparkle!
Visitors who want to spend their vacation on the green can check out local golf courses such as Riverside GC or Morris Williams. Simply put, Austin has a lot to see, so plan accordingly.
Plan The Perfect Austin Vacation With These Recommendations
1. Check Out Local Live Events
Austin has a long history of hosting incredible live events, from concerts to film festivals. There is currently a bevy of live events on the horizon for Austinites and friendly visitors alike. For example, if you missed the local favorite Austin City Limits Music Festival this year, it is returning in October 2023, but plenty of other events in 2022 are worth visiting. If you want the full Austin experience, consider planning your visit around a live event. Live music venues are everywhere in Austin. Check for live music events in Austin for 2022.
2. Explore Blanton Museum Of Art
One of the largest university art museums in the United States is at the University of Texas at Austin. Closed on Monday/Tuesday.
Admission: $5-$12
3. Visit Mexic-Arte Museum
Mexic-Arte Museum is a traditional and contemporary museum of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture. It has permanent collections and rotating art and is open every day of the week.
4. Take A Guided Tour Of The Texas State Capitol Building
The Texas State Capitol in Austin has so much Texas history to learn. Self-guided tours are great, but if you want to know all about Texas history, take the guided tour! It’s worth the money spent (if it costs).
5. Hike At Barton Creek Greenbelt
If traveling to Austin in the summer months, hang out at Barton Creek Greenbelt, where you can swim in the Barton Springs Pool. Remember, summers in Texas or warm weather can go through October and sometimes November.
Also, check out the Violet Crown Trail, which runs through Zilker Park down Hwy 290 through some of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. If you keep going, you’ll reach the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
6. Lady Bird Lake or Lake Travis
Right off I-35 and East Avenue is the exit to Lady Bird Lake. It offers public access and boat ramps, and there are a few outfitters where you can rent water toys. Some places around the lake are dog-friendly.
Lake Travis also has some of the best restaurants. While you’re there, consider taking a boat ride with one of the outfitters in town. I hear the fishing is good, too.
7. Zilker Botanical Garden
Located downtown, this local park is a favorite one to visit. Zilker Park is beautiful and a spotlight for locals to take their families and where many outdoor events happen throughout the year.
Admission: $6-$8
8. Statesman Bat Observation Center
Have you heard of bird watching? How about bat-watching in Austin?
The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, located in the heart of downtown Austin, hosts the largest urban bat colony in the world, estimated at 1.5 million bats. It is a maternity colony, and female Mexican free-tailed bats raise an estimated 750,000 pups yearly at the bridge.
Austin holds the most significant urban bat population in North America. March through early fall is the best time to see bats.
9. Mount Bonnell
Head over to the nearby Mount Bonnell and hike. Once you reach the top, you’ll see a nifty pavilion and a jaw-dropping view of downtown Austin. Plus, visitors get a picture-perfect view of the Colorado River and the illustrious mansions that line its shores from the top of Mount Bonnell.
10. Dine at Michelin Guide Restaurants in Austin
Now that the Michelin Guide has made it to Texas (Nov 2024), a few top Austin restaurants were chosen.
InterStellar BBQ
Michelin 1 Star – Barbecue cooked low and slow over post oak. Expect long lines even before they open! $$. Address: 12233 Ranch Rd. 620 N.
Barley Swine
Michelin 1 Star – Come casual and enjoy the contemporary flare using local ingredients of Southwestern flavors from Mexican and Southern cuisine.. $$$$. Address: 6555 Burnet Rd.
Craft Omakase
Michelin 1 Star – Chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen promise an impressive Japanese procession of nigiri and other bites. $$$$. Address: 4400 Lamar Blvd. Ste. 102.
Hestia
Michelin 1 Star – In the heart of downtown, enjoy contemporary American cooking. As Michelin describes it – “wood smoke perfumes in the air.” $$$$. Address: 607 W. 3rd St.
la Barbecue
Michelin 1 Star – A custom-built pit in the backyard. Address: 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St.
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
Michelin 1 Star—It started as a food truck and is now a brick-and-mortar in Garrison Park. The address is 5621 Emerald Forest Dr.
Olamaie
Michelin 1 Star – A charming spot north of downtown Austin, named after the Chef’s grandmother, mother, and daughter. The chef serves polished American Southern cuisine. Don’t leave before researching the fun cocktail list. $$$. Address: 1610 San Antonio St.
Dai Due
Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star—If you want to eat somewhere where most everything, from produce and meat to olive oil and wine, is from Texas, this is your place. $$. Address: 2406 Manor Rd.
Emmer & Rye
Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star—its new American menu with its in-house fermentation program and freshly ground heirloom grains. Many ingredients come from Texas’s small farms. $$$. Address: 51 Rainey St.
Nixta Taqueria
Michelin Bib Gourmand is a casual, come-as-you-are East Austin taqueria. Michelin inspectors describe the place as “scrappy” but serves spot-on Mexican meals. $$. Address: 2512 E. 12th St.
11. Drive Deep Into the Hill Country
A recommendation for planning the perfect Austin vacation is to venture away from downtown and visit places near Austin, like Dripping Springs and Wimberley. Delightful locations deeper into the Texas Hill Country are only a short drive from downtown. Dripping Springs – the gateway to the hill country. is a small town with lots to offer—the scenery, for one, and the waterfall at Hamilton Pool Preserve with hiking trails or Westcave Discovery Center. Take a guided tour down to the Grotto.
If you have the hankering to drink alcohol, there are wineries, brewers, and distilleries in Dripping Springs. I have yet to make it to Wimberley, but I’m reading all about it, and it’s on my list the next time I’m down that way.
The perfect Austin vacation is waiting for you. Safe Travels!
Now that you know what a perfect Austin trip looks like, you may want to find a luxury hotel in downtown Austin. All of them are upscale and close to everything downtown!
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