1st Visit to Austin

N

Nebraskan4Texas

25+ Posts
I am making my first official visit to Austin over Labor Day weekend. I am staying with some great friends and I know they will have a lot planned for me but I just wanted to get some additional suggestions on what to do/where to go. Thanks!
 
Some suggestions:

* Football game on 9/3 against U-La-La, including tailgate (Hornfans, perhaps?)
* Outdoor activity: Zilker Park, greenbelt, hike & bike trail. Are the bats out at the First St. Bridge? Lakes and tubing if you like water-stuff, plus Barton Springs.
* Eating: get Tex Mex and margaritas someplace, BBQ as well, and have breakfast someplace like Kirbey Lane or Magnolia Cafe (breakfast in Austin is really popular). Throw in Casino El Camino for a burger.
* Tour the City: visit the UT Campus and the Capitol
* Go out: visit 6th Street and 4th Street
* Shopping: South Congress for First Thursday if you arrive 9/1; the new Whole Foods.

Since it's your first trip, I'd recommend doing the "touristy" things that you hear people talk about. There are more local things to do (Dart Bowl, Cloak Room, etc.), but you'll have more of a "shared" experience if you do the things that you're likely to hear others speak about.

(edited to add water stuff, since I don't like the water and normally forget about that)
 
Good stuff Traffic. I've lived in Austin 30 years, and your suggestions are all really solid. I would include the view from Mt. Bonnell. Migas or breakfast tacos for breakfast, but not from Kerbey Lane or Magnolia, those are two seperate mornings. We hope you're coming down for the game, so definetly you want to tailgate and experience all the sights and sounds around the game. Take a short drive to Elgin or Lockhart for some serious BBQ action. Austin has plenty of good BBQ spots, but the experience is somehow different / better in these towns. Need to have a qualtiy Mexican Martini while your down here. Take in the nightlife downtown whether its 6th street or the Warehouse District. That's all I got for now.
 
If you do all that, she'll need a vacation to recuperate from her vacation.
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Eat ice cream at Amy's - Mexican vanilla and fresh strawberries
Get some real BBQ
Drink coffee at Little City or Mojos
Chill out at Hamilton Pool or on Lake Travis
Catch a ride for wakeboarding on 360wakeboarding.com
Austin Museum of Art
Pick up an Austin Chronicle for music listings
Take a look at last years Best of Austin The List
Mr Sinus Theater at the Alamo Drafthouse
Arrange lodging for the next trip to do all the stuff not accomplished over the weekend.
 
Friday after work / evening
Shady Grove for their signature margarita thing under the large trees and the texas sunset with all the chicks around.

Dancing down on 4th/6th street after a good mean. Not too much alcohol

Saturday, Game Day... Tailgate with the RV Guys out in the DischFaulk parking lots. Those guys are hard core, and they'll be barbecuing and watching the other games of the day.

Go to the game and stay late (and wear orange)

More partying Saturday night out off Lake Travis or go to Pluckers off 23rd and Rio Grande for some Chicken Wings (Enfuego Baby!)

Kirby lane after going to 6th/4th street at say 2AM is wonderful. Very college, get the whole wheat apple pancakes.

But my favorite is:
Sunday Morning Gospel Breakfast buffet at 10:30 AM at Threadgill's South off of Riverside.

And a afternoon Bike ride down off Townlake from the East Side of 35 to the Riverside Bridge. Don't worry the trees will keep you shaded and cool.
 
I wonder if the already too crowded HF tailgate will be busier than usual w/ all the horn toads making it more of a sausage fest hoping or thinking they have a shot at our friend from the Land of the Corn?
 
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