There are many really fun things to do in Austin. Come for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin Kite Festival, SXSW (Music, Film, and Interactive Media Festival), or just for a quick weekend getaway. Here are some “don’t miss” activities you might want to check out while you are in town.
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
See the Bats fly out at the Congress Avenue Bridge
Come watch thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats fly out between 7:30 and 9:30 each night.The bats begin to wake up and start their night flight around sunset as thousands of bats pour out over Lady Bird Lake. Starting in late spring until early fall the bats reside under the Congress Avenue Bridge and fly out each evening. You can view the bat flight from the grassy hill vantage point of the Statesman Bat Observation Center, adjacent to the bridge. Paid parking is available at the Austin American-Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave. Or you can go down the steps at the corner of Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road. Bring a blanket, some chairs and sit back and relax. Many people line up on the Congress Avenue Bridge to see them fly out from beneath the bridge. Arrive early for a front row spot and be sure and face the east. You can also view the bats from the water with Lone Star Riverboat (lonestarriverboat.com), or Capital Cruises (capitalcruises.com) Or, hit he water on your own with Live Love Paddle (livelovepaddle.com) or Austin Kayak Tours(austinkayaktours.com), which both offer nighttime bat-watching kayak excursions. Plan to arrive early in order to find parking and get your spot.
Climb to the top of Mount Bonnell
Mount Bonnell located in Covert Park is generally considered the highest point in Austin at 775 feet. Climb 106 steps up a historical flagstone staircase to reach the viewing deck and pavilion with beautiful views of the downtown Austin, the Pennybacker Bridge, and winding Austin Lake. Consider packing a picnic lunch or come in the evening to see the beautiful sunset. To get to Mount Bonnell, take 35th Street west over MoPac past Camp Mabry. After taking a left at the fork onto Old Bull Creek Road, take a right on Mount Bonnell Road and head up the hill to the parking on the left.
Visit Zilker Park
Zilker Park is a 361-acre park nestled in the heart of downtown, right off Lady Bird Lake. The park is home to bike/canoe rentals, a disc golf course, a large playground for children, the Zilker Zephyr train and Barton Springs Pool, an urban oasis where swimmers swim in 68-degree, spring-fed waters. While you are there play some sand volleyball, take a hike on the greenbelt, visit the Zilker Botanical Garden, or just relax with a picnic lunch. Get a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board at Zilker Boats (zilkerboats.com)
Go to Stubb’s Sunday Morning Gospel Brunch
Come to Stubb’s BBQ for live Southern gospel music and a world-renowned buffet, featuring such items as: southern-style grits, migas, fried catfish, and their famous BBQ brisket. Enjoy the perfect Bloody Mary at their world famous “make your own” Bloody Mary bar. The buffet was amazing and the music was incredible. Pay extra for a seat in front of the stage. Brunch served every Sunday with seating times at 10:30am and 12:30pm. Of course, you can eat at Stubb’s anytime. Check out their schedule of live music. (stubbsaustin.com)Don’t miss it.
Shop/Eat/Hang Out on South Congress Ave.
This eclectic neighborhood south of Lady Bird Lake is a must-see for visitors and locals alike. South Congress Ave. (SoCo) is jam-packed with restaurants, bars, boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and music venues, as well as a unique group of food trucks and street vendors. You might want to check out Jo’s Hot Coffee, Big Top Candy Shop, or some food trucks such as Crepes Mille, Wurst Tex, Hey…You Gonna Eat or What, or Hey Cupcake. My favorite restaurant is The Magnolia Cafe, but be prepared for a wait. South Congress is known for its quirky and off the wall stores. Check out Off the Wall Common Objects or try on a costume at Lucy in Disguise. You must attend 1st Thursday on South Congress at least once. The street from Barton Springs to Elizabeth Street is teeming with people shopping, eating, or just hanging out, listening to live music. On the first Thursday of each month, all of the stores along South Congress that normally close early stay open late. Many of the stores have special sales, and many of the restaurants and bars have drink specials, and there’s always live music coming from all directions. It’s like one big block party, and is appropriate for all ages.
Sixth Street
Come to Sixth Street for food, drinks and live music. The nine blocks of East Sixth Street between Lavaca Street and Interstate 35 were officially named the Sixth Street Historic District and listed in the National Register of historic Places. Sixth Street has a personality all its own. Closed to through traffic Thursday through Saturday nights, expect this area to become wall-to-wall people in search of great live music and cheap drinks. It is the home of numerous live music venues, including Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar, B.D. Riley’s Pub, Friends, the Stage on Sixth, the Parrish, The Driskill bar, Firehouse Lounge, Midnight Cowboy, Maggie Mae’s and the Flamingo Cantina. Just wander down the street and listen to the live music from outside. Hear something you like? Go inside, grab seat and order a drink.
Driskell Bar makes an excellent Old Fashioned.
Maggie Mae’s rooftop is a great place for dancing, drinking, and watching the people on the street below.
Flamingo Cantina hosts reggae acts and world music.
Parish is a great music venue with both local and national acts.
At Firehouse Lounge you open a bookcase to find a craft cocktail bar with appetizers and live music. Can you say speakeasy?
Midnight Cowboy is all about big sound, neon lights, and strong cocktails. Requires reservations.
Esther’s Follies (6th Street)
You have to see this show. You will laugh until you cry. It’s a vaudeville theatre located on 6th Street in Austin. Vignettes include magic, juggling, singing, dancing, and sketches on current events. They’ve been called the Texas answer to SNL–a vaudeville revue mixed with political comedy. Interaction between stage and street is a hallmark of Esther’s Follies. Yes! The back of the stage is a large picture window looking out on 6th Street. You can see the people walking by and they can see in. Or sometimes the performers are outside also. Esther’s skewers both political parties, using current politics and pop culture as material for their sketches. This is a must see! There are two shows per night and reservations are required. Drinks are served.
Elephant Room (Come for the jazz)
Underground jazz club, dive bar, lounge, speakeasy with nightly live jazz in downtown Austin. The priority is the music in an unpretentious, intimate setting with great acoustics. Located in a basement in the center of downtown, many people walk right by the entrance without ever noticing the ankle high dimly lit neon sign. Go down the stairs into the long, skinny, dark basement. Come early and grab a table near the front. The people are friendly – customers and staff alike – and jeans are welcome, despite the club’s sophisticated crowd. Full-service bar. No cover on weeknights. Live jazz 7 days a week. Full jazz band on most Wednesdays. Check their calendar for the schedule of performers. (elephantroom.com)
While you are Austin you might want to take a spin around the dance floor at one of these country western bars: The Broken Spoke, The Continental Club, Rodeo Austin, Moontower Saloon, Boomerz Nightclub, Rebel’s Saloon, The White Horse, and Donn’s Depot. You might also consider a tour of the Capital. Or head out a little further into the Hill Country to Hamilton Pool, Pedernales State Park, or Longhorn Caverns.
#Austin#Hill Country#weird#livemusic
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