Austin
To See
The park has bike
/
canoe rentals, picnic areas, and a playground
Zilker Park
"The jewel in the heart of Austin"
The park has bike
/
canoe rentals, picnic areas, and a playground
Zilker Botanical Garden
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Barton Springs Pool
Austin Nature and Science Center
Texas State Capitol Building
Built in 1885, made from sunset red granite which appears pink
Swedish-born owner, Charles Lundberg opened the bakery in 1876
Old Bakery and Emporium
Located in downtown Austin near the Capitol building
Swedish-born owner, Charles Lundberg opened the bakery in 1876
People would wait in line with cloth lined baskets to buy the bread.
The Old Bakery now operates as a consignment store with art from local artists
An iconic landmark of Austin hospitality
The Driskill
Built in 1886, as the showcase of the wealthy cattle baron, Colonel Driskill
An iconic landmark of Austin hospitality
The Paramount Theatre
First opened in 1915 as the Majestic Theatre, designed as a Vaudeville (comedy) house
Reading porches overlooking Lady Bird Lake
Austin Central Library
Things to look for:
Reading porches overlooking Lady Bird Lake
Recycled Reads Bookstore
The Gallery featuring local artists
Christian Moeller's giant red 'cuckoo clock' in the entrance
To Taste
They grew up helping their mother in the kitchen and dreamed of owning a restaurant
Veracruz All Natural
Reyna and Maritza Vazquez were born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico
They grew up helping their mother in the kitchen and dreamed of owning a restaurant
*A little ways out of the city but worth the drive
Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ
Miguel Vidal grew up in San Antonio and loved his family tradition to BBQ
*A little ways out of the city but worth the drive
His great-grandfather started Black's BBQ in Texas in 1932
Terry Black's BBQ
Mark Black from Lockhart, Texas is continuing on the long tradition of Black's BBQ
His great-grandfather started Black's BBQ in Texas in 1932
Aaron and his wife Stacy opened a small bbq trailer on the side of an interstate in 2009
Franklin's BBQ
Aaron Franklin interest in bbq started with backyard cookouts
Aaron and his wife Stacy opened a small bbq trailer on the side of an interstate in 2009
Home Slice Pizza
Created by three great friends who wanted to bring the authentic goodness of NY style pizza to Austin
Caroline
An Austin favorite for breakfast, lunch and dinner
It is housed in a part of the historic old Waterloo compound, the oldest buildings in Austin
Moonshine Grill
In 2003, Larry Perdido and Chuck Smith opened Moonshine
It is housed in a part of the historic old Waterloo compound, the oldest buildings in Austin
Saturday mornings everyone would stop and sing the Omelettry theme song
Magnolia Cafe
Originally named the Omelettry West when it opened in 1979 on Lake Austin Blvd
Saturday mornings everyone would stop and sing the Omelettry theme song
Now owned by Kent Cole and is located on South Congress
Fried-to-order decadent dessert donuts
Gourdough's
Paula Samford Walker and Ryan Palmer opened their first food truck in 2009
Fried-to-order decadent dessert donuts
She was drawn to the role that ice cream plays in people's lives
Amy's Ice Creams
Amy Simmons from Ann Arbor, Michigan, opened her first shop in Austin in 1984
She was drawn to the role that ice cream plays in people's lives
To Experience
Greetings From Austin Mural
Inspired by a 1940's postcard located on the Southern exterior of Roadhouse Relics
"We hopped in the family wagon to explore the nation, lured by the colorful glow of neon at motels and diners."
Roadhouse Relics
Todd Sanders' neon contemporary art evokes a time when America fell in love with the road trip.
"We hopped in the family wagon to explore the nation, lured by the colorful glow of neon at motels and diners."
Some favorites include:
South Congress Ave
Explore SoCo, a street lined with eclectic shops and restaurants and murals
Some favorites include:
Big Top Candy Shop
Letterpress PLAY
Allen's Boots
Feathers Vintage
Most likely to see the bats at sunset from late March to early fall.
South Congress Bridge Bats
Home to North America's largest urban bat colony
Most likely to see the bats at sunset from late March to early fall.
The place to hear live music
The Continental Club
The oldest continuously running club in Austin since 1955
The place to hear live music
Take a short hike to the top of Mount Bonnell
Beautiful views of Lake Austin and the Austin skyline
Mayfield Park
Towering palm trees, lush gardens and brilliant peacocks
Laguna Gloria
A 1916 Italian inspired lakeside villa and gardens with outdoor sculptures
*beautiful at sunset
Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
A short trail that climbs to an overlook of Lake Austin and the Colorado River
*beautiful at sunset
McKinney Falls State Park
Beautiful limestone ledges, pools and waterfalls
"Austin", a stone building with colored glass windows designed by Ellsworth Kelly
Blanton Museum of Art
Located at the University of Texas, one of the largest university art museums in the U.S.
"Austin", a stone building with colored glass windows designed by Ellsworth Kelly
A giant sculpture made up of just about every kind of found object
Cathedral of Junk
Located in the backyard of artist, Vince Hanneman
A giant sculpture made up of just about every kind of found object
Call 512-299-7413 to make an appt to see it
*Along The Boardwalk section of the trail, look for cast bronze belts:
Bike the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake
The Butler Hike and Bike Trail is a 10 mile trail around the lake
*Along The Boardwalk section of the trail, look for cast bronze belts:
'Belting It Out' is an installation of 36 cast bronze belts integrated into the railings
with song lyrics from well-known Texas singers embossed on each belt
Bakeries and Bookshops
Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
Art Silver opened Quack's in 1983; it continues to be an Austin favorite
While neither of them are true bakers, Stephanie is responsible for the bakery's most popular pastry...
Upper Crust Bakery
Two sisters Valerie and Stephanie Schuster opened the bakery in 1984
While neither of them are true bakers, Stephanie is responsible for the bakery's most popular pastry...
The cinnamon rolls made from the croissant dough trimmings
A cafe concept and a gathering place for the neighborhood
First Light Book Shop
Taylor and Robin Bruce transformed an old neighborhood post office into a beautiful shop
A cafe concept and a gathering place for the neighborhood
Her shop just recently moved from South Congress Ave to Kerby Lane
South Congress Books
Sheri Tornatore has been in the collectible book business for more than 30 years
Her shop just recently moved from South Congress Ave to Kerby Lane
To get you started
Day 1
See some of the historical sites:
A walk down Congress Ave.
Begin at the capitol building and walk Congress Ave.
See some of the historical sites:
Old Bakery and Emporium
The Paramount Theatre
The Driskill
Shopping, restaurants and murals
Cross South Congress Bridge
Continue walking South Congress Ave.
Shopping, restaurants and murals
'Greetings from Austin' mural
Just a few streets from South Congress
Day 2
Umlauf sculpture garden
Zilker Park
Zilker botanical garden
Umlauf sculpture garden
Bike the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake
Blanton Museum of Art
Day 3
Hike Mount Bonnell
Mayfield Park
Laguna Gloria
Austin Public Library