3,782 Miles: Austin, TX

Read more about the trip at the first post Hitting the road #IntoTheNeighborwoods.

Neighborhood

Not knowing much about Austin before this visit, it quickly became one of my favorite stops! We staying in South Austin, in a nice quiet residential area but, was also within walking distance to lots of shops, restaurants, and even an awesome brewery on our block (more below). The weather was sunny and pretty hot for most of our stay so, we made sure to check out all the swimming holes and public pools that we could. There were lots! Otherwise, we spent most of our free time walking around and exploring different neighborhoods, eating many, many tacos, and even tried line dancing one night at a local country bar. We were not very good.

Austin’s food truck scene started in the early ’90s with a few family-owned taco carts on South Lamar Street. The movement took off in the 2000s, and between 2006 and 2011 the number of mobile vendor licenses tripled. Today, there are close to 2,000 food trucks throughout the city.

Being a Tourist

Our trip would not have been complete without a few trips to Barton Springs Pool (right). Located in Zilker Park, it’s huge (I mean, really big) outdoor swimming pool that is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. It’s kept at a cool temperature of 68 °F year around. Perfect for all the hot summer days! We even enjoyed a night swim on one of our last days in town.

Also, with one of the best views of the city, Covert Park at Mount Bonnell was well worth it!

At 785-feet tall, or 106 steps, Covert Park at Mount Bonnell is the highest point in the city.

Food Favorites

• Patika (left) This beautiful coffee shop off South Lamar Boulevard offers great coffee, breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch. Perfect spot to grab a refreshing iced coffee or snack and enjoy the relaxing back patio.
• The ABGB (middle) Not only does this brewery have delicious beer, they also serve up amazing pizzas! Pictured above has figs, house ricotta, burrata, brie, fennel, cipollini onions, made with a honey-sea salt crust and topped with arugula and pistachio pesto. Pairs great with one of the APA (Austin Pets Alive!) beers. Plus, a $1 for every pint sold goes to help find deserving dogs their forever homes.
• Maria’s Taco Xpress (right) Serving the best breakfast tacos in Austin! Pro tip: ask for their house made part corn, part flour tortilla. Best of both worlds.

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