View of downtown Austin with a map of Texas imprinted on the floor from Doug Sahm Hill Summit at the Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan as taken by my iPhone.
When most people word associate Texas, they think super conservative. However, Texas is so big that there are very different and unique parts. In the movie Bernie (2011), starring Jack Black, there is a hilarious but brilliant description of the “Five States of Texas”. Austin is the capital of Texas but the very liberal part of the state. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the United States as its constantly evolving downtown skyline shows. Moreover, Austin is spread out with a lot of neighborhoods that make up the city limits as well as surrounding suburbs. For those reasons, it kind of reminds me of Los Angeles. Fortunately, the traffic is not nearly as bad although there is legitimate rush hour traffic. Unfortunately, it is land locked so it does not have the Pacific Ocean and California beaches. On the other hand, it does feature an awesome lake: Lady Bird Lake.
Austin is very fun place to visit for 3-4 days. It is the “Live Music Capitol of the World”. For foodies, it is a must visit. It definitely offers some of the best food I have ever eaten, including exceptional Texas barbecue. In general, the city has countless food options. Below are my recommendations.
- Places to See/Things to Do
1. Lady Bird Lake
It is the reservoir/ lake part of the Colorado River that splits downtown Austin from South Austin. The Longhorn Dam in the east controls the flow of the river so the waters of the lake are very calm. You will see a lot of people on the lake rowing boats, paddle boarding, etc. There are also multiple parks along the south and north end of the lake. Moreover, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike trail Transverses the entire border of the lake. Accordingly, Lady Bird Lake is the center of outdoor activities in Austin. It is named after former First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson, who is the wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704)
It is the largest park in Austin on the southwest corner of Lady Bird Lake. The Great Lawn is the main part of the park. For the most part, it is just a large patch of grass. However, it is very big so it is a great spot for outdoor activities (e.g. flying a kite, sitting and enjoying the sun on a blanket, throwing a football, etc.). Due to its size, it is also ideal for events. For example, it is host to the extremely popular Austin City Limits Music Festival that occurs on two consecutive weekends in early October. From the middle or southwest corner of the park, you will get good views of the downtown Austin skyline. There is a lot of parallel parking spots along the one way road that circles the perimeter of the Great Lawn. Parking is free except for weekends, holidays, and events. The parking machines will let you know if paid parking is in effect. On the weekend, it was only $5 for the whole day when I was there. Driving out of the park from the Great Lawn is a nightmare at the end of the day around 5 and after. It is a one way road that merges with another road from one of the parking lots in the park. It results in bumper to bumper traffic.
The park is also home to Barton Springs, which is a public, natural pool. Moreover, there is plenty to do in the park. There is a miniature train, the Zilker Zephyr, that you can ride around the park. Picnic tables, volleyball courts, etc. are available for the enjoyment of visitors.
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (10+ mile loop)
This trail runs along the entire perimeter of the lake. It is great for walking, running, or biking. I walked the entire 10 miles. The dirt paths are ideal for walking and running since it takes pressure off your knees. Of course, biking is the most efficient way to complete the loop. There are various rental options along the path. In my opinion, the parts of the path that provide the best views of the city skyline are between Zilker Park and the beginning of the metal boardwalk on the southeast section of the trail.
My favorite points to take pictures of the skyline are:
1) Lou Neff Point – Northeast corner of Zilker Park. There is a bench to sit if you want to relax or read. You will also see plenty of people enjoying water sports right in front of you.
2) Doug Sahm Hill Summit at the Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park – East of Zilker Park. The summit has the map of Texas etched on the stone floor with the skyline in the background. It would be perfect if the map was rotated 45 degrees so it lines up with the buildings behind it.
3) Austin Boardwalk – Southeast of Town Lake Metropolitan Park. It provides a great shot of the east side of the skyline. In addition, it served as a mirror lake when I was there and reflected the city skyline. Depending on the time of day and how the light reflects, you will get that mirror lake effect from various parts of the trail.
After the boardwalk, it is still a nice trail but there is not much to see. The dam is ok and you will walk through a small section of a neighborhood at the northeast corner of the trail. Not surprisingly, there is a lot less people as you go further away from Zilker Park and walk on the boardwalk. Consequently, most of the 10 mile trail is for exercise and not predominantly for the views.
- South Congress
Austin is considered the Live Music Capital of the World. As a result, you should definitely experience the music there. 6th Street is the stretch of downtown that is popular for going out and music. It is closed off to traffic on Fridays and Saturdays. I did not go there. Instead, I went to South Congress. It is more of a town center than downtown area. As a result, it is a lot less hectic than downtown and more my vibe. Nevertheless, there is plenty going on there too with restaurants, bars, and clubs with live music. Moreover, you will get a beautiful view of the Capitol Building, which is lit up in lights at night, as you look north from the middle South Congress Avenue.
I went to The Continental Club (1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704). It is one of the legendary clubs in Austin. The cover charge for the night was $15. The live music was awesome. The act I heard was Nikki Hill. She had a unique raspy voice and brought rock n’ roll to the club. She was great.
- Mount Bonnel (3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX 78731)
It is the highest point in Austin at a modest 785 feet. It provides a decent view of the city skyline. The best view on the mountain is probably on the west side that gazes on the Colorado River and the houses along it. I woke up early to see the sunrise at Mount Bonnel. I was underwhelmed. First, the sun did not rise above the skyline. It rose well north of it. Next, there were trees blocking it so there was only one specific spot where you could get a direct line of sight of the sun. Maybe, one or two people could take a look or snap a picture at a time. Nevertheless, it did not rise over anything of note so it was a sunrise you could see anywhere. Sunset would definitely be better with the sun setting behind the Colorado River. As such, I read there are a lot more visitors for it.
The views on Mount Bonnel are not spectacular. Consequently, I do not consider it a must see. However, it is a quick walk up a flight of stone stairs to get to the top. Since it takes so little effort to take a look at the views, why not?
- Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701)
Of course, Austin is the capital of Texas. The Capitol building is north of the downtown area. It has beautiful architecture and photogenic grounds. I am not big on tours of government buildings. Accordingly, I stopped by to walk around the grounds for 20 minutes and to see the outside of the building. For this purpose, I made my way to it after 6 PM, when street parking is free, and parked two blocks from the Capitol. I would not go out of your way to see it but it is a decent quick stop.
- The University of Texas at Austin (UT)
It is a gorgeous campus. The two most recognizable buildings are the main building with its tower and the Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, which is home to the Texas Longhorns football team. The stadium looked more impressive than some NFL stadiums I have seen. Of course, watching a football game while the Longhorns host a home game would be a great experience. It is a nice walk through the campus. Nevertheless, it is still just a campus so not a must do.
- Barbecue
Of course, Austin has some amazing Texas barbecue. As such, barbecue gets its own section.
- Franklin’s Barbecue (900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702)
It is the first time I have seen a line out the door of a restaurant so long that there is tailgating. I have never seen anything like it. I saw people bring their own lawn chairs to sit on and the restaurant handing out small sandwiches while everyone waited to get in the restaurant. Apparently, diners line up as early as 6 AM to be first in line to eat when the restaurant opens at 11 AM. Franklin’s is only open for lunch, from 11 AM to when they are sold out, which it notes is usually between 2-3 PM. On the other hand, I did not get the full experience of Franklin’s. I did not wait in the line. Instead, I took advantage of its pre-order option. It is a five pound minimum but well worth it. My friend and I took the barbecue meats to picnic tables at Zilker Park to eat. We had plenty of leftovers. Anticipating this end game, we brought cooler bags to bring it on the plane to go home with them. TSA checked the bags. However, the agent smelled it, checked that the contents moved like meat, and let me go on my way.
In terms of the actual barbecue, it is definitely the best barbecue I have eaten to date. The fatty brisket is the top item on the menu. It was so moist and absolutely the best brisket I have ever tasted. It was so tender that it fell apart when I tried to lift it with a fork. My second favorite meat at Franklin’s was the pulled pork. As far as pulled pork goes, it was perfection: tender, shredded, and moist. The sausages were also exceptional. The meat in the links were tender and juicy. The skin was very crispy. Moreover, the flavor is phenomenal with a spicy kick to it. The ribs were also delicious. On the other hand, they were a dry rub. Although the flavor and meat were excellent, I prefer the moist meats. All the meats were so good that I did not even use the barbecue sauce much.
After tasting Franklin’s Barbecue, would I willingly wait in line for it? No. I will use the pre-order every time and figure out what to do with the leftovers afterwards. If there was no pre-order option, I would wait on line to eat it. It totally lives up to the hype.
- The Salt Lick (18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619)
As soon as I landed in Austin and picked up my rental car, I drove straight to Salt Lick in Driftwood. It is not actually in the city limits of Austin. There are locations in Round Rock, north of Austin, and the airport. However, Driftwood is home to the original and main location. It is surrounded by vineyards. I drove past it twice because I missed the sign although it was plenty big. At the time I ate at Salt Lick, it was the best barbecue I had ever had. Three days later, I tried Franklin’s and it was better. Nevertheless, Salt Lick is an amazing barbecue joint. Moreover, you do not have to wait hours in line (i.e. Franklin’s) to eat it. The restaurant is huge. There are multiple dining areas that are large halls. You see the barbecue pit in the front of the restaurant as soon as you enter. There are various combination plates and sandwiches. I decided to go with “Family Style” for $24.95, which is all you can eat beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, potato salad, cole slaw, and beans.
I made a rookie mistake of eating too much of the sides so I could not eat as much meat. However, they were delicious. The cole slaw was awesome: crispy, not too drenched, and a little sour with sesame seeds. The beans were also excellent. I usually do not like and avoid beans. However, they were vastly superior in Texas. The potato salad was good too. The complimentary bread was great. It was very soft and must have been made fresh in house. In terms of the main event (i.e. the meat), the ribs were my favorite. They were tender, moist, smoked, and glazed perfectly with a sweet marinade. It was also the one meat at Salt Lick that I thought was better than its counterpart at Franklin’s. Next, the sausages were excellent. The meat is tender and juicy with crispy skin on the outside. The flavor was also a little sweet. In regards to the brisket, there were three parts to choose from: marble, lean, and burnt ends. The marble was definitely the best piece of the brisket. It was the piece the restaurant leaves in the pit the longest. It had great smoky flavor and was chewy. In addition, it had crunchy sides on the outside of tender meat that breaks apart in your mouth when you eat it. The lean was what the name implies. It was lean. Both marble and lean were dry and not moist. I tend to favor moist briskets (e.g. the fatty brisket at Franklin’s). The last part of the brisket was the burnt ends. Naturally, they were rougher and tougher than the other two pieces of the brisket. Nevertheless, they had great smoky flavor. In terms of how the Family Style works, you order three cuts of meat at a time and they come in a small plate. When you are ready to order again, the next wave comes in another small plate. Since the small plates prevent you from eating significantly more than you can eat at the restaurant, Salt Lick allows to you to take leftovers home. The barbecue sauces were also good. One of them was sweet and tangy. The other was called spicy but was not all that spicy. Moreover, I recommend the sweet tea. It was very good although definitely a sugar bomb.
- More Food
1. Sway (1417 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704)
I ate the best Thai food I have ever eaten at Sway. The restaurant was casual with an upscale feel. The tables within the restaurant and in the outdoor seating are communal so diners will most likely share them with strangers. I sat at the high rise tables in front of the kitchen, which is an open kitchen so guests can watch the preparation of the food.
Everything looked so good on the menu so I ordered a few items. First, I ordered the po-pea jay, or spring rolls, as an appetizer. It included vegetables, avocado, vermicelli noodle, and garlic. Tomato vinegar comes on the side to dip the rolls in it. The texture of the spring rolls was great. I could feel the noodles breaking apart simultaneously with the crunch from the vegetables. By themselves, the rolls were bland. The vinegar provided the taste. On the other hand, it completely overpowered everything else in the dish. For example, I could not taste the avocado at all even though I could see it was in the spring rolls. For a drink, I ordered the milk oolong tea. It was brewed fresh with a hint of milk. The taste was perfect and the tea was very smooth. Next, I had the butternut squash curry. I love butternut squash and had never eaten it as a base in a curry. The dish also included kabocha squash, tofu, tomato, roasted cauliflower, miso, cashew butter, and pepita (pumpkin seed). It was delicious. Moreover, the dish was legitimately spicy and had a real kick to it. My mouth felt like it was on fire. I ate most of the curry but could not finish it because I ran out of oolong tea that I used to neutralize the residual red hot, spicy taste in my mouth. For my main dish, I went with the whole market fish. It was bronzino, which is one of my favorite fishes. The entrée was amazing. It was a whole, large fish. It was cooked perfectly: tender and juicy. The flakes of the fish fell apart when I touched it with a fork. The sauce was sweet and sour [maybe tangy was a better description]. There were also peppers that gave it a real kick. There was no price on the menu for the fish as it was “market price”. I expected to pay a lot. I was content when it was $32. In general, Sway was not cheap but reasonable for the quality and portions that I received.
- Hopdoddy (2438 W Anderson Ln A, Austin, TX 78757)
There are multiple locations in Austin. It is a small burger chain that has expanded outside of Texas. A couple of my friends noted it was the best burger they have ever eaten and recommended it to me. I cannot say I disagree. I ordered the Primetime. The Kobe beef was so tender and juicy. The truffle aioli, caramelized onions, and steak sauce made the flavor of the burger explode. In addition, the brioche bun was so soft. The one mistake I made was pulling out the toothpick that was holding the burger together. The components were slippery. Without that sword shaped anchor holding everything together, it was utter chaos as it all fell apart. I had to use my fork and knife to eat the various components of the burger.
- Torchy’s Tacos (4211 Spicewod Spring Rd., Austin, TX 78759)
There are a lot of Torchy’s throughout Austin. I went to the locations on Spicewood Road and the University of Texas. In my first visit, I went to the Torchy’s on Spicewood for breakfast. Although they do not officially have a breakfast burrito, the cashier advised me to get an avocado and eggs burrito. In effect, it was a breakfast burrito. The avocado was smooth and the eggs were scrambled but slightly runny. They complemented each other perfectly. The salsa had a great kick to it. The beans and rice were excellent. The tortilla wrap was sizzling hot and amazing. From my perspective as a tourist in Austin, it was the best burrito I ever had.
When I visited the location at UT, the additional experience provided me a full perspective of Torchy’s. Unlike my first time, I also got meat in my tacos and burrito: ahi tuna and chicken. I tried the tuna with low expectations. It was seasoned decently but the tuna was nothing special. The chicken was a little better but definitely not great. In hindsight, it makes sense because premium meat would significantly increase the price of the items. Torchy’s was excellent but still just a chain with affordable prices. Nevertheless, the avocado, beans, and tortilla wrap were awesome. Anything with them in it will be delicious. Any meat without them and standing alone will be closer to average. In addition to avocado and black beans, the queso was very good.
- Kolache Shoppe (7113 Burnet Rd #112, Austin, TX 78757)
Kolaches are Czech pastries that were brought by immigrants to Texas and became very popular in the state. They are super soft and sweet buns with a filling on the top in the middle (e.g. fruit, meat, etc.). Kolache Shoppe is a hole in the wall type spot within a shopping plaza. As I was waiting in line, I overheard locals discussing the Shoppe and agreeing its kolaches were the best in the United States. Since I have only tried Kolache Shoppe, I have no basis to verify that statement. Nevertheless, its kolaches were definitely incredible. I did not expect them to taste so good. I ordered two kolaches. The first was a ham and swiss, which was like a breakfast sandwich. The second one was fruit: peach. I noticed a lot of peach farms in the area surrounding Austin when I drove around. For this reason, I was not surprised the peach kolaches were top notch.
I also overheard the locals raving about the cinnamon twists and sticky buns. It was probably for the best that the last sticky buns on the counter were sold to customers in front of me. I did not want to wait for the next batch. It saved me from eating even more than I did. Nonetheless, I ordered a cinnamon twist to try it. It was unreal how good it was and hands down the best cinnamon twist I have ever eaten. Kolache Shoppe is open from 7AM-2PM and closed on Sundays.
- Moonshine Patio and Grill (303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701)
It is one of the most popular and an absolutely awesome spot for brunch in Austin. I went for Sunday Brunch when it was $26 for an all you can eat buffet. Moonshine has various rooms and a couple of patios. There were stations throughout the building and in one of the patios. The buffet featured meats, Southern comfort food, and breakfast foods including breakfast burritos and pastries. There was a large selection and variety. I loved some things, liked others, and did not care for some of it. The three exceptional items were the leg of lamb, prime rib, and red velvet pancakes. In my opinion, those three things made the price of admission worth it. The lamb was cooked perfectly and tender. One of recurring issues I have with lamb is it can be gamey. It was not an issue at Moonshine. The prime rib was amazing. It was tender and marinated perfectly. The red velvet pancakes were also delicious. They had great chocolatey flavor and the perfect soft yet solid texture for a pancake. Next, the buttermilk biscuits were great. I also thought the pecan Danishes and deviled eggs were excellent. Again, it is a buffet on Sunday so you can try a little bit of everything and figure out what you like. One of the items I was disappointed in were the kolaches, which were really pigs in a blanket masquerading as kolaches. Nevertheless, Moonshine was a great spot for Sunday Brunch. Definitely get some sweet tea too. It was sweet but not a sugar bomb. Not surprisingly, Moonshine gets really busy on Sunday for brunch. I went there when it opened at 9 AM and did not have to wait in line. You are probably fine if you get there between 9-9:30 AM. When I finished and left after 10 AM, the line outside was long.
- Kerbey Lane Café (3704 Kerbey Lane, Austin, TX 78731)
There are mulitple locations throughout Austin. The original one is not surprisingly on Kerbey Lane. It has a colorful exterior with a classic look inside. It is one of those popular local spots that may not be spectacular but reliably and consistently good. Definitely order the queso and chips as an appetizer. It was excellent. Since a country fried steak was on my list of foods I needed to try in Texas, I ordered it as my entrée. It was solid. Kerbey Lane Café is also popular for its breakfast food. More specifically, it is known for its pancakes. Consequently, I saw a few tables with pancakes even though it was dinner time. The portions were also generous. When I asked to take my leftover queso to go, my waiter gave me a fresh bag of chips to take with me.
There is limited parking at the back of the café after a one lane driveway. However, there is street parking.
- Desserts/ Sweets
1. Amy’s Ice Cream (10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 140 Austin, TX 78759)
Amy’s is a must try in Austin. There are various locations throughout the city. I tried the one by my hotel in the Arboretum [outlet mall] in North Austin. Definitely try a few flavors to find the one you like the most. I tried the two most popular ones: Mexican vanilla and cream. I could definitely taste the richness and softness of the ice cream in those two flavors. While they were good, they were not my favorite. The Amaretto flavor blew me away. It was unbelievably good. I also had the oreo on my second trip and it was great too. Again, all the flavors were rich and soft. However, your taste buds could be different so try a few to figure out which one hits the spot for you.
Is it the best ice cream I have ever eaten? I have tried a lot of great ice cream throughout the country. I cannot give Amy’s that title. My gut feeling says no. Nevertheless, it absolutely ranks among the best.
- Blenders & Bowls (3736 Bee Caves Rd. STE 8 Westlake Hills, TX 78746)
There are multiple locations throughout Austin, including one downtown. I went to the Westlake location because it is more in the suburbs. As such, I was going in the opposite direction of traffic in the morning. Moreover, it is within a shopping plaza and has plenty of parking. I ordered “The O.G.”. The base comprised of acai, strawberries, bananas, and apple juice. It was topped by hemp granola, strawberries, bananas, and local honey. Blenders & Bowls checks off most of the criteria I have for a great Acai bowl. First, the acai base is chilled. I had a brain freeze when I tried to eat it too quickly. The base also had the ideal texture, which is like a hard sorbet. Next, the fruit in the bowl was very fresh. Finally, an amazing honey on top differentiates the best bowls. Blenders & Bowls certainly uses exceptional honey. If I had to nitpick a flaw, I would say the granola was good but not memorable. On the other hand, I am reaching. Totally try Blenders & Bowls if you are looking for a healthy option in Austin.
- Sno Beach (412 Sterzing St, Austin, TX 78704)
Shaved ice is a popular cool treat in Hawaii. I certainly had plenty during my two trips to the Hawaiian islands. There is a fine line between shaved ice and snow cones. The differentiation is in the texture of the ice. From my perspective, Sno Beach definitely serves snow cones. Whatever you want to classify its frozen treats as, they are great. Sno Beach is a truck right outside of Zilker Park. The syrups were sweet and delicious. They were certainly among the best syrups I have had on shaved ice or snow cones. The sweet tea was my favorite. The raspberry was great too. The snow cone was the perfect cold treat on a hot day. Accordingly, the line was very long but worth it. The truck is cash only. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are generous.
- Hitea (2718 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78705 University of Texas, West Campus)
If you are looking for bubble tea, Hitea is a solid truck for it on the UT campus. I tried the white grape oolong. It was a unique and odd taste for me at first. However, I definitely liked it more and more as I drank it. It grew on me. Very few bubble tea spots blow me away anymore. Although Hitea did not, it was good. It is usually a pass/fail assessment for me when it comes to bubbe tea. Hitea passed.
- Alamo Drafthouse Mueller (1911 Aldrich St Suite 120, Austin, TX 78723)
The Alamo Drafthouse is a unique, full dine-in theater experience. Moviegoers have index cards to mark down their orders and servers will collect the card then bring food (e.g. popcorn, flatbread sandwiches, burgers, etc.) and drinks (e.g. soda, alcoholic beverages, etc.) straight to the seat. The Alamo Drafthouse is an Austin based chain. I am a big fan of the location that opened up in Brooklyn, NY. Accordingly, I wanted to try one of the theaters in the home city. It was definitely a superior experience. My favorite item on the menu is the baked pretzels with queso. In Austin, the pretzel was much softer and the queso was amazing with more of a kick to it. There were also semi-reclining seats in the theaters [the front row might fully recline]. The servers need to navigate through the rows so it is the reason most of the seats do not fully recline. The Alamo Drafthouse is definitely a fun, different movie going experience if you do not have one by you.
The Mueller location is in the outdoor retail center of the Mueller residential neighborhood. There is a paid parking lot but the theater validates parking.
- Road Trip
1. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (16710 Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg, TX)
If you are looking for a roadtrip from Austin, Enchanted Rock is a decent spot to hike that is a reasonable distance from the city at approximately a 1 hour and 40 minute drive west. The hike to the top, via the Summit Trail (0.5 miles), is brief. You can definitely feel the steepness when you hike up but it is such a short distance that it is no big deal. On the other hand, the rock floor is smooth. As such, I would not try to ascend when the rock is wet but the trail might be closed in that situation anyway. Of course, use hiking boots or shoes with grip so you do not slide on the rock. The views at the summit are ok. Everything in the background is pretty much flat (i.e. no rivers or mountains to enhance the scenery). The rock formations within the state natural area are pretty much the only photogenic landscape you will see. However, Enchanted Rock is a good spot to see fauna unique to Texas. For example, I saw cactuses. Since it was March, I also saw the beautiful blue bonnet flowers in full bloom. I also saw a coyote in the park so be on alert for them.
There are also various trails throughout the park. I walked the 4.1 mile Loop Trail around the perimeter. It is a dirt path. There were some great views of rock formations at various points of the loop. For the most part, it was really just a walk for exercise. Most of the sights along the path were ordinary. Enchanted Rock is probably more exciting for rock climbers since there are spots within the park to climb. The park is reasonably priced at $7 per person. It is also a very popular spot. I went on a Thursday and there was a lot of parking. On the weekend, I read that finding a parking spot is difficult even though there are multiple lots.
I would not drive out to Enchanted Rock just for it alone. I would definitely do it as part of a road trip. Along the drive out west, you will pass many vineyards. Accordingly, wine tasting is an option to add to an itinerary. I stopped by the nearby town of Fredericksburg, then drove 1 hour and 30 minutes south to San Antonio, before driving back up to Austin.
- Fredericksburg, Texas
It is a city established by German immigrants. The architecture is very unique. It has an Old Western town feel infused with German tradition. It is definitely worth a 1-2 hour stop to walk around. Of course, there are plenty of options for German food (e.g. bratwursts). I did not eat any. Instead, I ate at Jennie’s Smoked Burgers and Tornado Fries (319B E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624). The burgers featured a brisket patty. It was thin and lean. Overall, I thought it was solid. The tornado fries looked like a potato chip rotating on a stick. It had a kick to it. Jennie’s was quick and good. The restaurant is behind another building on main street and the driveway is unassuming and easily missed if you are not looking for it.
- San Antonio
When I asked my friend from Texas about San Antonio, she noted it was “kitschy”. It was not a ringing endorsement and I have now experienced why. There are a couple of popular tourist spots. However, they are too touristy for my liking. Nevertheless, the city is known for the best Tex-Mex. Definitely try it if you visit.
- Alamo (300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205)
“Remember the Alamo” are the words from the famous last stand of Texan defenders against Mexican troops at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texan Revolution. Those words have reverberated through time. They have made the garrison at Alamo the number 1 tourist destination in Texas. The recognizable face of the garrison can be seen outside without paying admission for a tour of the grounds. I saw the building right before sunset and later when it was dark at night. In my opinion, it looked better with the lights shining on it at night. The Alamo is also in the downtown area, conveniently close to the Riverwalk, so tourists can visit them in one shot without going out of their way to see both.
- Riverwalk
Some call it the Venice of the United States. I had never seen anything like it. The river was below street level. Buildings, bars, restaurants, shops, nature (e.g. trees), etc. engulfed and towered over the river and the Riverwalk. My first impression was “Wow”. However, the novelty wore off about 30 seconds into walking it. First, I realized the water was brown. Since it was popular, it was difficult to walk on sections of the street because there were a lot of people but I could not get around them easily with the prospect of falling into the water as a deterrent. I thought it was definitely prettier at night when it was dark because you cannot see the color of the water and the boats and Riverwalk are lighted up. Of course, people are out and about in the bars and restaurants. Can something be considered built for tourists without the actual explanation being that reason [The Riverwalk was actually built to control flooding]? I am definitely in the minority since it is the popular gathering place in San Antonio. Nevertheless, I am glad I saw it but was not overwhelmed.
The Riverwalk includes 15 miles of sidewalk. The best way to see it all is to go on a boat ride. The Go Rio boats cost $12.99 per adult but you see all of the Riverwalk. Parts of it are more happening than others. Some of it was pretty quiet with not much around. Not surprisingly, the busiest section was by the entrance closest to the Alamo. I also paid $20 to park my rental car in a lot, which was valid through midnight. Of course, it was expensive but it is tourist central.
- Paloma Blanca (5800 Broadway St #300, San Antonio, TX 78209)
It is an upscale Mexican restaurant north of downtown, where it is a lot less hectic. It was very good. For me, the highlight of the meal was the tacos al pastor. The minced pork was cooked perfectly: tender, juicy, and almost crunchy. The meat was also marinated perfectly. To my surprise, the pineapple actually added to the taste. The tortilla wraps were really good too. Was it the best taco I ever ate? I am hard pressed to think of a better one. For my entrée, I ordered the Enchiladas 09. I had mixed feelings. The meat was shredded chicken. By nature, the white meat was the drier part of the chicken. It was not dried out so it was cooked well. Nevertheless, the chicken inside the enchilada was bland. However, the queso was delicious. The idea of the dish was probably to dip the chicken in the queso. For me, the difference between the tacos and enchiladas was one meat was marinated amazingly and the other meat was not marinated much if at all. Accordingly, I was not wowed by the enchiladas after eating the tacos. On the other hand, the salad for the entrée was delicious. The dressing was awesome. The lettuce was crunchy and not at all soggy despite being drenched in dressing.
- Coffee
1. Cuvee Coffee (2000 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702)
Without a doubt, it was the best coffee shop I visited in Austin. The latte was flawless. It was smooth and rich. There was not a hint of bitterness. It had the ideal texture, which was consistent throughout the entire drink. Moreover, the art was stellar. It definitely measures up to the best coffee shops anywhere.
- Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors (1111 Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702)
It had the best latte art I saw in Austin. The substance of the latte was very good too. There was no bitterness. On the other hand, it was a tad watery so the texture of the drink seemed a little bit off. Most of the wateriness was at the top. It was better deeper into the cup. Again, it was very good. However, it could have been better with a little more thickness in the texture.
- Mozart’s Coffee Roasters (3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703)
The latte art could have been slightly better but the substance was fine. The texture was smooth and rich with only a hint of bitterness. Moreover, the location is picturesque. The coffee shop is on the river with plenty of indoor and outdoor [patio] seating to enjoy the views, do some work, or read a book.
- Houndstooth Coffee (4200 North Lamar Boulevard, 120, Austin, TX 78756)
There are three locations. I went to the one on North Lamar Boulevard. The latte was very good. There was no bitterness and it was relatively smooth. However, it could have been slightly thicker and less watery for more richness and smoothness throughout the drink.
- Patika (2159 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704)
I had mixed feelings about the latte I had at Patika. There was no bitterness. There was good flavor and richness. On the other hand, it was more watery than other lattes I had in Austin. As such, it was not the thick and smooth texture I prefer for my lattes. The excess in water also made the overall flavor taste diluted. However, it did taste better as I drank further down the cup. The cups were also very big. I might have liked it much more if the cups were smaller with better water to milk ratios. Finally, the art was decent. Nevertheless, it looked a little off, which is often a good indicator of too much water.
8. Lodging
Austin is spread out with a lot of neighborhoods. As such, there are plenty of options (i.e. hotels, AirBnB, etc.) to choose from. In rush hour traffic, anywhere can feel far. Without it, it is quick to get from one neighborhood to another. I stayed at the Renaissance Austin Hotel (9721 Arboretum Blvd, Austin, TX 78759) in North Austin. The hotel is located at an outdoor shopping plaza called the Arboretum. Accordingly, there are plenty of dining options, including an Amy’s Ice Cream shop, which you can walk to from the hotel. I am a big fan of Marriott’s Renaissance hotels. I have been to three and they were all beautiful properties. The location in Austin also serves as a convention center so you may see a convention going on. Try to get a room on a higher floor because I read it gets noisy. Regardless, the hotel met my expectations for a Renaissance: affordable luxury.
On the other hand, there was a couple of aspects I frowned upon. First, the WiFi was $15 per day. Fortunately, I did not have to pay for it because it is complimentary for Marriot Rewards members. Nevertheless, it is definitely a deterrent for non-Marriot members. In addition, most hotels offer complimentary WiFi anyway. Next, there was a charge of $10 per day for self-parking. However, it was not like the lot was pressed for space. The hotel has a huge lot which is one of many large parking lots within the Arboreturm. I prefer the hotel just embedding the price of parking into the nightly stay rate. Charging separately is tacky and makes me feel like I am getting nickel and dimed.
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