melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jul 6, 2014 22:16:43 GMT
So, let's say you have a few days to spend in Austin and you will be free for a little while each day.
What do I absolutely have to see and where should I eat? I will be a bit limited as there are things I need to do each day and it's a very short trip so what should be on the top of my list?
I know I should see the bats... but where I can go to see that happen and what time? (Without doing an actual tour or anything)
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Post by Merge on Jul 6, 2014 22:23:14 GMT
Bats at sunset, Congress Street bridge. No kids with you? Shop and eat on South Congress, drive around to check out different food trucks, see if there is a venue with live music you might enjoy.
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Post by jetscat on Jul 6, 2014 22:50:01 GMT
I like heading down Congress street and hitting up all the cool little shops. The food trucks will definitely give you lots of food choices!
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DaisyDoodles
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Posts: 449
Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Jul 6, 2014 22:53:05 GMT
All depends on what part of town you will be staying in , plus when you will be coming. We have so much going on it that is is a circus at times! At the moment, the bats aren't putting on such a spectacular show from what I had been told, but I think for visitors it would still be pretty cool.
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wenchie
Junior Member
now I have to figure out a whole new website-blech
Posts: 71
Jun 26, 2014 14:49:36 GMT
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Post by wenchie on Jul 6, 2014 22:54:40 GMT
I just want to give you a shout! Glad you made it over!
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Post by melrose on Jul 6, 2014 23:08:26 GMT
Great post...I'm heading over there later this year. Can't wait!
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Post by Kelpea on Jul 6, 2014 23:10:42 GMT
check out the local music venues. Austin, TX, like Athens, GA, are the two premiere cool music scenes in the US!
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Pinky Zebra
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I love Daryl Dixon. I want to lick his face and have his babies.
Posts: 169
Location: West Texas
Jun 26, 2014 5:37:40 GMT
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Post by Pinky Zebra on Jul 6, 2014 23:13:55 GMT
Sixth street is not worth the trip. Unless you're 21 and looking for crazy. It's crazy down there. They don't say, "Keep Austin Weird" for no reason.
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DaisyDoodles
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Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Jul 6, 2014 23:16:36 GMT
Yah, there isn't really anything weird about Austin anymore. I was born and raised here and it isn't the same. Since the Tech boom in the late 90's we haven't been the same, lol!
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Pinky Zebra
Full Member
I love Daryl Dixon. I want to lick his face and have his babies.
Posts: 169
Location: West Texas
Jun 26, 2014 5:37:40 GMT
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Post by Pinky Zebra on Jul 6, 2014 23:18:17 GMT
There's a donut shop in Round Rock that's been featured on Man vs. Food before.
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Pinky Zebra
Full Member
I love Daryl Dixon. I want to lick his face and have his babies.
Posts: 169
Location: West Texas
Jun 26, 2014 5:37:40 GMT
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Post by Pinky Zebra on Jul 6, 2014 23:19:22 GMT
Yah, there isn't really anything weird about Austin anymore. I was born and raised here and it isn't the same. Since the Tech boom in the late 90's we haven't been the same, lol! Did you see the fight down on 6th the other night? My goodness. I'll go find the link. ETA: Here it is. I assume it was on 6th. It's downtown. Punks. Just a heads up - - the language is awful. Austin Street Brawl
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Post by Yoki on Jul 6, 2014 23:35:54 GMT
I was in Austin for the first time in February and we really enjoyed these things: happy hour at the Driskell Hotel (the truffle popcorn was yummy!), walking the paved path along the river, all the funky stores on South Congress, Zilker Botanical Gardens, and we really had fun doing an Urban Adventure Quest. It took a few hours, but we saw lots of stuff we wouldn't have otherwise.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 18:26:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2014 23:45:37 GMT
You can't go to Austin without going to see some music. I think it might be illegal - and if it's not, it should be The Texas State History Museum is excellent. I personally didn't think the bats were all that interesting/exciting. If it's convenient, see them. If it's not, don't worry about it, IMO. Obviously, the Capitol building is gorgeous and worth a visit. I don't know if they still do it, but when we were there a few years ago, the Chamber of Commerce had free downtown walking tours that started at the Capitol. Our tour guide was SO knowledgeable (and entertaining) and we loved our tour. It was full of information that you wouldn't typically get from a guidebook or whatnot. It was unique local color and history. If those are still offered, I'd recommend them.
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conchita
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,141
Jul 1, 2014 11:25:58 GMT
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Post by conchita on Jul 7, 2014 0:02:01 GMT
I'll be moving to that area soon myself so appreciate all the ideas. Keep them coming please!
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DaisyDoodles
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Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Jul 7, 2014 0:06:48 GMT
Yah, there isn't really anything weird about Austin anymore. I was born and raised here and it isn't the same. Since the Tech boom in the late 90's we haven't been the same, lol! Did you see the fight down on 6th the other night? My goodness. I'll go find the link. ETA: Here it is. I assume it was on 6th. It's downtown. Punks. Just a heads up - - the language is awful. Austin Street BrawlHaha, that is pretty tame compared to what happens most of the time. My brother in law runs a club off of 6th street and this is pretty par for the course. This looks to be the end of 6th Street that is closest to IH 35 and that area is pretty rough. I wouldn't really call this a brawl as the video states, but there was a bad racially motivated fight a few months back that was really bad and two of the guys ended up in the hospital. So yeah, OP, stay away from 6th street!
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DaisyDoodles
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Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Jul 7, 2014 0:08:44 GMT
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jul 7, 2014 2:44:06 GMT
So, Congress Street is the must do along with music, and not 6th Street! LOL I am from the NYC area though.. we see it all. I do have a better idea of my schedule now. I am visiting dd who is at Ballet Austin and staying in a dorm on the edge of the UT campus. I arrive on Wednesday night and will be staying about 30 min north of the airport. It's further out than I would have picked (dh made the reservations and he stayed there when he went last month). Thursday, I am apparently at the studio most of the day observing and maybe photographing. I'll have Friday morning to myself and then will be back at Ballet Austin for afternoon performances. If my dd can manage to get an appointment, I will be taking her to get her hair done on Saturday and then have the rest of the day free with her and maybe some of her friends. I leave Sunday. She actually hasn't seen the bats yet either.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 18:26:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 5:12:58 GMT
I've never been bothered by 6th. I wouldn't hesitate to go there - lots of good music options. Yes, crap can happen, but that's going to be true in an entertainment district in any city. We've never had trouble.
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DaisyDoodles
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Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Jul 7, 2014 6:07:07 GMT
6th street is ok, I would just recommend staying closer to the West end and not the East end. Even my BIL, who works down there, tells us to stay away from that area. It is ok during the late afternoon, early evening.
If you were going to be at the Austin Ballet School on 3rd St, you won't be far from both the Austin Music Hall and the Moody theater aka Austin City Limits. Both are great live music venues so you should check out their sites and see what shows are playing the days you will be in town. Also, the Paramount Theater has a cool Summer Movie Series going on right now and that is within a few blocks of the school, as well.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jul 30, 2014 17:10:24 GMT
Thanks so much! A little follow up. The hotel wasn't quite that far from the airport after all. I ended up spending all day Thursday at the studio as Obama was in town. Made for an hour plus trip from the hotel to Ballet Austin, which was only 15-20 minutes long the next morning! Never got to see the bats. Too hot so they didn't come out until too late, especially with dd's curfew. She never got to see them. Did spend time on So Congress. Bought dd her coveted cowboy boots at a cute little boutique there. Much cheaper and already broken in! Had lots of fun shopping there, especially visiting Lucy in Disguise. Took tons of photos there and on Baylor Street where we did a fun ballet shoot. Will have to figure out how to share a few photos. (Can't get into my Flikr account anymore. ) Dd took me to Magnolia Cafe which was delicious! We also ate at Lambert's (could have skipped that) and at La Condesa near Ballet Austin. La Condesa was a pleasant albeit pricey surprise. Best food we had was at Terry Black's BBQ near Barton Springs. So delicious! Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs that night. Dd had plenty of leftovers. Drove by the Capitol, but didn't have enough time to visit or do the tour. Same for the museum. Drove down 6th a few times, but didn't visit at night. Dd did get to visit many food trucks while she was there. Plenty right by the dorm which was the Calloway, a new private dorm, apparently similar to the Castillian. It was amazing with a rooftop swimming pool, gym, game room, media room and more. Texans know how to do dorms, apparently!
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Post by ntsf on Jul 30, 2014 17:59:25 GMT
timely post! just reserved tickets to spend weekend in austin in sept. going to a wedding at the driskol hotel, then seeing some relatives in elgin. dh has been there...but I have only been to elgin.
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Post by pretzels on Jul 30, 2014 18:08:30 GMT
Whenever I go, I stay at The Omni on San Jacinto, ntsf. It's near The Driskill. I usually just walk around downtown and I always run into something interesting. I love Austin, and as soon as I finish my MPA, I'm going to try my damnedest to move there, at least on a part-time basis. (My kids will be grown by then, and I do a lengthy commute thing.)
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Post by ntsf on Jul 30, 2014 18:12:54 GMT
we are going to try to stay at the omni...
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fitzy
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Jun 28, 2014 2:50:04 GMT
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Post by fitzy on Jul 30, 2014 23:22:26 GMT
I used to work in the Omni Hotel. Nice hotel. I worked for an insurance company which at the time owned the building.
Melissa - sounds like you had a great time. Austin is definitely a fun place to visit. Can't wait to get back there.
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Post by KikiPea on Jul 31, 2014 0:13:19 GMT
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