So I'm moving to Austin next week. Anybody been there? Cool things to do there?

7/23/2010 10:57:20 PM

Lucky you.

-I've only been once, but the 6th St./4th St. areas downtown are pretty hip.
-Swimming at Barton Springs (highly recommend)
-SXSW, of course--music, film, technology shows.
-Breakfast/brunch at Kerby Lane (the one on Kerby Lane, not the one by UT--so I was told)
-Spider House coffee shop
-Pluckers Wing Bar--very unhealthy, but delicious
-Veggie Heaven (also delicious, if you're into that sort of thing)
-Also, I wasn't able to try it, but a friend recommended Torchy's Tacos

7/24/2010 2:09:58 AM

Dunno but you might see me around for grad school.

I hear it's the most likable place in all of Texas.

7/24/2010 2:15:28 AM

^^ mmmm Kerby Lane is fantastic. Both are good really, I didn't notice a difference in the one close to campus and the one further away. The Kerby Queso is quite ridiculous and I would eat it everyday if I could.

Other than that be sure to check out Chuy's and the random breakfast taco stands you will see around that are only open during breakfast. You can go toobin down the different rivers, there are companies that will drive you up the river and you float back down to your car. You can even get a tube for a cooler (has a bottom to the tube) and everyone basically goes down and gets hammered. Entertaining if you like to drink and entertaining if you don't for obvious reasons.

I can't remember a lot of the other neat places around but there are so many that you won't have any trouble finding more. Locals are typically really nice and can point you in the right direction.

Also, San Marcos is like 30 minutes down I35 and has a real nice outlet mall. If you keep going another half hour or so you will be in San Antonio which has all kinds of cool things. Downtown has the riverwalk which is really neat, tons of great restaurants and whatnot. The Alamo is obviously there but I would recommend going to the other missions as well, Mission San Jose is probably the neatest. The think I like about it vs the Alamo is that it is not in downtown and still preserved so you can see what it was actually like. The San Antonio Zoo is really neat as well and really affordable. You also have Six Flags and Sea World there.

Be sure to go to a UT football game sometime, it is quite the experience to say the least (I was there in 99 when State beat them ).

7/24/2010 10:00:03 AM

Quote :

"I hear it's the most likable place in all of Texas."

7/24/2010 10:04:40 AM

I've never been, but I know some people from Texas and I've never heard anything but good stuff about Austin.

7/24/2010 10:11:19 AM

Oh and be sure to get your fill of BBQ. It won't be NC BBQ but it is amazing in its own way. I know there are a few really solid places in Austin like The Salt Lick but I am not as familiar with them. Rudy's BBQ is my favorite, there are some in Austin but I have always been to the one in Leon Springs (right outside San Antonio, the original Rudy's).

7/24/2010 10:19:36 AM

Go watch the bats come out of the Congress Ave Bridge in the afternoons. It's quite a spectacle.

Iron Works BBQ is pretty good too. Be ready to take in the Texas Loves Texas mentality even in Austin!

7/24/2010 12:10:34 PM

yay I was born in austin! great city

7/24/2010 12:19:18 PM

Quote :

"Be sure to go to a UT football game sometime, it is quite the experience to say the least "

No joke. I didn't even go to the game, but the crowd pouring out of last year's Cotton Bowl was insane! I hadn't seen team spirit like that since I left the Triangle.

7/24/2010 12:23:29 PM

ah i love austin! my old roommate just moved there with her husband so i'll be hanging out there a lot more often

one thing i never miss when im in austin is gueros mexican. its amazing. the margaritas are fantastic. love it!

http://www.guerostacobar.com/

very dog & family friendly. and lots of people working out running & biking all over the place. i wish i lived there sometimes

7/24/2010 2:44:39 PM

The Draft House!

7/24/2010 5:28:42 PM

Things to try:

1) Swimming at Barton Springs
2) Jog the Barton Trail
3) UT football tailgating
4) Iron Cactus on 6th St. ... great drinks/food! I recommend their ceviche, lobster tacos AND Mexican Martini!
5) Z Tejas on 6th street ... everything on their menu rocks ... especially the Mexican Martini. Their brunch menu is incredible.
6) Amy's Ice Cream
7) The Ginger Man offers an amazing beer selection
8) Tour of the wine country (Wimberly area). http://www.texaswinetrail.com/index.html

7/25/2010 11:35:20 AM

Been there once. Salt Lick is tremendous. And overall, seemed like a great place to be.

7/25/2010 9:48:07 PM

Enjoy it! I wish I could have moved to Austin when I came to Texas. Instead, I'm about 2 hrs away.

7/25/2010 10:13:55 PM

county line bbq: http://www.countyline.com/index.asp

torchy's tacos: http://www.torchystacos.com/

flying saucer: http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/austin/

lots of bats: http://www.austincityguide.com/content/congress-bridge-bats-austin.asp

7/26/2010 8:41:24 AM