Reasons to Visit Austin, Texas
01-20-2020
Author: in Education
Austin, Texas is an amazing and exciting city, and we have yet to find someone who doesn’t enjoy visiting there. If you are looking for another awesome place to add to your travel itinerary this year… Austin is it!
My family had the pleasure of visiting Austin over the summer and we had an absolute blast. We visited attractions and ate barbecue (of course), but we also found some unexpected fun in nature while we were there. I will say that the weather was a bit hot down there in the summertime, but a visit in spring or fall would be just perfect.
If you’re trying to make travel plans for the future, we highly recommend adding Austin to your list of destinations, especially if you can make it down in one of the cooler months. Here’s why.
Unlike some bigger cities, Austin is very RV-friendly. There are plenty of RV parks and campgrounds in the area, meaning there’s sure to be a place that works well for your needs.
Below are some of our favorite RV parks and campgrounds in Austin. If you’re unsure where to stay, we highly recommend choosing one of these awesome parks.
Many RV parks located as close to a city as this one is are lacking in comfort, but that simply isn’t true for Austin Lone Star RV Resort. This amazing park offers roomy sites with plenty of gorgeous shade trees. The laundry facilities, swimming pool, and restrooms are clean and well kept.
All in all, this is a great, cozy place to return to after a long day of sightseeing.
La Hacienda is another fabulous area RV park. This resort offers all kinds of awesome amenities including a pool, hot tub, fitness center, playground, and dog park. Roomy gravel sites are the perfect place to park your RV, and the friendly staff is happy to accommodate you for a single night or for an entire season.
Austin is home to some seriously amazing eats. Everyone knows this is the place to go for some good Texas-style barbecue, but the city also has some of the best Mexican food around. Additionally, we had some awesome ice cream, coffee, and a few other yummy meals in this delicious place.
Feeling hungry and not sure where to go? We recommend the places below.
As mentioned above, Austin knows how to do Mexican food right. One of the best places to get this delicious Mexican food is Habanero Cafe. This small, no-frills place may not look like much, but it offers some seriously tasty breakfast and lunch food.
The breakfast tacos are to die for, and the beef fajita meat is some of the best around. That said, you could order anything at all on the menu here and we’re certain you’d be happy.
It should be noted that Habanero Cafe does close early at 3pm most days and 4pm on Saturdays. Additionally, this eatery does not accept cards, so be sure to carry cash with you.
Related Read: Frugal Traveler's Guide To Eating Out
Nobody should ever visit Austin without getting some barbecue. This city is known for its barbecue for a reason: it’s absolutely fabulous.
Of the places we’ve tried, our favorite has been Black’s Barbecue. The meats at this amazing eatery are simply incredible. The beef ribs are huge and delicious, the brisket is so tender you almost can’t pick it up with a fork, and the turkey is wonderful. We also appreciate the sides, which are well done and compliment the meat entrees very well.
We will definitely return to this place time and time again during our travels.
Just down the street from Black’s Barbecue, you’ll find an Amy’s Ice Creams location. This is actually a local chain, so if you don’t make it to the area of Black’s Barbecue, you should still be able to find one.
The ice cream here is rich and creamy, and the mix-ins are beyond plentiful. We love making our own ice cream treat creations at this fun little shop, and the fact that they have some entertainment options for kids (i.e. hula hoops, chalk board, etc) is a major bonus.
Finally, we must mention Mozart’s Coffee Roasters. We love seeking out local coffee shops and tried a few while in Austin. This was our favorite.
The coffee drinks are wonderful, and the outdoor seating with a lake view is fantastic. On top of all that, this place has a selection of baked goods that is out of this world. Everything from bagels and cookies to cheesecake and fruit tarts can be found in their packed pastry case.
Finally, there are plenty of things to do and sights to see in Austin. Some of these are events such as music festivals. However, even if you’re like us and you don’t make it to town when a festival’s going on, you’ll still have plenty to do.
Whether you’re looking for an indoor activity, a way to entertain kids, or something to do in the great outdoors, there’s something for you in this fabulous city.
Here are our top picks for things to do in Austin, Texas.
Hoping to get in some time in the great outdoors? We loved McKinney Falls State Park. This park offers lots of hiking trails, making it an awesome place to explore nature without driving out of the city. The falls here are pretty great too, offering an excellent way to cool off on a hot summer day.
Easily one of the most unique things we’ve ever done, the bat viewing at Congress Bridge is a must-see for anyone who visits Austin. Simply stand near the bridge on a summer’s eve as the sun sets, and you’ll see thousands—sometimes millions—of bats fly out in search of food. It’s a spectacular sight to see for sure!
Have kids in tow? If so, the Thinkery needs to be on your itinerary. This is a fabulous children’s museum that any young child is sure to get a kick out of.
Our son particularly enjoyed the room full of water tables and toys, as well as the interesting outdoor play structure. Other highlights included the well stocked (and quite large) play kitchen, as well as the kid-friendly microscopes.
They may not seem all that exciting, but we’ve learned through our travels that the many presidential libraries our country has to offer are actually quite interesting and even fun to visit. LBJ Presidential Library is no exception.
Here you can learn all kinds of things about the life and times of our 36th president, and it’s all presented in an engaging way that’ll keep you entertained.
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Author: Chelsea Barron
