Austin

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Spending time in Austin?

A travel journal to Austin by nsalex

Austin is an amazing place to live with so many things to do. The beauty about Austin is that it is still a small city, but it offers hundreds of things to do. No matter what you enjoy, Austin offers it (except skiing...it's warm here.)

  • 9 reviews

Spending time in Austin?Best of IgoUgo

Overview

There are tons of things do to here, including eating Tex-Mex, shopping (upscale boutiques, antiques, trendy shops,) lots of park/sport activities, museums, ballet, theatre...everything here is done well. Austin has one of the highest quality of life ratings in the country.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around is by car. The city is spread out, so it can take a long time by bus or a lot of money by taxi to get around. North Austin to South Austin is a solid 30 mile stretch.

Omni Austin Hotel at SouthparkBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Omni Southpark"

The hotel is very nice, and the staff were all friendly. Check in and out was both quick and easy. Hotel rooms were very nice, well decorated and CLEAN! Hotel restaurant was pretty good. They also have a hotel bar, but it closes at midnight. Outdoor pool and exercise room. Easy access to airport and downtown.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark
4140 GOVERNORS ROW Austin, Texas 78744
512-448-2222

Texas Land & Cattle Co.Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Texas Land & Cattle Co. "

Big surprise, Texas Land and Cattle is a steak house. The service has always been good. They recently put in carpets so there are no longer giant barrels of peanuts at the door to crack and leave shells on the floor. A variety of streaks that are pretty good, but nothing to be amazed by. Baked sweet potatoes are worth trying. "Texas atmosphere" with cowboy paintings, longhorns on the walls and cowboy boots decorating the bar.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Texas Land & Cattle Co.
55105 Interstate Highway 35 Austin, Texas

Austin Land & Cattle CoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Austin Land and Cattle"

If you have big bucks, go here. The service is adequate (not bad, but nothing special,) and the food is DELICIOUS. The best steaks I ever had. Appetizers...try their beer battered mushrooms. Dessert is worth it if you have room. Their creme brule was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Austin Land & Cattle Co
1205 N Lamar Blvd Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 472-1813

Chuy'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Chu's is a great restaurant, especially for tourists. The atmosphere is great fun, with bright and silly decorations throughout. Staff is friendly and they sell funny T-shirts there. The food is also great Tex-Mex (love their chimichanga's) and they have an Elvis shrine. Warning...they are so popular there will probably be a wait (up to an hour) so go early.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas 78704
+1 512 474 4452

Rudy Country Store & Bar-B-QBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Rudy's"

Rudy's is BBQ. Try their marble brisket, it's delicious. Their sausage and ribs are real good to. Meat is well spiced, very flavorful (but not spice hot.) Buy some BBQ sauce. Rudy's is a classic BBQ experience. Meat served on wax paper with slices of bread, pickles and onions. Food is really good. Prices are a bit high for BBQ, there are cheaper places to get it, but they aren't as much fun.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Rudy Country Store & Bar-B-Q
11570 Research Blvd Austin, Texas 78759
(512) 418-9898

Zilker ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Zilker park has a lot to offer, including a Botanical garden with rose gardens, japanese garden and xeriscape garden. They also have a nature center/museum and a small wild animal sanctuary. Close by are Barton Springs, a spring fed swimming hole with 70 degree water year round. Also right down the road is a sculpture garden (entry is around $2.)
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Zilker Park
2100 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas 78746
+1 512 477 8672

South Congress AvenueBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "South Congress"

South Congress avenue has a few blocks of local shopping: including antique shops, clothing stores, a costume shop, toy stores and thrift shops. They also have some trendy clothing shops in the area and a couple of art dealers. It is a fun place to go to do a variety of shopping. It also offers a nice view of the Texas Capital building (a pink granite replica of the nations capital, only seven feet taller...everything is bigger in Texas.)
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

South Congress Avenue
South Congress Ave Austin, Texas 78704
No phone available

Congress Bridge BatsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Bats of Congress Avenue Bridge"

Every evening at sun down, millions of bats fly out from under the Congress street bridge. They sleep under there, all day, and at night come out to hunt bugs. Even for those that are grossed out by millions of bats, it really is a sight. Especially in August, when their population is the largest...on a good night it almost looks like a black cloud coming out from under the bridge.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by nsalex on November 28, 2001

Congress Bridge Bats
Congress Bridge over Town Lake Austin, Texas

About the Writer

nsalex
nsalex
Austin, Texas

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