48 Hours in Austin, TX

Austin is internationally known for it’s acclaimed music scene, funky cultural vibe, an abundance of food trucks, and first-rate events. It’s a city to explore and linger as you soak up the scene. The capital city of Texas has world-class museums, spring-fed swimming holes, and picturesque parks. There is something for everyone in the weirdest, coolest city in Texas.

With nearly 300 days of sunshine annually, an average temperature of 70 degrees and a goal to “Keep Austin Weird,” there is no doubt you will have a great time. Austin boasts a trendy, yet family-friendly music and restauarant scene that really sets this city apart.

I have compiled a list of the three A’s: Accommodations, Adventures, and Appetite!  If you have any questions about Austin or our trip please send me an email!

Accommodations

Located right next to the famous 6th Street, lined with blues clubs, country bars and food trucks, The Westin Austin Downtown is centrally located in the most popular part of town. Downtown Austin is very walkable, so a well placed hotel is a must. The entire place is modern and chic with exceptional staff. There is a rooftop pool where you can enjoy swimming as you overlook the skyline. The pool area also has a bar & lounge that can become crowded in the late afternoon/evening, so on weekends you will want to go early in the day to swim with the kiddos. Stella San Jac is the hotel’s signature restaurant with delicious fare, but more on that in the Appetite section below!

You immediately feel relaxed when you enter the grand hotel lobby with it’s lush plant wall, and I loved all the Austin decor. Our suite had incredible panoramic views of downtown that was amazing to see both during the day and watch the city come to life at night. We had a beautiful bathroom with a separate jacuzzi tub and shower, a king size bed, and a spacious sitting room that was separate from the bedroom (our favorite!).

The Westin Austin Downtown was a spectacular luxury resort that welcomed our whole family, I would highly recommend this as your base for the city.

Adventures

Zilker Botanical Garden – Zilker Botanical Garden is nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park in the heart of downtown Austin. There are themed gardens interconnected with pathways for all ages and abilities. Zilker offers a peaceful getaway from the city with amazing views. Our kids loved walking through and seeing the koi ponds. I would recommend visiting early in the day, as it can be quite hot in the afternoons.

Austin Bat Bridge – Congress Avenue Bridge is home to North America’s largest urban bat population. Over one million Mexican Free-Tailed bats live under the bridge and emerge at sunset to take flight and eat. The show can take place anywhere from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m, it all depends on weather and conditions. Unfortunately, we waited for two hours and only saw a few bats emerge. Due to the timing and our children’s exhaustion we did call it and head back to the hotel. I do believe this would be an amazing event to witness, just prepare to be patient.

Texas State Capitol Building -We love to visit capitol buildings, and the Texas State Capitol Building is gorgeous! They offer free tours daily, and we arrived just in time to join a group with an amazing guide. Our guide shared the history about the building, the state of Texas, and the individuals serving. The building’s interior is stunning and we were able to observe the Senate in action from the gallery.

Austin Duck Adventures – I’ve always wanted to go on a notorious Duck Tour, and when I saw they are available in Austin – I knew we had to be on that bus… boat… both! With 75 minutes of sightseeing that includes Historic Sixth Street, the State Capitol Building, the Governor’s Mansion, and Lake Austin – Austin Duck Adventures is the best way to see the city. Our tour guide was informative, hilarious, and a truly good time. We danced, sang, and quacked our way through the tour! I would highly recommend this tour for people of all ages.

Festivals/Events – There is a different festival and/or event going on in Austin every single weekend, and it just so happened to be the Pecan Street Festival while we visited. The Pecan Street Festival is one of the largest, and longest-running, arts/crafts and music festivals in the nation. It was steps from our hotel, so we were able to buy some local souvenirs and get some delicious food while watching live music.

Austin Fire Department Station 1 – Did you know you can tour fire departments in several cities across the US? We passed by the first fire department in Austin, located downtown and they welcomed us in like old friends and gave us a tour of their station. This was a great stop where we were able to learn more of Austin’s history.

Saint Mary’s Cathedral – On our walk back from the Capitol, we stopped at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, this church is beautiful and a very peaceful place to stop and reflect.

Appetite

Stella San Jac – Located in the Westin Austin Downtown, Stella San Jac has an open kitchen and gourmet cuisine. This was a beautiful dining experience for our family. The atmosphere and service was remarkable, but even more important – the food. Everything ordered was exceptional, and if you visit you must order the crab hushpuppies. We had a hard time ordering, as everything looked so good, but we chose the fried avocado salad (SO GOOD) and short ribs (also amazing). This is the perfect location to start your evening with a lively atmosphere and upscale dining.

Meanwhile Beer – Meanwhile Beer is a craft brewery and taproom with food trucks, a playground, soccer field, and music venue. This family friendly brewery is a great stop with a lot of shade and also welcomes pets. Their beer is world class and award winning, and likewise, the food trucks do not disappoint!

Le Café Crêpe – A little slice of Paris in downtown Austin, Le Café Crêpe was an excellent stop for breakfast in the city. The staff was incredibly kind to our children and the food was delicious. This Parisian cafe has outdoor seating, perfect for the mild mornings in Texas.

Voodoo Doughnut – You’ve all heard of Voodoo Doughnut, and for good reason! With donuts made fresh daily, this is an excellent stop to sit and soak up the colorful and quirky vibe. I have never before been to a donut shop with a stage for live music, but that’s Austin for you! I also was in awe of the massive lit up American flag.

Veracruz Tacos – Located right next to the Congress Bridge, stop at Veracruz Tacos for authentic Mexican cuisine. You won’t find tacos like this just anywhere, and if I had to give you one recommendation it would be the grilled fish taco! Get the molcajete salsa… you can thank me later!

Taqueria Las Chismosas – More tacos? Yes, yes and YES! Located just off 6th Street, Taqueria Las Chismosas is a Texas style taqueria with authentic Mexican Flavor. Walk up and order your tacos to go or have a seat inside and enjoy people watching on 6th street! I asked for their best taco, and they handed over an Al Pastor taco with spicy salsa… it was so good I went back and ordered another!

Until next time…