This week, we're launching Gothamist's travel content, Gothamist Getaways. Four times a year, we'll have a week of posts featuring looks at travel, food, products and tips, near and far, for making your trips more pleasurable. So enjoy and let us know if you have any hints for us—email [email protected].
When most people think of Austin, South by Southwest is what springs to mind first. Of course. And while we love the internet, music, and movies as much as the next person, there's more to the capital of Texas than the saturated festival.
Barton Springs, a natural swimming hole a short taxi ride from downtown, just might be one of our favorite things in the whole world. The vintage shops that line Austin's SoCo neighborhood are undoubtedly some of the best in the country. And Austin's food, too, goes beyond tacos and the late night bar foods that are so popular with festival crowds.
Try and spend at least four nights in Austin. It'd be a shame to spend less, as there's so much to do in the city as well as its surrounding area, with its 200 parks and miles of hiking and biking trails, plus tons of gorgeous lakes.
GETTING THERE:
Fares can be as high as in the $450-range for a non-stop roundtrip ticket, but we've also seen $270 roundtrip tickets—just spend a little time on your favorite airline ticket site.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT: You can actually take a bus which departs about every 40 minutes, for 50 cents from the airport to downtown Austin.
If you don't want to wait, you can also take the Super Shuttle. Or splurge and grab a taxi and sometimes as little as a 15 minute ride to downtown.
WHERE TO STAY:
Budget: Austin MotelThis motel is an Austin classic and a landmark of sorts - 2013 marks its 75th year in business. It may be super cheap (rates start at $95), but it's definitely not an ordinary, run-of-the-mill motel. Instead, you'll find creative decor - each room is one-of-a-kind - and several welcome additions: free parking, hotel hot tub, and super great 50's-style pool! Plus, as mentioned, the neighborhood is lined with restaurants, clubs, and stores - including a recommended ice cream place across the street.
Hotel San Jose
Mid-range: Hotel San Jose The hotel for has rock-star themed rooms—but there's much, much more to love about the place, including their focus on sharing: you can borrow a typewriter, Polaroid camera, CDs or entire iPods, and videos from the front desk. For very reasonable fees, you can also rent a bicycle and bring your dog.
Our favorite part of the hotel was the laid back scene around the small courtyard pool, and the next door coffee bar and taco stand. That, and its reasonable prices: rates start at ($145/weekday) for a room with a shared bath or $200 for a private bath, and start at $400 for a suite. After a four night visit, we didn't want to leave. Warning: book ahead. This hotel has an average occupancy rate of about 90% - one of the highest in the nation.
Splurge: Kimber Modern The rooms may be streamlined and modern but the vibe is warm, and the amenities generous. Enjoy a complimentary serve-yourself-breakfast daily (offered till the civilized hour of 11am), as well as a free happy hour from 4 to 6pm daily. There's also free Wi-Fi, coffee available 24 hours a day, and covered parking.
A W Hotel also opened in Austin—it has a pool and the bar has happy hour all day Mondays, plus 3-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
WHAT TO DO:
Food: There are tons of Mexican restaurants in Austin, but El Arroyo and Matt's El Rancho are some favorites of our friends. Also, stop by El Chile Cafe (on the east side, on Manor Road, or at First/Mary St.) for great margaritas, especially the chilango. If you want "authentic" guilty pleasure Tex-Mex, head to Las Cazuelas. And for migas, Cisco's is king.
El Chile Café y Cantina
There's also a ton of food trucks on Sixth Street. The jalapeno and bacon pizza at East Side Pies is also "pretty righteous," we've been told. And if you are hankering for some incredible banh mi, there's Baguette House.
The extremely popular Franklin BBQ is only open for lunch (and closed on Mondays) in East Austin. Rudy's BBQ and la Barbecue are also local favorites. If you have a car, go to Lockhart, Texas for Smitty's, Black's or Kruez Market.
At some point, have that avocado margarita at Curra's Grill!
Bars: Get Bloody Marys and Palomas at Rio Rita, rub elbows with lobbyists and tourists at The Driskill Hotel's bar, shoot pool and drink a $2 PBR with locals at The Longbranch Inn, (The Jackelope downtown is another good spot to shoot pool & drink cheap beer), throw darts at The Grackle, enjoy rowdy weekend shitshows at places like Hotel Vegas and Liberty, and listen to jazz in a basement at the Elephant Room.
Shopping/window-shopping: Browse vinyl at Waterloo Records (on Lamar and 6th), the best music store in town. Other music stores are Breakaway Records and End of an Ear. Pick up some reading at nearby Book People, Austin's best bookshop.
Walk up and down South Congress, where all the boutiques are. Vintage-shop at Uncommon Objects and definitely check outLucy in Disguise, a costume shop.
The farmer's market at 4th and Guadalupe is where you can get some incredible pastries and other treats on Saturday mornings. If you were curious about what the yuppie version of Sixth Street could be, go to Rainey Street.
More: Look at the latest at Graffiti Park, at 12th Street and Baylor.
Relax over a coffee at Mozart's, which has a nice outdoor patio area where you can look out on Lake Austin. Then give honkey tonk country dancing a try at Broken Spoke on South Lamar.
Catch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, before grabbing a beer and dinner. There are multiple locations but the Ritz location on 6th street, mostly plays retro classics. And do not text during the movie.
Photograph by David Gilder/Shutterstock
Make sure you cool off at Barton Springs or at the stunning Hamilton Pool Preserve.
