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Hey everyone! I hope y’all had a recovery weekend from Thanksgiving. I spent mine streaming internally as I watched the Saints play our arch-rival Atlanta Falcons while sitting by myself in a Buffalo Wild Wings in Birmingham, Alabama (peak living if you ask me) as I was driving up to Nashville this past Sunday. I cannot go on Twitter any longer this week and become frustrated about all the ridiculous stats and quotes I’ve recently seen regarding our offensive play, so I’m just going to post them here to let it all out:
Ok…had to just start with that so I can stop searching Saints and Doom scrolling Twitter. On to happier thoughts. For today’s blog, I’ll be coming at you with one of the regularly scheduled city review blogs, this time about Austin, Texas. However, I spent the shortest amount of time here than any other city (about 10 days in total), so I wasn’t able to get as complete of a view of the city as I would’ve liked (and probably will face the same issue this month for Nashville; keep reading to see why). Regardless, I’ll give it a stab and hope I do a decent job. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Overview
As always, we’ll ask Chat GPT to provide us with a quick overview of Austin
Austin, Texas, fondly known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a vibrant and dynamic city that harmoniously blends urban sophistication with down-home Texas charm. Nestled in the heart of the state, it's renowned for its eclectic music scene, with countless live music venues, iconic annual events like South by Southwest (SXSW), and Austin City Limits Music Festival. The city's cultural tapestry is rich and diverse, offering everything from bustling nightlife and world-class festivals to innovative cuisine, thriving arts, and a burgeoning tech industry that has led to its nickname, "Silicon Hills."
Austin's allure extends beyond its cultural offerings, with a stunning natural environment that invites outdoor enthusiasts to explore. The city is flanked by the scenic Texas Hill Country, offering picturesque hiking trails, swimming holes, and lakes. The Colorado River runs through the city, graced by the beloved Lady Bird Lake, a hub for kayaking, paddle boarding, and scenic strolls. Austin's blend of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and natural beauty creates a unique atmosphere where tradition meets innovation, making it not just a hub for music and technology, but a place where diverse passions and lifestyles coalesce.
Activities: 8/10
Favorite Activity: UT Football Game
After arriving back in Austin after a week-long of 24/7 social interaction in Lisbon for my company’s conference, I didn’t feel as much of a sense of urgency to go out and do every local Austin activity. However, the single activity I’ve been looking forward to that single-handedly made me go to Austin in November was a UT football game. Although I will always believe a Saturday in Death Valley (LSU) is unmatched in terms of environment, Saturdays in the fall in Austin are electric for football fans. The entire area around UT’s campus bleeds burnt orange and 6th St. is filled with college football fans from almost every school you can imagine.
Outside of that, some of the most well-known activities in Austin include spending time at all the various lakes and water holes in & around the city, most notably Barton Springs (didn’t visit since it’s much more of a Summer thing but will plan to do so next time I’m there), going to see live music at the plethora of bars that offer it, or attending the countless conferences or music festivals that take place there. As proof of the latter, I’ve been to Austin three times before this, each time for a conference.
One last famous activity to do in Austin, which I also did not do, is go under the Congress Bridge and see the more than 2 million bats that live within the cracks of the bridge. I’m not a horror movie guy, but feel like someone needs to make something of this at some point soon.
Landmarks/Neighborhoods/Areas: 7/10
Most Iconic Landmarks: Bat Bridge, Texas Capitol
The Bat Bridge is a perfect segway to talk about some of the landmarks in Austin. There aren’t as many as some other cities like LA or NYC, but I enjoyed visiting and touring the Texas State Capitol building, which was strikingly similar to the US Capitol. I loved seeing it at night when the bright lights illuminate it with the dark Texas sky around it.
Austin is a very spread-out city, so it was a little more difficult to explore all the areas & neighborhoods in just a week. However, I was able to explore a bunch of different areas, such as Travis Heights, Hyde Park, and more. Compared to NYC, DC, and a few other cities, I didn’t think each of the neighborhoods in Austin felt all that different from one another, even though they were still fun.
Food: 8.5/10
Favorite Restaurants: Terry Blacks, Lichas Cantina
Local Delicacy: BBQ, Mexican
There are two main types of food in Austin (and honestly Texas and general) that are considered the best of the best: Mexican and BBQ. While I’ve had some fantastic Mexican in recent months (namely LA), it’s been a long while since I’ve been to a city well known for its BBQ (dating back to March in Charlotte). The main two hot spots in Austin that are the most well-known are Franklin’s and Terry Blacks. I have to say that both of them serve out of this world BBQ, and are must stops if you are ever in Austin.
As mentioned, Austin also boasts some incredibly Mexican food, ranging from both stand-alone restaurants like Lichass Cantina to chain places like Torchy’s or Velvet Taco. Overall, throughout the four separate times I’ve been to Austin, I’ve never had a bad meal, but have had some that knock my socks off.
Nightlife/Social Scene: 8.5/10
Favorite Venues: Shoal Creek Saloon (Saints Bar), Rustic Tap
Many major cities have that one main “going out” street that attracts both locals and visitors alike: NOLA has Bourbon St., Charleston has King St, and so on and so on. Austin’s 6th Street is the main attraction, but what makes it unique compared to other going out streets is that there are three distinct areas of 6th:
West 6th: lots of UT students, recent grads, and young adults
Dirty 6th: the more raunchy area (called dirty for a reason)
East 6th: less developed, but growing rapidly
My personal favorite is West 6th, with a plethora of fun bars you can go to watch a football game, grab a bite, or drink the sorrows away (if you’re a Saints fan).
Rainey St. is another fun area that I’ve stayed near previously but has become much less busy over the last few years. Furthermore, South Congress is a really fun going out area during the day that I wish I had the opportunity to visit and explore more while I was in Austin. I’m sure there are plenty of other places outside the main strip that are equally as cool, but not much you can do in only a week.
History & Culture: 7.5/10
After declaring its independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas had multiple potential destinations to select its capital. While Houston came in as a close second, Austin was eventually selected in 1839. For most of its history, Austin was simply known as the hub of politics in Texas as well as higher education when the University of Texas opened its doors in 1881. The city eventually developed into a live music hub in the 20th century, but it was only recently when Austin had a huge population boom and a growing tech scene. So overall, it’s a pretty “young” city in the grand scheme of things.
I did love the culture of Austin however, as it reminded me of a few previous cities I’ve traveled to (Savannah & Jackson Hole) as it has a mix of deep-rooted traditional values with a very open-minded, free-spirited approach that at face value shouldn’t work, but somehow does. This lends itself to having the type of Southern hospitality that I love, while also having a little bit of something for everyone, no matter how young or old, conservative or liberal.
Natural Beauty and Outdoor Spaces: 7.5/10
Texas is a state that is not super well known for its luscious outdoor spaces unless you’re a big fan of cotton and rice fields. Rather, it’s known for its flat, expansive plains that make driving through the state an enjoyable time (I hope you can understand sarcasm through my writing). This makes Austin incredibly unique as it’s located in what is known as the Hill Country of Texas. This area has rolling hills, numerous spring-fed rivers and lakes, and vineyards scattered all around the area.
This allows Austin residents to drive out of the main area of the city if they’re ever looking to spend a day at the lake, go on a hike, or do any other fun outdoor activities that you can think of (obviously not all outdoor activities tho). In this city, there are also still a bunch of parks and walking/biking trails to explore so you don’t have to go all the way outside the city. In comparison to Texas, Austin is incredible here, but compared to the entire US, it’s good, not great.
Transportation: 8/10
Last month, I stayed in what is commonly known as the worst-traffic city in the entire US, Los Angeles. Thus, staying in literally any other city would definitely be an improvement, and Austin was that. overall, I found it incredibly easy to get around anywhere I needed, with the longest drive I ever had was about 20-25 minutes to go from south of the Colorado River to the north of the city.
Although it’s not needed since it’s easy to get around by car, there is not much in terms of public transit in the city to boast about. However, Austin does happen to be one of the few cities where self-driving cars are in full force, so I’d highly recommend hopping on a Cruise while you’re there; truly a weird, but surreal experience.
People: 9/10
Last but not least, are the people of Austin. Since it’s become THE tech hub of the South, the city has begun attracting people from all over the US, especially tech workers who were previously based out of California. While there, I met people from LA, Montana, New York, and more, which I was honestly shocked by.
What I was not shocked by was the plethora of Southern natives there, which was clearly evident on Saturdays when 6th Street was filled with people wearing every SEC school’s logo. Overall, I thought everyone in the city was incredibly nice, fun to be around, and had a sense of Southern hospitality, even if they were originally not from that region of the United States.
Overall: 7.9/10
In conclusion, Austin, Texas, is a city of vibrant contrasts and endless possibilities. It's a place where live music reverberates through the streets, where technology meets tradition, and where Southern hospitality is fused with an open-minded, free-spirited approach. From exploring the Texas State Capitol to savoring mouthwatering BBQ and Mexican cuisine, Austin offers a taste of history, culture, and culinary delights. The natural beauty of the Hill Country, with its rolling hills and spring-fed rivers, provides ample opportunities for outdoor adventures. While public transportation may not be a highlight, navigating the city by car is relatively easy. And the people of Austin, whether native Texans or newcomers drawn by the burgeoning tech scene exude warmth and friendliness. It's a city where tradition and innovation coexist, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a unique blend of experiences.
Thanks for reading! Thought next week would be tough to write as I thought I would be going to Dubai for a work trip, but that trip was quickly shot down unfortunately. Not sure what I’ll be writing about next, but stay tuned!
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