Posted on 07/03/2019 9:01:51 AM PDT by MplsSteve
Next weekend the wife and I are gonna be in Austin Texas for a long weekend.
I've looked at Austin's tourism website and have gotten a few ideas - but I also like to know what Freepers like to do or see when they're in the area.
We're looking at a trip to Berdoll Pecan in Bastrop, maybe a trip to the LBJ National Historic Park, maybe visit the Texas State Cemetery.
I'm not a huge fan of live music. I don't mind it. It's just not a priority for me. The wife and I love BBQ and would take any good suggestions.
Any suggestions, recommendations, accommodation suggestions, etc would be greatly appreciated.
For BBQ:
I don’t recommend Franklin’s because you have to wait in line for 3+ hours and you don’t want to do that in the summer heat.
If Sunday, try Salt Lick in Driftwood. It’s the only day they serve baby backs. Otherwise try Black’s in Lockhart or Mueller’s in Taylor.
For “Nashville” chicken:
Tumble 22 on Burnet Rd. the absolute best Nashville chicken — better than any I’ve tried in Nashville.
For fried catfish or gumbo:
Try Deckhand in Round Rock. There is also one in South Austin but I think the one in Round Rock is slightly better.
For coffee:
Try Mozart’s on the east shore of Lake Austin.
For chili:
Try the Texas Chili Parlor on Lavaca near the Capitol.
For burgers:
Try Beck’s Prime in Pfluegerville. This is a Houston-based chain which just opened its first store in the Austin area. Woo-hoo!!!
And if you want to escape the heat, you could try the Bob Bullock Museum near the Capitol or go on a cave tour at Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown.
Congress Avenue. Turn north and see the Capitol.
Touring the Capitol itself, or the nearby Bob Bullock state history museum are cool.
My dad loves showing off the gun case, with Texas state emblem, he bought in the capitol gift shop to his pals in California. You can't do THAT in Sacramento.
Lockhart for BBQ, Krutez, Blacks, Smittys, (locals go to Chisholm Trail), Elgin Southside Market, City Market Luling all 3 cities close enough to Berdoll Pecan. If time take a day trip to Goliad, lot of Texas history and no where near as crowded as Alamo in San Antonio.
A trip to the WWII War in the Pacific in Fredricksburg, ADM Chester Nimitz’s hometown, is well worth the time. Been there 3 times and still have not seen everything. Also a nice drive into the hill country.
I was there last week. Was not impressed. A fun activity is walking downtown and playing Homeless HopScotch. If you don’t like music it’s pretty much a dump. Snowflakes everywhere. Transgenders Dykes and fairies. Hope you enjoy it better than I did
Barton Springs Pool.
The Texas State Museum--excellent
The State Capital, make sure to walk to the back and downstairs to see where all the legislators are hidden underground so they didn't mess with the lines of the building.
Go to Wimberley--excellent sightseeing and antique shopping.
From Wimberley you can go over to San Marcos and see Aquarena Springs, one of the best and biggest Artesian Springs in the State. Bring your bathing suits and float down the river coming from the springs.
Make sure to tour the Hill Country by driving up the Colorado River to see Mansfield Dam, and Inks Lake
Bring holy water.
Everyone in my circle says they always do when passing through en route to college station
Something about austin.
Bullock for sure. LBJ Library is interesting. Walk dirty 6th between 35 and Congress, but don’t do it too late. Go to the capitol. If you have a CHL they will just let you in, otherwise you get searched.
BBQ:
Franklin is schtick, and would avoid. He manufactures delay by taking way too long to cut, and there is better BBQ.
The Mueller family has places all over the area, and they are all good. Taylor has the original, but there is also Black Box and and La Barbecue (both run by Muellers).
Stiles Switch is solid, as is Browns and Blacks (not Terry Blacks) that are both in Austin.
Drinks:
Lots of places downtown, but I think some of the distilleries west of town are more interesting. Treaty Oak is very cool. Desert Door is interesting: 3 Vets that distill Sotol cactus, maybe a bit like Mescal. Some people don’t like it tho.
Message me if you have any specific questions.
I lived in Austin for several years back in the 80’s. A pretentious dump then and worse now. Even if I had business there, I would stay in some small nearby hill country town and limit my time in Austin to whatever business I had, then get out. BTW food and music recommendations are hype; Austin culinary offerings no better (and often worse in terms of price) than anywhere else..... Native Texan who despises Austin
I detest everything about LBJ. He was our worst president ever. That said - do go to Johnson City. See his boyhood home. Then go to his ranch (The Texas White House) and take the tour. It's an all day trip, but worth it.
When Mrs. R2 and I went, we had a very good tour guide. She knew everything. And why not? It turned out she was LBJ's great grand daughter. Working a summer job while in college.
Franklin Barbecue. Look it up. Go there. Funny thing is - as great as it is - Franklin himself does not like BBQ. Doesn't eat it.
Oh, I love that place. Never been to such an out of the way place ever. Not near nothing. Takes forever to get there.
But it is so worth it.
....I agree...!! wife (of the female kind....) and I are transplants from a true Southern state...live now in one of the suburbs of Austin...we NEVER go into Austin if we can help it...only been downtown twice in the years we have been down here.. one of the dumbest decisions that Austin has made is to allow homeless folks to pitch tents on sidewalks, as long as they don’t block doorways, etc. Yeah...wait until they start pooping and peeing on these streets... shameful......
My son lives in Austin, the liberal cesspool of the state. Oh he’s not in Texas he’s in Austin. Anyway his answer:
Tell him to do the Texas State Capitol tour, Terry Blacks Bbq, and maybe take a boat out on the lake. All downtown and close together
Lady Bird Wildflower Park
Barton Springs natural water park/ municipal pool
Blanton museum of art
Museum of the weird
If you can in any way pull it off, I really recommend the bakeries in West, Texas.
Little Czech Bakery
105 N College Ave, West, TX 76691
Depending on your directional approach, stay off the interstate and consider the secondary roads for a most beautiful scenic drive. Otherwise, enjoy what Austin has to offer.
www.southsidemarket.com
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