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
The Iron Works for BBQ.
If you have time to drive over to Lockhart, there are 4 BBQ places, on on each side of the square. The original Black’s is there, and it;’s quite good (better than their franchises).
Of course, Austin has an active live music scene in and around 6th street if you’re into that. If you have extra time drive down to San Antonio and visit The Alamo, or the riverwalk, or the gardens.
Look up the marinas and boat trips on Lake Travis. Take a tour boat to cool off a bit.
It is very hot there in July. The early mornings are nice if there is a breeze.
H.E.B. grocery stores have nice prepared foods and great salads to go. Get a rotisserie chicken to put on your salad (and a knife and fork) and save a little money eating in your hotel room or by the hotel pool. Brewpubs and craft beer are everywhere.
TX state cemetery is well worth your time, and it’s FREE!
DON’T
Seriously, do not go to that commie haven. Guarantee, you’ll feel the vibe the minute you cross into the city limit if not before. I live nearby but you can’t pay me enough to go. But if you must, here’s some sites to see:
Inner Space Cavern about half an hour north or Longhorn Cavern about an hour further north.
The Bullock Texas State History Museum and IMAX in downtown is a neat visit if you’re into history.
Skip the LBJ library and the park. I don’t dislike him like so many do but those are a waste of time, imo. The ranch in Stonewall ok. It’s an outdoorsy tour. FYI, that’s where I saw his belly button!
Do NOT eat bbq at any of the Rudy’s. I’ve gotten sick at two. Salt Lick is pricey but good. No, Llano’s Cooper’s BBQ has Yankee vinegar sauce. Inman’s in Llano has real Texas sweet tomato bbq sauce. No, the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls is gross. Only go there if you enjoy eating off sticky tables and being served by nasty folk with half their teeth missing.
Don’t go to Sixth Street unless you’re into freaks.
Don’t go to Hippie Hollow unless you’re into naked freaks.
I’ll agree with others that driving on down to San Antonio is a much better option. Park at the River Center Mall and tour the Alamo and see the IMAX movie. Drive yourself on the missions tour for free. Between the Alamo and the rest of the missions, tootle around the historic district to see the old homes. Pick up maps of the missions free self driving tours. At the most southern mission, Espada, drive east a couple miles to the railroad tracks and do the baby powder thing where the ghost children push your car out of the way of dangerous trains. All that (except the IMAX) is free, fun, historical, self paced, interesting and you don’t have to deal with Austin commie libs. You’ll find most any non-chain restaurant a good Mexican eats. And I’ll send you story of teenaged great grand dad who fought there just prior to the fateful battle.
Another option is to go geocaching. https://www.geocaching.com/play You get to see the out of the way spots. Or learn more about the spots you’re already at.
Can’t say it is a great time of year to visit. Summer in Austin is hot and often humid. Kind of like announcing you’re spending a week in Minnesota in January.
My favorite Austin hangout is Sam’s Boat:
http://www.samsboat.com/locations/austin/
but it is better if you have football on tv to watch while enjoying the seafood and TexMex items.
Threadgill’s on N. Lamar Blvd...
offers Southern flavor foods, live music and a piece of Austin history (several name musicians got their starts there long ago).
The current project is to figure out how to throw Austin out of Texas and sell it to the Chinese.
Rainey St. south of the Fairmont hotel I thought was kind of cool. A couple blocks of residential houses all converted to bars and restaurants.
You should go to the Capital it is pretty nice. I live in Round Rock and when my daughters came to visit they suggested it. The laws outside also have a bunch of neat photos ops like bronze steers and such.
Another alternative to Austin...
Green’s Sausage House east of Temple, TX
16483 State Hwy 53,
Zabcikville, TX 76501
Great cafe, bakery, and specialty store.
(You might gain weight at this location.)
Don’t eat anything, avoid drinking anything and don’t touch anything...in the aids capitol of Texas
Tour the State of Texas Capitol bldg. Very worth your while.
A better choice would be Fredericksberg Texas. While there visit the Nimitz Museum of the war in the Pacific. It easily takes a whole day. There are tons of really good places to eat featuring authentic german food
A short trip north to Illano takes you to the best BBQ in Texas at Coopers.
The museum and Coopers outclass all of Austin