Compared with the rest of Texas, Austin is a bit of an oddball.
Yes, the famously welcoming Southern hospitality is in full force, but this city of nearly 900,000 (the 11th most populous in the United States) host to one of the country’s leading cultural festivals, and SXSW has brought its own cultural flavour to the city. The city’s unofficial slogan? ‘Keep Austin Weird’. So, where do you start? We suggest six of the best things to see, do and eat in Austin.
1. Fusion food
The street food fad started here. Eating offerings are dominated by one blended variety: Mexican-meets-Texan. You can find it in caravan parks all over town (selling tacos – such as the tofu taco pictured above, burgers and sweet potato fries) and in the many Mexican restaurants and quirky breakfast vendors. Explore, sample, line your stomach with the best of it. This is the fuel you’ll need to explore Austin properly. My suggestions? For a breakfast burrito to die for, head to Jo’s Coffee. Downtown, Gingerman is a great spot for sitting in the beer garden, lazily working your way through their range of premium local brews.
2. 6th Street: Austin’s creative heart
Throw together a long history of popular traditional music still resonating in the city’s streets and bars today, add a dash of vibrant student culture, a pinch of entrepreneurial spirit and tech, a green attitude towards developing a sustainably eco-friendly city…and drop it into the Texan delights of Austin’s 6th street. Where, specifically? Answer: everywhere. Street artists tread the sidewalks, bars and pubs pump out live music all year round – or, if you’re lucky (or smart) enough to visit during one of the many festivals, expect the creative scene to be turned up to 11.
3. They built this city on rock & roll (and every other genre)
Austin can easily lay claim to being a music-driven city, thanks to homegrown live performances, student musicians and visiting artists for festivals such as SXSW (see below) of the likes of John Mayer, Franz Ferdinand, James Blunt and Imagine Dragons. It’s a platform for building musical careers, and many famous names have got their big breaks here. Consequently, it doesn’t take very long to meet someone who tells you about their band (and promotes an obscure new genre that they’re convinced will be the Next Big Thing).
4. Cowboy culture: it’s all about the rodeo
You’re in Texas! The home of cowboys and cowgirls, blazing sunsets, 10-gallon hats, spurred boots, saddles – and ranches. Head to Rodeo Austin for a mind-blowing cowboy experience that’s so much more than just a rodeo. It offers a family-friendly fairground (site of a regular carnival), shopping, food and a variety of fun attractions, no matter what age you are, or how much you love horses.
It’s also the venue for legendary live music performances during its 15-day Fair & Rodeo, featuring diverse music from Texas country to punk rock, and featuring world class acts (Willie Nelson is a regular). Understandably, cowboys remain the highlight – rodeo is the official sport of Texas, and Austin hosts one of the USA’s top 10 annual professional rodeos.
5. A city of festivals, all year long
The pulse of this city is always beating fast, thanks to a near-unbroken annual schedule of festivals. Expect to be surrounded by a steady flow of artists and employees of all kinds of creative industries, from the techies descending for SXSW Interactive or the bands looking for their breakthrough at SXSW music festival, the Austin City Limits or the Fun Fun Fun Fest. And don’t forget the SXSW Film festival, flooding town with all kinds of A-list silver screen celebs. If people-watching is your thing, get yourself to Austin as quickly as possible.
Outside the city, a different kind of celebration takes place every year at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) motor racing circuit, located in a corner of Travis County just outside of the Austin city limits. It hosts of the Formula One United States Grand Prix – and that’s a party as big as anything you’ll find in the city.
6. Getting out and about
Venture away from the buzzing downtown area and head to the river, and you’ll find another Austin entirely. The summer days are best for enjoying riverside Austin’s parks and lakes – so grab a canoe or bicycle (it’s a very bike-oriented city) and go exploring in the sunshine. Alternately, venture out onto the hiking trails on foot. There’s plenty to see – and hey, you’ve got a post-festival hangover to walk off.
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all photos © Lezaan Roos
