One day in...Austin

[JiriHrdina]

So I'm traveling to Austin for work reasons, but find myself with a free day.
So with one day in Austin - what should I do to maximize that time?

Where should I eat
What should I do
Is the zoo good? I like zoos.

[peter12]

I think you would do well by not going to a zoo but eating lots of BBQ

[Wormius]

Check out the bats.

[JonDuke]

Drive an hour down to the Alamo!

[Cheese]

Soco.

[flamingreen]

If you have one day, spend the evening on 6th street. Tons of bars, each one with live music - it's a fun time.

[puffnstuff]

Are you there next Tuesday? You should go vote.

[Julio]

I would go to the City Limits myself...

[Reaper]

Man, I'd love to go to an Austin City Limits broadcast recording.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Are you there next Tuesday? You should go vote.

I'm getting out of Dodge the day before.

[Matt Reeeeead]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So I'm traveling to Austin for work reasons, but find myself with a free day.
So with one day in Austin - what should I do to maximize that time?

Where should I eat
What should I do
Is the zoo good? I like zoos.

If you like zoos, its actually kind of cool. My wife and I really like them so we find this interesting. Its small, but every animal at the zoo is rescued. For example, there are lions and tigers that were held in people's basements and other weird stories... some are blind and otherwise punished that have been rehabbed and given new lives. Its a good example of how a zoo is supposed to contribute to society. Go to it if you like that kind of stuff. If you don't, then there are lots of other stuff to do.

I had 24 hours in Austin. My day was at the zoo, then stopped at Gus' Fried Chicken in downtown Austin. Hands down best fried chicken I've ever had. Very moist with the right amount of spice. There are a few other locations now expanding accross the states, but this is where I discovered it. If you like fried chicken, go there for lunch, you will thank me.

Then we rested for a bit before a night out. We pre-drank on "dirty sixth". Early in the even there are specials everywhere. Tons of dive bars. Try some different places and get your cans of Lonestar for a couple of bucks on different patios. Its great.

There happened to be a Cheryl Crow concert at Austin City Limits that night we went and that was fun, My wife's a fan. Whatever, it was fine.

Afters we went to "Midnight Cowboy" for cocktails. Its a cool former speakeasy that only serves authentic cocktails that they make in front of the table. You need a reservation. Its worth checking out if you havent been to a place like that before. Its kind of secretive that you have to ring a special buzzer to get in, and its otherwise not marked. Kind of fun.

That was my 24 hours. I heard there are lots of other stuff to do, but its mostly a college town so we did a good job of avoiding it.

Have fun, feel free to send me a pm or ask for my info if any of that interests you.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Drive an hour down to the Alamo!

did you check out the basement?

[troutman]

http://www.austintexas.org/visit/

http://www.austintexas.org/visit/food-and-drink/

http://www.austintexas.org/visit/music-scene/

First-time visitors might be surprised to find themselves being entertained with live music as they walk through the terminal at Austin's airport after deplaning. But they shouldn't be. Live music, and music in many other forms, is everywhere in Austin. Musicians play in everything from grocery stores (Central Market, Whole Foods) to city council meetings. They play outdoors at the Blues on the Green series and at festivals: Austin City Limits and South by Southwest you've likely heard of, but there's also Urban Music Festival, Sound on Sound Festival, the Pecan Street Festival and many more worth checking out. Mostly, you'll find Austin musicians at clubs, coffeehouses, bars, taquerias, auditoriums and concert halls - and with more than 250 live music venues, it can be intimidating knowing where to start. Find out more about the quintessential Austin music experiences.

[Bunk]

Was there for a day recently too

Eat at Franklin's BBQ - but go early if you can. Big line ups.

Go see:

- South Congress Ave
- Downtown East 6th Street (night in particular)
- Rainey Street Historic District
- Along the downtown Riverfront (lots of nice areas to stroll)
- LBJ Presidential Library (University of Texas Campus)
- Texas Capitol Building tour

[Chingyul]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Was there for a day recently too

Eat at Franklin's BBQ - but go early if you can. Big line ups.

Go see:

- South Congress Ave
- Downtown East 6th Street (night in particular)
- Rainey Street Historic District
- Along the downtown Riverfront (lots of nice areas to stroll)
- LBJ Presidential Library (University of Texas Campus)
- Texas Capitol Building tour

If you only have 1 days, I'd probably skip Franklin's. We tried on day 1, but got there "late" (10ish) and missed the cut off. Day 2, we got there at 8 and were pretty close to the front (this was after getting home at 3 am the night before). We were lucky since our place was only a block away.
So apparently there's a clean and dirty side of Downtown 6th. East = dirty and West = clean I think. Anyways, it was pretty crazy and worth a visit if you're into that kind of stuff.
I really like Rainey Street though. Much quieter. Odd ball type bars. Our AirBNB host worked at Half Step which is/was this house turned cocktail bar.

The capitol building is nice and we also did a quick tour around the U of T campus.

[FurnaceFace]

I'd basically done a day in Austin. Echoing some of the above comments, I went downtown and took a tour of the capital building. It was actually a really good tour. The guide was a hilarious lady who didn't hold back her opinion much. It's a pretty cool building and worth the time. I also had lunch at Stubbs BBQ. It's close to the capital so you could tour before or after lunch whatever you want. Lots of famous acts have of course gone through that place. It's not in the best area of the city but most good places like that aren't. I also wandered through some of the university. If the weather is fine, visiting the park with SRV's statue is also good and as someone said checking out the bats in the evening.

Didn't go to the zoo, can't help you there.

[Jordan!]

Salt lick BBQ

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So I'm traveling to Austin for work reasons, but find myself with a free day.
So with one day in Austin - what should I do to maximize that time?

Where should I eat
What should I do
Is the zoo good? I like zoos.

Hopdoddy Burgers
Torchy's Tacos (or tacoDeli for breakfast tacos)
La Barbecue or Micklethwait (brisket) - those are where the locals go, and aren't touristy.

Zoo isn't like the one in Calgary, it's an animal rescue place.

East 6th street is interesting, it's called Dirty 6th for a reason at night though.
The Whole Foods HQ is a sight to behold. They may have the skating rink on the roof ready to go.
If I were to pick a bar, I'd pick the Garage, it's actually an old parkade with great drinks and a cool vibe.

Catch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse - the Ritz https://drafthouse.com/theater/ritz they always have interesting shows

[SeeGeeWhy]

One of the best cities on earth

[rbochan]

6th Street.
Listen for music you like and go on in to that joint.