Jennifer's Map
https://goo.gl/maps/SZgEoSo1bxk
Click the link for a google map showing most of the following picks in relation to each other.
Nature
Twin & Sculpture Falls Trail
https://goo.gl/maps/eRLHLSo1x7p
A favorite easy, out-and-back trail not far from downtown.
Barton Springs
https://goo.gl/maps/WMpJHakGihC2
An Austin standard, a huge natural spring that is cool all year round with a nice changing area. A great place to just relax and watch kids belly flop and listen to the grackles.
Hamilton Pool
Reservation required, check if swimming is allowed that day in advance!
https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/hamilton-pool
A beautiful swimming hole about an hour’s drive out of Austin, under a giant rock overhang. Lots of hipsters, not for small kids.
Enchanted Rock
https://goo.gl/maps/HQWSnFdGQVq
Hike to a big rock! Another staple. Takes 1.5hr drive to get there.
Mount Bonnell:
https://goo.gl/maps/XuPgwiMbg882
More of a hill than a mountain, Mount Bonnell has the best view of downtown with a steep but short walk up and Laguna Gloria Museum (https://goo.gl/maps/73cpL3yS2VU2) at it’s foot. Good for skyline/Lake Travis photo ops.
Cathedral of Junk
Reservation required
https://goo.gl/maps/DAHGXQEyzzk
This is the opposite of nature, but I was not sure where else to put it. A labor of hoarder love, and unintentional service to Instagram.
Bob Bullock Texas History Museum
https://goo.gl/maps/3AsZvdW79FE2
This is a place that sounds awful but is surprisingly fascinating in a meta kind of way. Big budget animatronics are involved and you can learn a lot about what may or may not have happened at the Alamo. Do not miss Star of Destiny at the Texas Spirit Theater!
Venues
Spider House
https://goo.gl/maps/nVYENwo1aiC2
Has multiple stages and food trucks inside, good for drinks/coffee during the day too.
Mohawk
https://goo.gl/maps/xBBULro2Zsp
Not so classy in a good way.
Emo's
https://goo.gl/maps/S6jsTKZzZJQ2
Low-medium classy.
Continental Club
https://goo.gl/maps/hEhsEPhTXH52
Classier.
Broken Spoke
https://goo.gl/maps/1GVGsvUSHem
Line dancing for those who are interested in performing Texan culture.
Bars
Rainey Street
https://goo.gl/maps/TSM9oZ47bnM2
An old neighborhood of quaint houses recently retrofitted into bars, comes with a bit of an "Austin amusement park" feel but if you want to bar hop, Rainey Street is a good area to visit. Craft Pride has a large selection of local beers.
Grackle
https://goo.gl/maps/jomACRvxP8U2
Chill hipster haunt known for its draft beer list & jukebox. Darts, Billiards & a spacious patio.
Driskill Hotel Bar
https://goo.gl/maps/ynPyCjh3p2U2
Good for fancy drinks, often has live country music, definite “big fancy Texas oil money” feel in a historical hotel.
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
http://drafthouse.com/austin/the_ritz
A movie theater that serves drinks (alcohol and non) and food during the movie on tables. They have weird showings on Wednesday nights of movies you wouldn't see anywhere else that are free. I also love that they make all their own trailers.
Peche
https://goo.gl/maps/w4nFK9irCW22
In the warehouse district, serves absinthe mixers that are pretty yum if you're not easily irritated by mixology. Also has Cajun food. Next door, Halcyon serves s'mores at your table.
Swift’s Attic
https://goo.gl/maps/3xmqMXUuPEG2
If lumberjack goth were a thing… oh wait it is a thing.
Hotel San Jose:
https://goo.gl/maps/zcKCwT8Bk8y
Has a great patio area where you can take a break from the whole South Congress scene and have some of the *best micheladas ever*. Get one with Xingu beer.
Food
FANCY
Uchi & Uchiko
Reservation recommended
https://goo.gl/maps/65HoLHmuJnJ2
Amazing but pricey sushi and japanese fusion cuisine for a splurge
Dae Due
Reservation recommended
https://goo.gl/maps/KNpHD5D5qYv
Nice meats, cozy without bravado.
Kemuri
Reservation recommended
https://goo.gl/maps/23dcfDz5XRB2
New joint with Japanese-Texan fusion, not cheap but does not disappoint.
Fonda San Miguel:
https://goo.gl/maps/koy3EuZ4Bo42
Fancy mexican brunch buffet here at $50 a head is not cheap but daaaaamn it's good. The dessert table is kind of like a fantasy.
NICE
New Fortune
https://goo.gl/maps/GT8XbEXqmTn
Dim Sum.
Perla's
Seafood: Oysters, Fish and Surf'n'Turf
https://goo.gl/maps/1efPoroLjjQ2
I have very fond memories of a softshell crab sandwich.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
https://goo.gl/maps/MjkNBmoYuL32
Mother's Cafe
https://goo.gl/maps/Nu5LXhMwpU72
Both great places to get a super hippie veggie mex-american brunch
Elizabeth St. Cafe
https://goo.gl/maps/ETaXXCDeRjS2
Has an "everything bagel croissant" that is suicidally indulgent. Looks like the kind of place that would have a bagel croissant.
Din Ho Chinese BBQ
https://goo.gl/maps/9gaNtvSFzET2
Say hi to my parents!
EXTREME CASUAL
BBQ
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/austin/the-best-bbq-joints-in-austin
There is a lot of good barbecue in Austin, eat 'til it hurts.
Torchy's Tacos:
https://goo.gl/maps/bU9ojM7EEW62
Tex Mex. I love the queso because it's truly spicy which is hard for cheese to achieve.
Coco’s:
https://goo.gl/maps/wN1TrmynaMT2
Boba and Taiwanese snacks. Shoutout to Stella who used to work there!
Chen’s Noodle House
https://goo.gl/maps/1dQ52SqZhez
If you are in North Austin and love a good noodle/sesame pork bun this is the place to go. My favorite restaurant in all Austin. (Not to be confused with Chenz, which is terrible.)
Rosita's Al Pastor
https://goo.gl/maps/4HxP3PTUYCQ2
Authentic Mexican Tacos and less authentic, but delicious breakfast tacos from a food truck with shaded picnic tables.
Homeslice Pizza
https://goo.gl/maps/LG9icdxo7f12
Tasty Austin based Pizza joint on South Congress.
Kolache Factory
https://goo.gl/maps/oKs69uoSZr12
Central Texas is famous for Czech pastries. They are not fancy.
Don’t
The brunch at South Congress Cafe is overrated and not worth the wait.
Don't be tempted to try the wasabi milkshake at the candy shop on South Congress, it is not gross in a good way. Wheatsville Coop on Guadalupe (by Spider House) makes good green smoothies and resembles what the original Whole Foods used to be.
Don't fall into the cake ball trap; cake balls are everywhere in Austin but they are just mushed up brownies on sticks and very disappointing.
Coffee
Juan Pelota Cafe
https://goo.gl/maps/wEzHmD33H3N2
A quality cafe inside Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, downtown
Cafe Medici
https://goo.gl/maps/wxbEGnKv3Et
Austin's original specialty coffee shop. There are a few.
Anderson’s
https://goo.gl/maps/rCVf7sapdJF2
Locally roasted beans and a daily brewed coffee.
Sorrento’s Coffee Drive-Thru
https://goo.gl/maps/oKs69uoSZr12
It's fast! (has kolaches, too)
Jo’s Coffee
https://goo.gl/maps/4pruhhehPqk
Downtown, Campus and South Congress locations. The one on South Congress has Tacos.
Shopping
Central Market
https://goo.gl/maps/q8U1aj914ks
Austin's most impressive, comprehensive grocery store. Great for grabbing souvenir Texan gourmet food.
BookPeople:
https://goo.gl/maps/4tame7oqzcJ2
My favorite bookstore on the planet.
Tears of Joy Hot Sauce Shop
https://goo.gl/maps/NeqgUwHA65G2
Self explanatory.
Toy Joy
https://goo.gl/maps/RMASDkEeTzB2
Useless plastic, endless joy.
Terra Toys
https://goo.gl/maps/T3meuBJeqsz
Toys for thought.
Room Service Vintage
https://goo.gl/maps/yDD7kNmjfzG2
Eclectic store selling retro vintage.
The shops in the little plaza around it also have great vintage housewares. This is also one of Jennifer's favorite places to use the restroom.
Uncommon Objects
https://goo.gl/maps/8Gskvyg7SVx
Good vintage knick-knacks/fun browsing.
Moss Vintage
Used designer shop with good finds
Manicures
Pretty good fancy manicures at Sugarcoat Nails. Prefer Great Nails on S. 1st for their foot massage, thanks Felicia for telling me of this.
Allen’s Boots
If you have to get boots you might as well do it here.
Lucy in Disguise
Costumes for rent. Did we mention costumes are mandatory for our event? (Masks are unavoidable.)
Jennifer's Map
https://goo.gl/maps/SZgEoSo1bxk
Click the link for a google map showing most of the above picks in relation to each other.
That's it (for now)
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