NAME: Roslyn
CITY: Austin, Texas
COUNTRY: United States
YEAR OF TRIP: 1995-2017
HOW LONG WERE YOU THERE? Local
BEST TIME TO GO: March-July
GREATEST CHALLENGE: It’s boiling hot in the summer time and public transit is lacking.
WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL? Austin has long been the lone liberal stronghold of the nation’s largest red state; though you’ll get your fair share of southern hospitably, the culture is noticeably different than the rest of Texas. Austinites are known for ‘keeping it weird’ here in the live music capital of the world, and the city is extremely queer friendly. In fact, it’s legal for women to walk around topless here! The nightlife is always bumping downtown, and the city has made an intentional choice to preserve greenery in its public spaces. The mild climate makes for year-round enjoyment of the outdoors and day trips to hike or swim in the lush and expansive Texas Hill Country abound.
MUST EAT:
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Franklin’s BBQ, East Central Austin
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Torchy’s Tacos, South Congress
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Amy’s Ice Cream, Clarksville (I recommend ‘Cop stop,’ a coffee ice cream with doughnut chunks!)
MUST SEE:
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Krause Springs, Spicewood
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Dirty 6th
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The Cathedral of Junk, South Austin
MUST DO:
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Swim naked at Hippie Hollow
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Attend Austin City Limits music festival
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Hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt around Zilker Park south of downtown and cool off in Barton Springs afterwards
Other Recommendations: Rent a car or plan on using Lyft. To avoid the homogenous suburbs, stay south of 183 and east of loop 1; anything northwest of there is unlikely to give you the authentic Austin experience. Eat tacos at least twice a day, and always with a cold Topo Chico. If your stay is longer than a couple of days, it’s worth taking the time to explore the surrounding Hill Country. The Hill Country has some of the best hiking in Texas, and swimming holes abound! Do like the locals and get sweaty hiking in the Texas sun and then cool off by jumping into one of our natural springs. Embrace the funky, queer, granola culture. Austinites will welcome you in, as long as you promise not to move here.