Looking for suggestions for things to do in and around Austin, TX - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Joseph_Conrad · #1 10-22-2010, 12:55 PM

Hi, like the title says, I'm looking for fun things to do around Austin. My gf lives there and I'll be going to visit her around Veteran's day. I've been there a couple times this past summer and have eaten a lot of good food and walked around the city a little bit, but I'd like to hear from you people that live there or have been there before about some of your favorite Austin experiences. I'd like to maybe go on a hike or two, eat at some restaurants, travel to cool nearby towns and... you tell me!

AdvisorGuy · #2 10-22-2010, 12:59 PM

If you're into nudity, there's Hippy Hollow Park

It's a "clothing optional" recreation area. There are other parks that surround Lake Travis that "mandate" clothing, of course. Even within town, you can't go wrong just walking the strip and picking a club or resteraunt. Been there three times since I moves to Texas. Saturday afternoons & nights are the hot times. Sunday afternoon is mellow & sit at an outdoor cafe type place & enjoy a nice lunch. You can walk along the river as well..

davidmash · #3 10-22-2010, 01:14 PM

My sister said the capital building is quite interesting. Also, there is a 'Snake Farm" (no snakes there) out side of Austin. Mike Rowe was there on Dirty Jobs and it seemed quite interesting Snake Farm

JollyRoger · #4 10-22-2010, 01:57 PM

Texas Museum, fantastic huge fossils and everything else about Texas, get edjumecated! :

http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/

6th Street, the music capital of Texas, get loaded!

http://www.6street.com/

Get hip! :

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/

Dig nature! :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balcones_Canyonlands_National_Wildlife_Refuge

Go for a swim!
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

Be a Cave Man! :
http://www.myinnerspacecavern.com/

Go camping!:

http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/georgetown/Recreation/Camping/index.asp

Be a freak! :

http://babydish.blogspot.com/2008/05/hippie-church.html

Get nekkid!

http://www.hippiehollow.com/

Mike D · #5 10-22-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

If you're into nudity, there's Hippy Hollow Park

It's a "clothing optional" recreation area. .

We do NOT, repeat NOT, need to see any pictures of your vacation/trip!

Pooka · #6 10-22-2010, 05:52 PM

I enjoy the Kirby Lane Cafe on Guadalupe Street. It is down by the Jack-in-the-Box. An all natural cafe. They even raise their own pigs for ham.

Sixth Street is the old Red Light District and is now the Club district. Just walking the street is fun. Parking can be tough.

Check out who is playing at Stubb's. You can bring a lawn chair and sit in the street next to the place and catch the show for free. A lot of big names try out new material here.

Go to Mt. Bonnell for a great view of the river.

Visit the Goodwill Computer resale shop. It is at the corner of 183 and I-35 across from the Wal-Mart. Somewhat hard to find but worth it.

Try La Madilane's for French food in a relaxed setting. I think this on N. Lamar. Go to Threadgill's for Chicken Fried Steak. Wednesday night is live music night. There is no cover charge.

ABOVE ALL----- Please understand that if the sign says NO PARKING they really mean it!

And if you are a church goer, St. Luke's Episcopal is a great high church place to go. Very historic.

Joseph_Conrad · #7 10-22-2010, 07:42 PM

Thanks for all the ideas so far, these are some great suggestions, keep 'em coming!

AdvisorGuy, I've heard of Hippie Hollow, it sounds like a pretty intriguing place. And, I like the idea of going to a park around Lake Travis. We've walked the river a bit before; it is nice.

And, Mike D, you might enjoy pictures of my trip to Hippie Hollow, my gf and I are pretty sexy.

davidmash, I toured the capitol building on my first trip down there and it is impressive. Also, I'm not too keen on snakes, but I checked out that website and that place has a lot of wildlife to offer and would be fun to see.

JollyRoger, thanks for all the info. I would like to go for a dip in Barton Springs and the Texas Museum is a great idea. We walked through the Zilker Botanical Garden last time I was down there and it was fantastic.

Pooka, I've been to two of your restaurant suggestions! Both Kirby Lane and Threadgills were pretty darn great. I just looked at the La Madeleine menu and it looks pretty tasty, great to know. Mt. Bonnell looks like a plan for sure. Good stuff.

Pooka · #8 10-22-2010, 09:21 PM

To find all the public areas around Lake Travis.....

www.lcra.org/parks/index.html

This site is a bit hard to navigate, but you can wind up at the Lake Travis map.

It may be a bit cold for swimming, but you never really know. I can recommend Windy Point for swimming or diving as the water is so clear.

A day pass to all LCRA parks is, I think, $10. The park on the west side of the dam used to be free and it is a great place to walk around.

Pooka · #9 10-22-2010, 09:26 PM

A little known place that is fun for a picnic is under the Colorado River bridge on hwy 360 which is also known as the Capitol of Texas highway.

There is public access from a service road on the south side of the bridge. You may want to do a Google sat view of this area before you go as the road is somewhat weird in how you get there.

During the summer there is an admission charge, but not during winter months.

It provides you with a pretty view of the river and the cliff on the north side of the river.

Palangi · #10 10-22-2010, 09:52 PM

Sunset at the Congress Avenue bridge. Watch the bats take off.

alamostation · #11 10-23-2010, 05:15 AM

Saturday November 13, University of Texas has a home football game. The time is yet to be determined. Unless you like football, very large crowds and traffic jams, it may be a good day to avoid downtown Austin.

If trains or country scenery are your thing, there is http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/

You might also consider a side trip to one of the local tourist trap towns like Wimberly or San Antonio.

If good live music in a very informal setting interests you, you can get Austin quality music near New Braunfels. http://www.gruenehall.com/nov2010.html

Enjoy your visit.

panZZer · #12 10-23-2010, 02:19 PM

Stop by Hut's for an excelent buffalo burger

Pooka · #13 10-23-2010, 05:36 PM

Round Rock, just to the north of Austin, has a very pretty park that is just to the east of I-35 and just to the north of Ranch Road 620, which may now just be called hwy 620.

Going north on I-35 take the 620 exit and go east for about two blocks. Turn north and the road drives right through the park. Do a Google sat view on this before you try to find it.

And you might skip Georgetown. I cannot think of a single thing to do there except maybe visit Chuy's.

Pooka · #14 10-23-2010, 05:44 PM

If you want to go on a real road trip then go north to Salado. The main north/south road through town is the old Stagecoach route and some of the buildings date from that era. I-35 bypasses the town by about one-half mile, so you can get off the Interstate and back on very easily.

There are several cafes there; all are rather upscale. This was a favorite place for the Bush girls when they lived in Austin as well as their father, so if you see a photo of Bush on the wall of a place there is a good chance he has been there more than once.

Palangi · #15 10-23-2010, 06:08 PM

Live country music at Luckenbach...............

http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/html/index.html

Not far from Austin