Last fall, K and I were planning our first trip together. We were tossing around Napa Valley, Seattle, Chicago and Austin, which we ultimately decided on. And how glad I am that we did. A city known for food {and food trucks}, live music and interesting people. How could you not want to go? After many hours of research {and reading my new favorite guide books, Wildsam Field Guides}, I think we pulled together the ideal list of must do’s. Take a look and let me know what you think!

Stay

The decision of where to stay in Austin was quite easy. I had read about Liz Lambert and Hotel San Jose in many a travel magazine and all the reviews were spot on. Concrete floors and minimalist interiors featuring handmade furniture, white linen sheets and Malin + Goetz bath products all in the heart of South Congress {or SoCo as the locals call it}. You can’t go wrong. We were literally 5 minutes away from all of the hot spots in town. Liz also has a sister property, Hotel Saint Cecilia, which looks amazing and is on the list for our next trip.

Eat

I could go on and on about the food but in the interest of time {it’s 6 pm and I really should hit publish on this}, I thought it wise to just share the links and a quick anecdote of our favorite spots.

Guero’s Taco Bar {our first stop in Austin that certainly set the bar: beer, tacos and live music}

Jo’s {coffee house in the parking lot of Hotel San Jose; tasty coffee and breakfast wraps too}

Elizabeth Street Cafe {my absolute favorite spot in Austin; great for breakfast, lunch and dinner}

Banger’s {great beer selection and the fried cheese curds were life changing}

Hillside Farmacy {my second favorite spot; the green and black painting above is from their exterior}

La Condesa  {mexican street corn, enough said}

Juice {el jefe is the way to go}

Burro Cheese Kitchen {the BEST grilled cheese I’ve ever had}

Homeslice {always need to find a pizza place in a new city}

Amy’s Ice Cream {cause you need ice cream after a slice of pizza}

Franklin BBQ {truth be told, we didn’t go and opted for a sub par option; our only regret of the trip}

Do

Our first night in Austin we did the one thing that I was a bit skeptical of. We sat by the Congress Bridge and waited for dusk and the flying of the bats. Did you know that Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America? It is truly unbelievable to see. The colony is estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats and each night from mid-March to November, the Congress Bridge bats emerge from under the bridge to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food.

Austin is the live music capital of the world so you must, must, MUST see live music in Austin. We made it to The Continental Club and Austin City Limits. We had plans to go to The Broken Spoke but I sadly fell asleep {I am blaming it on a food coma}.

I also highly recommend renting a car and driving out to Hamilton Pool. It’s breathtaking. Barton Springs was also on the list but with unseasonably cold weather during our visit we didn’t make it.

Shop

The shopping in Austin is some of the best. My must’s include:

Allens Boots

By George 

Stag Provisions

South Congress Books 

Parts and Labour

Uncommon Objects

I think that about covers it all. If you are looking for a great getaway, I highly recommend you put Austin at the top of your list. This city has just about everything! And please remember to follow my travels on Instagram #awaywithmay.