Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, you won’t run out of things to see, eat, drink, and do in the heart of the Lone Star State. That’s why we’ve asked men’s lifestyle and travel expert Joe Miragliotta from Joe’s Daily to share some of his favorite things to do in Austin, Texas.
Despite my first real trip to Austin being a little bit by chance, I have to say it’s one of my favorite places to visit (I say “real” because I’d been for SXSW before, but had never ventured around the city). The wife and I are both carriers of the travel bug and, one May morning, once again found ourselves with that familiar need to get away. So, we looked into the best deals that day, and Austin it was!
Now, any true spur-of-the-moment trip is a little bit risky. You never know if you’re going to be able to find activities that fit your interests. Of course, the worst-case scenario is that you’ll be left to experience new things—not so bad. But it’s always nice to be able to take part in at least a few endeavors you know you’ll enjoy. As you can guess based on the title of this post, we did not have a problem at all in Austin. There’s so much to do in that city, you can easily fill multiple trips with only ventures you know you’ll enjoy, only ones you’ve never tried, or any mix of the two. Below you can find a little list to get you started.
Escape Rooms
Austin was the first place we tried an Escape Room, so the ones there will forever hold a special place for me. If you’re not familiar, an Escape Room works like this: you (and possibly a group of other people) are “locked” in a room/designated area and given a time limit to solve puzzles to get yourself out. I won’t lie to you, things can get a little tense, but they always end up being a blast in the end. Themes can run anywhere from Ski Cabin to Zombie Apocalypse, so there’s definitely something for everyone. My only word of advice is to stick to a smaller group if it’s at all possible, as it can very easily become a “too many cooks” kind of situation.
BBQ & Tex-Mex
As with any place worth visiting (at least in my opinion), they’re going to have a regional culinary specialty that you cannot miss. In the case of Austin, Texas, they have two. Most non-natives are aware of just how good their barbecue is. And of course, most people are already familiar with Franklin’s and Salt Lick. But when it comes to the Tex-Mex scene, it seems like a lot of people I’ve talked to are missing out. A few of my favorite Tex-Mex spots are Polvos, Tamale House East, and Habanero. So, if you’re heading off to Austin any time soon, make sure to try both at least once. Even if they aren’t usually your jam, my money’s on that you’ll be more than glad you did.
Topgolf
If you haven’t heard of Topgolf before, let me fill you in. This is not your typical way to play golf. Think of it as the ultimate party game with a digital twist: you score points by hitting microchipped balls into designated targets on a field. Your accuracy is instantly shown on the TV screen in your hitting bay (it’s sort of like a bowling alley lane). With several game options available, it’s a great place for parties/gatherings, to challenge your friends, or just hone your skills. But whatever your age or skill level, none of that matters so long as you enjoy some playful competition! The venues also feature an outstanding chef-driven menu, top-shelf drinks, big screen TVs and music in climate-controlled hitting bays—and we all know how important it is to stay cool in Texas, y’all.
Rainey Street
It’s probably that we were out of the loop, but when we first made our way out to Austin, we were under the impression that the bar scene we wanted to hit would be found on 6th street—also known as the “Dirty 6th”. Now, I’m not telling you not to go, more just informing you of your options. There are absolutely exceptions, but the rule I found was this: if you’re looking for a more rowdy crowd, 6th is where you want to be; and if you’re looking for a snazzy cocktail with anywhere from a backyard-hangout to speakeasy vibe, you’ll want to head to Rainey. Whatever you’re into, they both have plenty to choose from as far as things to fall in love with. I would highly suggest that you take the time to visit both at least once.
Swimming Holes
This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but Austin, Texas can get a little warm sometimes. That said, it’s not so crazy that the area’s swimming holes are as popular as they are. From the beloved Barton Springs, to gorgeous Hamilton Pool Preserve, there are options all over the area for just about every type of person to enjoy. One thing to note here though, make sure you do just a bit of research on where you plan to go. Many of the pools have things like designated hours and occupancy limitations that you’ll want to be aware of.
Live Music
As Austin is the live capital music of the world, no list of things to do here would ever be complete without mentioning it. Country, jazz, rock, blues, reggae, and folk are just a few of the genres that make up the cornucopia of musical options the city has. So seek out whatever it is that speaks to you, or be adventurous and try out something new. Just make sure you don’t miss out altogether. Otherwise, I’m not sure you’ll really have earned the right to tell people you’ve actually visited Austin. (Just kidding. But, seriously.)
Tours
I’ll wrap this list up with a mention of all the tours. Honestly, Austin has so many to offer, of such different types, one could easily dedicate a post just to them. Some of the most interesting (for me anyway) include:
- Kayaking Bat Tour (or any tour involving the bats, for that matter)
- Winery and Barbecue Shuttle
- Scavenger Hunt
- Paddle Board Yoga & Meditation
- Any of the helicopter tours
- Any of the brewery tours
- Austin Zip Line Tour
If you don’t see anything that looks like it’s up your alley, not to worry. Just like with everything else in Austin, there are tons to choose from for every kind of person. So long as you take the time to look, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have an amazing time! I recommend you take a look at Travelocity’s 10 Things To Do In Austin.
Joe Miragliotta
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