Oh, Austin how I love thee. Known for its eccentric character nestled in the conservative Lone Star State, Austin is quite the destination. Home of the University of Texas and an upcoming hub for tech startups, the city is filled with a youthful and vibrant energy. Limited skyscrapers allow residents to enjoy the surrounding natural landscapes. The city has just the right balance for city dwellers and nature lovers alike.
During my trip, I wanted an itinerary filled with museums, shopping destinations, and nature trails. Referencing any old travel site can lead to every tourist attraction in the area. My favorite reference for excursions is Atlas Obscura, a catalog of cool and unusual destinations all over the world. If you’re into the weird and macabre, it’s worth checking out spots in your local area. For shopping, South Congress Avenue was filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainers. This long strip is located just under Downtown Austin across the Congress Avenue Bridge. 6th Street is another exciting area located in the Downtown area filled with more shops, famous VooDoo Doughnuts and live music venues. Austin comes to life when the sun sets and the sound of live performers can be heard on the streets.
To top off a very fulfilling trip was a visit to the Barton Creek Greenbelt trail, which was an accessible 30 minutes drive away from our hotel in North Austin. Complete with two natural waterfalls and surrounded by dog-friendly company, this was one of my favorite spots in Austin. The nice flat trail was more cake walk and refreshing change of pace from the rocky scrambles I experience in Upstate New York. Austin is a destination that I would recommend to anyone, as long as you can take the Texas heat.
Sara Bautista 