Austin
Austin is famous for being the Live Music Capital of the World, with SXSW gaining the city international acclaim, something that is due in no small part to the hundreds of live music performances happening every single night. However, live music is not the only draw when considering a trip to Austin. It’s a fast-growing city which manages to keep a small town feel and encourages locals and tourists to “Keep Austin Weird” with its citywide mentality. You won’t necessarily stumble across Austin’s off the beaten track attractions, so here are my top alternative recommendations to add to your Austin itinerary.
1. Take a Stroll Down South Congress Avenue
With thousands of pairs of cowboy boots, quirky vintage stores, renowned coffee shops, independent dine-in’s and a multitude of cool bars, South Congress Avenue is at the heart of Austin’s subculture. Known as SoCo to many of the locals, the bustling strip is my favourite part of town and is the perfect way to spend a day in the city. I’d recommend starting out at Jo’s for a coffee, then making your way South to check out the incredible vintage and boutique stores, which line both sides of the street.
Allens Boots is a landmark on South Congress. Opening its doors in 1977, it holds over 4000 pairs of cowboy boots and numerous cowboy hats, clothing and belts. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything it’s an incredible place to look around and try on a few pairs of boots! Heritage Boot Co. also holds a large collection of handmade, vintage inspired cowboy boots with a bit more of an edge. One thing I realised very quickly is that Texan’s take their western attire very seriously and pieces do not come cheap, so for more affordable options I’d recommend Tecovas which was another really cool western store with a bit more of a modern feel.
A few other stores it’s essential you check out are the Old-Fashioned Sweet Shop, Big Top Candy, the custom hat boutique Maufrais and vintage shops Prototype and Feathers.
Before leaving swing by the fabled Continental Club for a drink and to catch some live music. Plus, if you are visiting between the months of May to October head to the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to watch the mass exoduses of 1.5 million bats from underneath the bridge, when they come out to hunt.
2. Eat at the Legendary Franklin BBQ
When in Texas, BBQ is taken extremely seriously, so much so, that people queue from the early hours of the morning at what is widely tipped as being one of the best BBQ joints in Austin – Franklin BBQ. Back in 2009 the founder Aaron Franklin started serving BBQ from a trailer and has sold out of brisket every day since he launched. The demand grew so much that he opened his permanent restaurant in East Austin, where hundreds of people line up each day to get a taste of his world-renowned brisket.
After hearing so much about this legendary BBQ spot, it was top of our agenda and we joined the queue at around 6am on a Tuesday (yes you heard that correctly)! Admittedly we slightly overestimated our timings and were first in line, but we were soon followed by other BBQ enthusiasts and ended up with over one hundred people behind us. The atmosphere in the line is definitely one of the things which makes the experience at Franklin’s so memorable. People travel here from all over the world, so you never know who you might get talking to, as you anticipate the feast to come!
The doors officially open at 11am and if you are lucky enough you will be greeted by Aaron Franklin himself. They serve a straight forward menu including brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey and sausage, which you can order by different weight quantities. Plus, if you visit on a Saturday they also have their delectable beef rib on the menu!
After hours of waiting, I’d definitely recommend getting a bit of everything to try, plus all the sides and the pecan pie for dessert! After tasting the brisket, you instantly understand why Franklin’s is so popular and on a personal note I must admit that I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, with meat so tender it just about melts in your mouth. But is the queue worth the wait? In my opinion the answer is 100% yes! Not only did the food taste even better after five hours in line, but the queue and the people which we met made for a one-of-a-kind experience.
3. Experience an Evening Like a Local in East Austin
From speaking with many locals whilst wandering around the city, East 6th came highly recommended as the place where the locals go to drink. Not to be confused with 6th Street, which is worth a passing visit but is definitely the more touristy part of town.
The East side of Austin is known for its lively local bars, craft breweries, authentic eateries and packed live music scene. If you want to experience Austin like a local, then this is the place for you.
My favourite spot was The White Horse, which is known to be one of the coolest honky-tonks in the city. We had to pay a small cover to get in, but were greeted by an awesome live band with loads of the locals on the dance floor. The atmosphere was brilliant with a diverse crowd of young and old people all enjoying the cheap drinks and a true Texas knees-up. They have live bluegrass, country & western and americana bands on seven nights a week, plus they even have whiskey on tap!
Other cool spots to check out in the area include Whisler’s, Lazarus Brewing, The Grackle, Yellow Jacket Social Club and Hotel Vegas.
