Travel
24 Hours In… Austin
1Think you know Texas? Austin might surprise you. Cowboy boots, barbecue, and country music are all here, of course, but the Texas capital is also a hub of cute indie shops, outdoor fitness and hip restaurants. For the ultimate Austin experience, mix a bit of the new with the old. [Photo: Todd Kapke]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
2Early Morning: Walk Around Lady Bird Lake – Renamed for former First Lady and longtime Austin resident Lady Bird Johnson after her death in 2007, Lady Bird Lake is the centre of Austin’s outdoor activity. Ten miles of trails surround the lake, and all of them have great views of the skyline. Prefer water sports? You can rent kayaks from several vendors. austintexas.gov [Photo: ACVB]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
39AM: Jo’s Coffee Loves You So Much – Time for a combination light breakfast and photo op. Hit up Jo’s on South Congress, home to the famous scrawled “I Love You So Much” mural. Order their signature turbo – iced coffee served with chocolate, hazelnut and cream – and a TacoDeli breakfast taco, then get in line to take your photo with Austin’s most-Instagrammed graffiti. joscoffee.com [Photo: Matthew Oliphant/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
410AM: Window Shop South Congress – From Jo’s, you can walk up South Congress to check out some of Austin’s best shopping. This thoroughfare is lined with indie shops of all sorts, selling everything from locally designed jewellery (Limbo Jewelry), antiques and oddities (Uncommon Objects), clothing for men (Stag Provisions) and women (By George), and, yes, cowboy boots (Allens Boots). [Photo: ACVB]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
512PM: Tacos And Barbecue – Head to the East Side for some of the best barbecue and tacos you can eat in one parking lot. At Veracruz All-Natural try the migas taco, a delightfully crisp mix of tortillas strips and scrambled eggs, and then head next door to eat half your bodyweight in smoked meats at Kerlin, where the barbecue’s always on point (and there’s rarely a long wait). kerlinbbq.com, veracruztacos.com [Photo: Kerlin BBQ]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
61PM: Swim Barton Springs – This spring-fed swimming hole has been keeping Austinites cool since the city was founded. The water remains a brisk 68 degrees year round, perfect for those intense Texas summers. When you’re done swimming, settle on a towel on the hillside for some of the city’s best people-watching. austintexas.gov [Photo: ACVB]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
75PM: Toast Texas At Craft Pride – At the southernmost end of Rainey Street sits Craft Pride, a bar that serves only Texas beer. This is the place to go if you want to sample the best beers the Lone Star State has to offer (while sitting on their shady patio under the live oak trees). There’s also a stellar pizza truck, Via 313, out back – but save room for dinner. craftprideaustin.com
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
88PM: Dinner At Odd Duck – In 2009, chef Bryce Gilmore opened a food truck called the Odd Duck Farm to Trailer, putting his own spin on Texas ingredients (and earning him a Food & Wine Best New Chef nod in the process). Today, Odd Duck is a bustling brick-and-mortar restaurant that serves food in the spirit of the trailer, and on the spot where it once stood. oddduckaustin.com [Photo: Richard Casteel]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
910PM: The Live Music Capital Of The World – If your schedule permits, try to get into a taping of Austin City Limits. This television show has filmed music in Austin since 1974, and is still one of the best ways to see music in town. Can’t get in? See who’s playing at the Continental Club, which has the added bonus of being across the street from your hotel. acltv.com, continentalclub.com [Photo: ACL Live at the Moody Theater]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
102AM: Sweet Dreams At The Hotel San Jose – This 1930s hotel has been completely renovated and restored to reflect its Austin roots – think reclaimed wood furniture, colourful woven blankets and sun-dappled courtyards. There’s also a great little bar within the hotel that serves Texas beers, wines and micheladas. sanjosehotel.com [Photo: Bunkhouse]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
1110AM: Heal Yourself With Tex-Mex – Up too late dancing? Make like a local and drag yourself out of bed for a plate of breakfast tacos. In South Austin, you’re either a Polvo’s fan or a Curra’s fan – and, well, Curra’s has avocado margaritas, so that’s where you’re going. currasgrill.com [Photo: Chris Gallevo/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
12Before You Go: Watch Slacker – Austin may not closely resemble the world of Richard Linklater’s iconic Gen X film anymore, but its spirit lives on in the city’s more dimly lit corners. Slacker is a lovely ramble through a time when Austin was a smaller town, and it will put you in the right mindset to chat up the city’s eccentric population. amazon.com
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
13Before You Go: Read Willie Nelson: An Epic Life – How did Austin become known as the Live Music Capital of the World? A songwriter from Abbott, Texas might have had something to do with it. Joe Nick Patoski’s biography of Willie Nelson explores his humble roots and larger-than-life persona, and may provide some insight into Austin’s laid-back reputation. amazon.com [Photo: Bert Cash/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Austin.
14Before You Go: Listen to Black Joe Lewis – Unlike a lot of musicians who live in Austin, Black Joe Lewis is actually from Austin. Lewis’ gutsy soul music makes it impossible to resist dancing – and if you’re lucky, he might just be playing when you’re in town. blackjoelewis.com [Photo: Courtesy of Black Joe Lewis]
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24 Hours In… Austin.
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