My trip to Austin
I love visiting new cities, feeling out the vibes of the people, and experiencing what the area is all about. Austin was such a fun city and it seemed like there was always something going on and something fun to get into. Austin has a small-town feel, even downtown in the midst of the city, while still teeming with life. I didn't get the chance to eat any bbq while I was there (sidenote: Austin bbq restaurants are so popular, they're known to run out of meat before the day is over); but I still ate some great food at some awesome restaurants. I also got to experience bike riding through downtown and even though it was a little scary, it was also fun stepping out of my comfort zone and provided alot of laughs. The nightlife was definitely a good time, and I would easily recommend bar hopping on 6th Street (also known as the Dirty 6). It'll put you in the mind of Bourbon Street in New Orleans with the street blocked off, full of music and people. Make sure to try a pickle shot because you only live once and it sounds disgusting but actually isn't that bad! I didn't snap a ton of pictures because we were always on the go, but I do plan on visiting Austin again in the future. Here's a snippet of Austin, by way of my iPhone 6S.
I definitely recommend eating brunch at Urban in Round Rock, TX. I always hear so much hype about chicken & waffles and never really understood it before, until I had it at Urban. It was DELICIOUS, especially paired with their $3 mimosas (SERIOUSLY, only THREE dollars!). My friends and I enjoyed sitting out on their patio with our meals and drinks before exploring the city.
Another awesome restaurant in Austin to check out is Culinary Dropout. Located in The Domain shopping center, it was a fun and eclectic spot full of people enjoying Sunday brunch. It does get busy, so making a reservation ahead of time is a good idea. Their chicken and biscuit plate is highly recommended, and- speaking from experience- their Cap'n Crunch French Toast is delicious! Do yourself a favor and check them out!
Renting bicycles and cruising downtown is a fun activity to do with friends. Just make sure to memorize your hand signals ahead of time and practice steering on an empty road if it's been a while since you've ridden a bike BEFORE joining in traffic downtown.
Visting The State Capitol on Congress Street was a nice little resting point in our day. It's a great photo-op, but also a nice place to lay down a blanket and sit amongst the trees with a good book for some R&R. We biked through the area and snapped a few pics before returning our rental bikes and grabbing a sip at Starbucks.
Austin is definitely a city I'd recommend visiting, especially if you're a young professional looking to socialize during the day and party through the night. I would easily put it on my list of cities to re-visit in the future!