Lone Star Getaway
How to spend three Texas-sized days in the state's capital. The urban oasis that is Austin.
When most people think of Texas, they envision cowboy hats, boots, blue jeans and oil wells. The fact is, Texas is the home of four million-plus metro areas, and one of those just doesn’t have the Texas feel. Read on, to learn how to spend three days in Austin, the state capital.
DAY 1: Start at The Driskill Hotel, a landmark in Downtown Austin. Built in 1886, it’s located near the beautiful Capitol building, and it’s famous for being the place President Lyndon Johnson waited for results of his campaign with John F. Kennedy as vice-president in 1960 and for his Presidential campaign in 1964. After checking in, head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Founded by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, and actress Helen Hayes this is a place to be introduced to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers.
Continue your trip down presidential memory lane, and visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum on the University of Texas campus. As you walk toward the entrance, you’ll get a great view of the Texas Longhorns’ massive football stadium. A ride to the library/museum’s 10th floor shows an exact replica of Johnson’s Oval Office, including the famous bank of three televisions, one for each network, that Johnson watched daily.
At dinnertime, head to Jeffrey’s, the home of impeccable steaks and fine cuisine, along with a distinctive selection of local and world wines.
DAY 2: Grab a fantastic breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel, and then walk off your breakfast with a stroll through the Austin Government District, home of the Capitol Building. The building was restored to its original splendor in the mid-’90s. Next, don your swim gear and head to Barton Springs Pool. It’s is a spot in the middle of Austin near Zilker Park. Its warm spring water remains a comfy 68 degrees year round.
Grab dinner at Mirabelle. It’s an upscale restaurant without being too pricey, and it offers the best and most reasonable wine list in town.
If you grabbed an early dinner, then take a drive out to Lake Travis for one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see. It’s a fi shing and water-sport destination, and you can catch the best view at The Oasis or The Iguana.
And while you’re enjoying the outdoors, take in some wildlife entertainment as well. Every summer night, hundreds of people gather to see the world’s largest urban bat colony fly from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Nearly 1.5 million bats emerge, and it’s a sight to see!
Taking advantage of the nightlife in Austin is a must. The Warehouse District has plenty of bars and live music, and Th e Continental Club and Antone’s are both known for music (the blues at Antone’s).
DAY 3: Have breakfast is in the form of tacos. The best place in Austin is Maria’s Taco Xpress on Lamar. Try the Migas Taco. Delicious!
After breakfast, walk through the University of Texas campus. There are seven museums and 17 libraries on the campus for you to see.
In the mood for Mexican? Grab lunch at Z’Tejas Grill, and try the ruby trout salad or the pecan-crusted chicken salad. After lunch, check out some of the shops in the downtown area. There are many fun and funky shops to enjoy on South Congress (a.k.a. SoCo), plus some great restaurants, like the Magnolia Café, Guero’s and the area’s best coffee at Jo’s Coffee. If it’s something sweet you crave, the place for treats in downtown Austin is Amy’s Ice Cream, an Austin institution.
Make your last Austin dinner a memorable finish to three days in the Texas capital. Zoot serves delectable steaks, seafood and poultry, including duck, along with world-class wines, and to-die-for deserts.
Finish your final evening with a trip to the highest point in Austin, Mount Bonnell. Rising more than 700 feet above sea level, it provides some breathtaking views of Austin and the lakes and rivers in the area. It’ll be the perfect place to wave goodbye to Texas’s super-fun capital.
Austin Details: Getting There and Getting Around
Austin is served by the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which provides service from 14 airlines, including Northwest, Delta, American and United. It’s not a difficult drive from Springfield. I found the best route was I-44 to I-35 in Oklahoma City, then I-35 to Fort Worth to I-35W, then back to I-35 south to Austin. Driving time is 11 hours, which includes delays in Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City. If you’d prefer to fly, remember that a rental car will be a must.
There are so many more things to do and places to see in Austin beyond what’s mentioned on these pages. If you want to research some trip ideas, check out the city’s vistor’s site at austintexas.org.
And for details on the places you just read about, read on:
Stay:
• The Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St., Austin, 800-252-9367, driskillhotel.com
Eat:
• Jeffrey’s, 1204 W. Lynn St., Austin, 512-477-5584 jeffreysofaustin.com
• Trio at the Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, 512-478-4500
• Mirabelle, 8127 Mesa Dr., Austin, 512-346-7900, mirabellerestaurant.com
• Maria’s Taco Xpress, 2529 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, 512-444-0261
• Z’Tejas Grill, 1110 W. Sixth St., Austin, 512-478-5355, ztejas.com
• Magnolia Café, 1920 S. Congress Ave., Austin, 512-445-0000; 2304 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, 512-478-8645; cafemagnolia.com
• Guero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress Ave., Austin, 512-447-7688, guerostacobar.com
• Jo’s Coffee, 242 W. Second St., 512-469-9003; 1300 S. Congress Ave., 512-444-3800; joscoffee.com
• Amy’s Ice Cream, several locations in Austin, amysicecreams.com
• Zoot, 11715 Bee Caves Rd,, Austin, 512-477-6535, zootrestaurant.com
See and Play:
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, 512-232-0100, wildflower.org (Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children. )
• Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, 2313 Red River St., Austin, 512-721-0200, lbjlib.utexas.edu (The best part of all is that the Johnson Library is the only Presidential Library with free admission.)
• Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Park, 2101 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, 512-476-9044
• Sixth Street, 6street.com
• The Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., Austin, 512-441-0202, continentalclub.com
• Antone’s, 213 W. Fifth St., Austin, 512-320-8424, antones.net
• Lake Travis, laketravis.com
• The Oasis, 6550 Comanche Trl., Austin, 512-266-2442, oasis-austin.com
• The Iguana Grill, 2900 Ranch Road 620, Austin, 512- 266-8439, iguanagrillaustin.com
Reader Comments:
I loved the article on Austin. We go every year for the Lone Star Round up (Traditional car show), and to see our friend Steve owner of the Continental Club. I plan to retire here and my oldest plans to go to school at UT. You hit all the great places in Austin, and even a few I had heard about, but hadn't been to. The only thing missing was how friendly the people are, because I always feel at home down there.