Texas Capitol
Is everything really bigger in Texas? In Austin, that saying surely holds true! The architecture of the Texas State Capitol is over 20 feet taller than the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. The breathtaking building is in the middle of a lovely park, which also contains a number of statues and monuments, perfect for walking around on a weekend with the family or friends. Walk it yourself, or take a 30-minute guided tour of the building for free, which details the history of Texas and the state’s legislature.
Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool
“Zilker this weekend?” is almost a question that shouldn’t need to be asked for the locals in Austin. Zilker is packed with things to do including picnic sites, playgrounds, volleyball courts, botanical gardens, an outdoor theater and a nature center. You can bet on Zilker being packed every weekend there is sun or a temperature over 50 degrees. After you work up a sweat in the sun, cool off in the main attraction: Barton Springs Pool. This pool is fed by a natural spring, and the water holds a constant temperature of about 68°F throughout the year. Just south of downtown and the Colorado River, Zilker Park is a place to see.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bullock Texas State History Museum was designed to tell “the Story of Texas.” With three floors of exhibits, including themes like ‘coving the Texan land and identity.’ The IMAX theater is the main attraction, which shows new and classic movies. Be sure to check out the original NASA Mission Control consoles and oil field drill bits on the 3rd floor, too!
South Congress and Congress Bridge
South Congress hosts over 3 miles of authentic shopping, dining, and entertainment. A great place to walk down after a big dinner with the family. If you stay out past dark, be sure to head towards the bridge which houses millions of bats; one of the largest urban bat colonies in the world. Each night, the bats of Austin fly out from under the bridge and create a sight you have never seen before. It’s quite a dramatic sight and a real must-see for Austin!
Holly
Holly has become one of the trendier parts of the city; a trendy neighborhood with Latino influences. You’ll find great coffee shops, food trucks, small shopping malls, and restaurants in Holly. Possibly the area’s star attraction is Juan in a Million, a restaurant on East Cesar Chavez Street. The team at Caddy Moving can attest that the breakfast tacos there are legendary!
Franklin BBQ
Texas is known for its BBQ, right? Well Austin might very well hold the crown for the best BBQ in the state with Franklin BBQ sitting in Central East Austin. Expect long lines and large lead times for reservations. Expect the finest, juiciest, smokiest of briskets you’ve ever had. If you don’t want to wait, check out La Barbecue, Freedmen’s, or Terry Black’s!
Alamo Drafthouse
What’s Alamo’s you ask? Only the most popular movie theaters around Austin, where you get an opportunity to have a ‘dinner and a movie’ date at the same time! Think new and classic movies combined with pizzas, burgers, salads, and other dishes delivered right to your seat. The Caddy Team claims the Royale with Cheese burger the crown, especially if Pulp Fiction is showing.
Rainey Street
You can expect Rainey Street, ‘Rainey’ for short, to be populated on all days that end in “Y.” SXSW Conference & Festivals steps up the tempo on Rainey Street and takes over the road with hot ticket music acts and celeb spotting moments every March. The rustic-chic Craft Pride features 51 Texas-only beer taps, plus experts to tell you all about them. Bars, dives, and food trucks galore, there’s entertainment, food, and things to do on Rainey that even local Austinites don’t get tired of.
West and East Sixth Street
East Sixth Street -between Congress and Interstate 35- is locally known as “Dirty Sixth.” Dirty Sixth is lined with bars and clubs that seem like it just never ends. With a reputation for being the place where drunken mistakes are made most evenings, sixth is a “once in a while” thing to do for most locals. For those popping into Austin for a visit, it’s definitely one of those things you just got to try. Coyote Ugly is particular popular with the local University of Texas college students, so expect wild parties. For something more sophisticated, Midnight Cowboy is a reservation-only lounge. Go to Esther’s Follies if you want a laugh – it’s an excellent comedy club.