Why We Love Austin

By the projekt202 team.

Recognized as a center for technology, education and politics, Austin is a thriving business community that regularly finds itself on the short list of the best places in America to live. Austin’s vibrance may be credited to many things, including being home to the country’s best live music scene, one of the nation’s largest universities and 300+ sunny days a year. It also has the added bonus of being one of the friendliest cities in the world - the grown-up hippie culture is renowned for contributing to an easy, laid-back way of life.

A Saturday in Austin

There are so many great ways to spend your time in Austin, it’s hard to narrow our list. If you have a Saturday, you may get a taste of Austin by starting your day with coffee and a copy of the Chronicle at the Spider House. Don’t forget to check out the Mr. Smarty Pants column.

If you’re feeling energized, you may want to jog the hike and bike trail around Town Lake - watch out for the triathlete moms with their strollers. Afterward, reward yourself with a healthy smoothie at the new landmark Whole Foods market on 6th and Lamar.

If you can gather up a few friends, a jaunt to nearby Lake Travis for an afternoon swim may be just the ticket. Take the plunge from Windy Point, or go all out and rent a jet ski at Emerald Point.

A trip to Austin isn’t complete without catching the breath-taking sunset at The Oasis on the lake.

Now that the sun has set, it’s time to grab a Shiner and head back to town for some music. Since it may be a long one, you may want to start out the evening slowly, listening to folksy music at Cactus Café.

After that, you can head downtown to 4th Street and stop in at Cedar Street for local Austin music or the Speakeasy for a range of possible performers. Be sure to check out Austin360.com if you are in the mood for something particular.

A sampling of some or our favorite places and things to do in Austin.

Restaurants

Hut’s for great burgers
Chuy’s for Tex-Mex
Salt Lick & County Line for BBQ
Chez Nous for French cuisine
Vespaio for Italian
Uchi for Sushi
Sullivan’s for steak
Saba Blue Water Cafe for great appetizers

Hotels

Hilton Downtown (ask about our corporate discount)
Hotel San Jose
The Driskill Hotel
Austin Motel
Stephen F. Austin Hotel

Nightlife

Antone’s: enjoy live local, touring Texas and blues music
Emo’s: famous for it’s punk and underground live music
Shady Grove: great way to spend Summer Thursday nights listening to outdoor live local music
Club DeVille: Friday night happy hours on the patio
Buffalo Billiards: weeknights after work for beer and billiards
The Broken Spoke: Austin legend for country dancing
Cedar Street: nice outdoor patio with good live music
The Foundation: upscale, New York-style club
Casino El Camino: enjoy a late-nite delicious/enormous burger and beer while listening to their great jukebox.
Blues on the Green: free Summer Wednesday night concerts

Leisure

Highway 360: join in a Saturday morning group bike ride
Town Lake: jog the hike and bike trail or rent canoes or kayaks
Hamilton Pool: swim in the natural grotto swimming hole in Dripping Springs
Barton Springs: take a cool dip in the natural 68-degree spring-fed pool
Zilker Park Festival: enjoy yearlong festivals including ACL, Marley-Fest and The Kite Festival
The Capitol Building: take a guided tour of the nation's largest state capitol building
UT Watchtower: travel up for a view of UT's campus and downtown

Arts and Entertainment

Bob Bullock Museum: learn about Texas history or view an IMAX movie
Bass Hall Concert Hall: at the University of Texas -- enjoy world-class arts performances
Zachary Scott Theater: view live theatrical performances
First Thursday: enjoy a variety of activities and events while vintage shops and unique art gallerries stay open late and streets are closed on South Congress
Shakespeare in the Park: watch free Summer Shakespearean performances in Zilker Park
Blues on the Green: spend summer Wednesday evenings in Zilker Park listening to free blues concerts
The Backyard: bring a blanket, lay back and enjoy popular outdoor concert performances
Alamo Drafthouse: order a bucket of beer and a burger and watch the latest movie release
KUT-Austin 90.5: tune into local public radio and enjoy many programs including the noon-time Eklektikos line-up
Esthers Follies: head down to 6th Street and enjoy this famous comedy club
The Austin Museum of Art: enjoy an array of art experiences in the fun, informal, and collaborative spirit of Austin
The UT LBJ Library: view the famous Guttenberg bible as well as many other interesting exhibits