Discovering Austin: Part 1

4 min readApr 17, 2021

Hey Guys! Moving over my Texas travel blogs for your viewing pleasure. Post is pre-vid and iPhone 7 level pictures!

The best thing about being completely new to a city is the ability to explore at your own pace, do the touristy activities with no shame, but also live like a local.

So far Austin is living up to its “Keep Austin Weird” slogan and I’m totally diggin it. The more I explore, the more it feels like a blend of Seattle, Portland, and of course, Texas. There is an abundance of artwork all over the city, quirky shops, outdoor parks, and tacos as far as the eye can see.

For my “Part 1” discovering post I’d like to share the best outdoors places I’ve experienced thus far.

Barton Springs Pool

If you love being outdoors and trying to beat the Texas heat, this is a MUST. Barton Springs runs into the Colorado River, which goes right through downtown. There is a large park surrounding the springs, called Zilker Park. This park is absolutely beautiful. I could visit this place each day and it would never get old.

Pro Tip: go to the free side of Barton Springs pool. You get the same experience at no cost. Be prepared to pay for parking unless you go during the week day. You can bring an ENO, beer, floats, music, and whatever else. Second Pro Tip: If you have limited time in the city, you can rent a kayak on the river, and then paddle up to the springs — two experiences in one.

I took ZERO photos at the springs; I spent my time relaxing in the water and chatting with new people. The above photo is from “Around Austin” (https://photos.overaustin.com/Video/AroundAustin/i-gZqxbSQ). The left side of the wall is the free side mentioned earlier; if you continue down that side it takes you into downtown.

Bat Viewing

If you haven’t heard, Austin has the largest colony of Urban Bats on the North American continent. Over 1.2million bats live under the Congress Street bridge. About 15 mins till sunset between the months of March and October they all fly out for feeding. Watching them all fly out is insane. In good weather this draws a large crowd, so come early! This bridge is right downtown over the Colorado river, so before or after the viewing you can hit up different places around downtown. The view from the bridge towards the Capital building is my all-time favorite place to catch the Austin City sky line.

South Congress

If you want to check out some true, Austin shops and stay close to downtown, South Congress is the place to go. Exactly as it sounds, it’s Congress street (same street where you can view the bats), just half a mile south of the river. You can easily walk from the shops to downtown, or take a Bird!

On South Congress you’ll find Allen’s Boots, Torchy’s Tacos (to.die.for), Austin Motel (boutique hotel), Jo’s Coffee (famous for it’s Instagram-able wall), and so many more places. I’m on South Congress each week and there are still places I haven’t explored. With all the food trucks and public art, be hungry and camera ready!

Hope Outdoor Gallery

The first touristy spot I checked out with my family when I moved in, and probably my favorite. Outdoor Hope Gallery is a prime Austin spot, rich with art and history. Local artists, as well as us non-artsy folks, can legally spray paint the walls. The walls don’t stay the same long so it’s a place you can always come back to and have a different experience. The view from the top wall into the city is amazing! Typically, you’ll find people selling art and making music along the side walk as well.