Vacations Blog

As mentioned previously, we were on our way to do a whole lotta nothin’ in the town of Ojai, an hour or so outside of Los Angeles.

Before leaving, I had done a quick Google to see what it was known for and here’s a few that caught my eye:

From the cities main website, I discovered that they were making a big push for artists to help out renovating something in town – what it was escapes me now, but I liked that the lead story reached out to the right-brainers in town. Below that, however was a phone glitch affecting city hall’s runnings and that intrigued me even more – a $40,000 purse for whomever had the best eye for making the town better, but in the office of those who ran it, the voicemail wasn’t working properly. Read More »

I flew back home to Austin this weekend for a friend’s wedding. Knowing that I would write this blog entry upon my return, I spent a lot of the weekend interviewing friends about their favorite things to do in Austin. Everyone had extensive and varied lists, however, I did notice several themes that repeatedly surfaced: Parks, Water, Live Music and Food.

If you weave the above experiences together, you are sure to soak in all the best that Austin has to offer. So, I have had fun putting together an ideal day in Austin, combining these four themes.

I would suggest getting a room downtown at the historic Driskill or the Hyatt, which is right on the water. This way, most places are just a short drive or a stroll away.

The food in Austin truly is exceptional, from gourmet to greasy spoon and everything in between. However, Tex-Mex is one cuisine that stands out above the rest, so, begin your morning with a great Mexican breakfast at Las Manitas. It is a small eatery started by two sisters in 1981. The service is fast and the food is excellent…walking through the busy kitchen on the way to your table, grab an Austin Chronicle or a newspaper. I usually get the migas and cinnamon coffee. Mmmm.

Once breakfast is over (and you are swearing off food until dinner) grab your swimsuit and a towel and head to Barton Springs Pool. It is located downtown in Zilker Park, a natural spring that churns out water at a consistent 68degrees, year round. It has been built up to create a very large swimming pool. The pool is long and surrounded by sloping green hillsides with large leafy pecan trees. You can laze in the sun and when you are warm and sun-baked, dive into the refreshingly cold water. Doggy paddling in the middle of the pool, you can look out at the Austin skyline.

After you have soaked up enough sun, head back downtown and spend some time browsing the South Congress Avenue shops. This strip of Congress, south of Town Lake is lined with funky shops and great eateries. Then, as dusk approaches and your tummy starts to grumble, head back up to Town Lake and get a table at Shoreline Grill, which is located right on the water, next to Congress Bridge. You can nibble on Shoreline’s inspired Southwestern cuisine, sip a cocktail, and watch from the back deck as one million Mexican free-tailed bats rouse themselves and swarm out into the night, their large procession undulating across the sky like a Chinese dragon. Viewing the Congress Bridge bats is a classic Austin experience, not to be missed. After dinner and the “show”, head downtown to Antone’s, one of Austin’s best music venues. Here you are certain to catch a great concert any night of the week. Listen to some live music and dance the night away.

This mix of Austin’s parks, water, food, and music is sure to leave you relaxed, happy, and truly enamored of Texas’s capitol city.

What are some of the best things to do in your hometown?