Austin (and surrounding areas)

10 Things We Loved!

1. The Oasis on Lake Travis -  Watch the sun trickle down Lake Travis while sipping margaritas and savoring beef fajitas. Incredible views, wonderful food, warm conversations and a melodramatic way to end the day.

The Oasis on Lake Travis

The Oasis on Lake Travis

2. Barton Springs –  The three-acre natural spring within Zilker Park has 68-degree water that needs some getting used to but is a perfect balance to Texas’ hot summer days. We loved it, the kids loved it!

Barton Springs

Barton Springs

Barton Springs

3. Natural Bridge Caverns - When you have visitors from out of town, you go to the Natural Bridge Caverns. If you have people in your party that don’t want to go, you can always drop them off at the Premium Outlets in San Marcos.

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns

4. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum – Three floors of interactive Texas history. This is a very nice history museum with an IMAX theater to boot.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

5. Black’s Barbecue – On the way back to Houston, a stop at Lockhart.  In a sea of barbecue joints, Lockhart apparently has some of the best and oldest in Texas. Always go for the moist brisket.

Black's Barbecue

6. Covert Park at Mount Bonnell- Drive on up Mt. Bonnell road to this park that give you a a very nice view of Lake Austin.

Mt. Bonnell

Mt. Bonnell

7. Austin Food Carts – Awesome food carts. They are all over Austin; some are stationary and some move around. We’d love to sample them all.  So far we’ve tried Hey! Cupcake, Fry Baby, Coat and Thai, Flip Happy Crepes, The Zubik House and a few more whose names I can’t remember.

Austin Food Cart

Austin Food Cart

8. Wimberley Glass Works - mind-blowing glass-blowing store and exhibit in Wimberley, Texas. Cool dudes in their undershirts and aviator sunglasses displaying the hot art and expensive science of glass works. I can only afford the glass shards, unfortunately.

Wimberley Glass Works

Wimberley Glass Works

9. The Inn Above Onion Creek – Stay at the inn and you not only get to stay at an amazing room, you have access to a perfect porch, almost perfect views and glorious breakfast and 3-course dinner.  Highly recommended.

The Inn Above Onion Creek

The Inn Above Onion Creek

The Inn Above Onion Creek

10. Gruene, Texas- Good lunch at Gristmill River Restaurant, a massive cotton gin brick boiler room turned restaurant. Also stopped by Gruene Hall, a famous Texas landmark.