It all started with billboards and people talking in the airport. Falling in love with a city whose slogan is “Keep Austin Weird” was just too easy. While plenty of places have a few odd landmarks,there are an unbelievable number of Austin Texas tourist attractions for truly Instagram-worthy moments. From striking wall murals to animal bingo games, unusual and fun things to do in Austin seemed to be around every corner.
And did I mention Mexican Coca Cola, Tacos and Barbecue?
Here are 10 unique things to do in Austin
Having a local tour guide is a great way to get an insider’s view on where to go in Austin, and I was especially lucky when I visited my college roommate and her family this month. They all had great ideas on where to eat and what to do in Austin, and she was a very patient driver when I kept asking to stop and take photos. Although we didn’t have enough time to get through the whole list on this visit, I’m hoping to come back and see the rest soon.
- Bat Bridge on Congress Avenue
- The Legend of the Owl Building
- Trailer Park Food Trucks
- Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
- Street Art Murals
- Roadhouse Relics
- Cathedral of Junk
- Mean-Eyed Cat Bar
- Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park
- Chicken Shit Bingo at the Little Longhorn Saloon
Bat Bridge on Congress Avenue
A great way to begin getting to know where to go in Austin is to head to the downtown area. The main thoroughfare leading into the city is Congress Avenue. This street, lined with great restaurants and bars with live music, offers quite a number of downtown Austin activities.
With the silhouette of the Texas State Capitol in the distance, I saw that the crowds clearly knew what to do in Austin at night. Great numbers of visitors and locals were lining the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (also known as Bat Bridge) and jostling for the perfect spot to digitally capture an unusual summer phenomenon.
About 20 minutes before sunset, over a million bats flew out from under the bridge. This nightly natural performance can be seen from March to October.
Down below, a large number of people in tour boats gathered with their cameras pointed upwards. This group knew that waiting on the water below Bat Bridge was another one of the best places to go in Austin at night.
The Legend of the Owl Building
Daytime or nighttime, this city’s skyline is very distinctive. Math teachers, engineers and architects must love all the geometric shapes and angles; it’s one of the don’t-miss places to see in Austin.
Locals are quick to point out the Owl Building (the faintly green building with the neon white circle at the top) and share the urban legend that the architect of the fourth tallest building in Austin, Frost Bank Tower, played a public prank. He designed the building to look like an owl, the mascot for his alma mater, Rice University. Since the University of Texas in Austin is a rival school (their mascot is a longhorn), a large owl peering over the city would be annoying (to say the least).
Trailer Park Food Trucks
With more than 16 different Trailer Park Food Truck locations in the city, visitors and locals can sample options ranging from savory (barbecue, Thai, Lebanese, Greek, chicken and burgers) to sweet (doughnuts, churros, popsicles).
The day we walked by the South Congress District (SoCo) location, two sleek airstream trailers were nestled on a bright green manicure square offering Cupcakes and Whoa BBQ. Two options – one savory, one sweet. I favor sugar and I know myself. One cupcake would not have been enough so I resisted temptation.
Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
Sometimes, you just want to pretend you are someone else. Or at least you might be inspired to try when you enter Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds. Trying on clothing and accessories here was a memorable moment and one of the unexpected fun activities in Austin. This amazing costume and vintage shop has everything from Knights in Shining Armor and Elvis to Marie Antoinette and Cleopatra.
One of my favorite discoveries was an entire back room filled with shoes and boots in every size and color. From Dorothy’s red slippers to Go-Go boots in iridescent colors, I might have burned off that entire taco lunch if I had sat there trying different choices too long.
Street Art Murals
One of the cool things to do in Austin is to see the wide variety of Instagram-worthy artistic Street Art Murals located all over town. The first stop on my second day was the iconic “I love you so much” mural at 1300 S. Congress Avenue. It’s painted on the side of Jo’s Coffee, another stop well worth a visit. My friend had been there many times before so she immediately struck the perfect relaxed pose.
The next mural we visited was much simpler but still had an imaginative flair. For the romantic at heart, it is clearly one of the places to visit in Austin. At the corner of Oltorf and Lamar, the question “Will you marry me?” in large letters has three options: “Yes, No” and “Hasta La Vista Baby!” Luckily a bright red check in the “Yes” box clarified the results.
Another familiar sight is the “Greetings from Austin” mural next to the entrance for Roadhouse Relics. This life-sized postcard image is particularly vibrant and well illustrated. Standing beside it, I almost felt like I was an extra in a movie.
The street art murals were high on my personal list of fun activities in Austin to do. I really enjoy seeing what other cities have to offer because I am on the board of a public art nonprofit in my hometown, and I like to bring back ideas when I find them.
Roadhouse Relics
I was really drawn to the 50s vibe of the sign for Roadhouse Relics. It makes sense because the building houses a studio and gallery featuring vintage-style neon handmade works of art.
Out back is a vintage sign boneyard featuring remnants of carnival rides, historic Austin neon signs and other antique memorabilia. This quaint backdrop is available for photo shoots (weddings, engagements and family moments) and has been featured in celebrity photos, videos and national publications.
Cathedral of Junk
The Cathedral of Junk is another well-known final resting spot for formerly used objects. In 1989, local Vince Hanneman decided to repurpose his cast-offs in a unique way in his own backyard.
Although it started out as a project “just for the fun of it”, his Cathedral of Junk has morphed into one of the things to see in Austin. The current structure contains all sorts of common items – bicycle parts, clocks, tools, children’s toys, skis, lamps, crutches and a basketball hoop. It even has a throne room, a tower and it’s own Facebook page.
Adults and children happily put it on the list of fun stuff to do in Austin. To see this attraction (which is on private property), call Vince a week or more ahead for an appointment.
Mean-Eyed Cat Bar
I am a dog lover and the proud owner of a rescue dog from Turkey who had to stay home on this trip. It’s too bad because the Mean-Eyed Cat Bar offers a dog-friendly outside patio under a towering 300 year old Texas Live Oak.
How can you not enjoy a place that began as a chain-saw repair shop? Now this unique establishment showcases music, Johnny Cash memorabilia and a wide selection of local and craft beers.
Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park
My sons loved the childhood classic, Winnie the Pooh. As the story goes, one year Eeyore thought his friends forgot his birthday. They didn’t – they threw him a surprise party.
To commemorate this event, Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park is held every year in April. This day-long celebration is high on the list of fun things to do in Austin with kids. Admission fees are collected by Friends of the Forest and used to support local non-profits.
Chicken Shit Bingo
Whether you think of chickens as pets or you just enjoy eating them as protein, the Little Longhorn Saloon has come up with an unusual twist on family activities in Austin. Even young children can appreciate the fun of watching a live chicken participate in a bingo game, but beware. This bingo game is played a little differently than what you’ve seen before.
For only $2, visitors to the Little Longhorn Saloon can purchase a ticket and see if their number is where the chicken feels obliged to make a deposit. It’s legal and winners take all the money from this Chicken Shit Bingo game. There’s no denying it, stopping by this little honky tonk is a fun thing to do in Austin on a Sunday.
Mexican Coca Cola, Tacos and Barbecue
In addition to those 10 Unique Things to Do in Austin, I thought I’d share a few other unique travel lessons I learned during my visit.
You’ve Never Had a Mexican Coke?
Apparently my cover as a cool adult (or so I thought) was blown the moment I admitted to my friend’s kids that no, I had never had a Mexican Coke before. I was quick to add that I HAVE had Coca Cola many times in the past.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I tasted it in Austin that I realized there IS a regional difference. Mexican Coke uses pure cane sugar. It took only a few seconds to become aware that cane sugar provides a clearer, sweeter taste. I never thought about the slightly artificial chemical taste I had gotten used to in the past.
Now I’m spoiled. I never want to go back to old Coke.
If Only Every Day Could Be Taco Tuesday
Growing up in Virginia, tacos were always made from Ortega hard corn shells filled with slightly seasoned ground beef, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese and lettuce cut into thin ribbons. Once in awhile, we would add some store bought salsa but that was pretty much it for tacos. No wonder I never thought tacos were an interesting food choice.
Ironically, when tacos were suggested as a meal choice on the ride home from the Austin airport, I politely agreed. Little did I know what I had been missing! Tacos are (no surprise) a much more common meal out West.
Taco Deli gets full credit for converting me into a taco lover. After I got over my initial confusion that a soft tortilla shell did not automatically make it a burrito, I chose the Shrimp Taco which included grilled Texas Gulf shrimp, jack cheese glaze and sautéed poblano-onion rajas. The word “YUM” immediately came to mind when I bit into this taco.
On another day, we went to Torchy’s. I think this chain restaurant had me at the portly baby Devil mascot. What mother hasn’t seen that familiar evil glint in a toddler’s eyes?
But in full disclosure, the Independent taco featuring fried Portobello Mushrooms, grilled corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, and avocado was sinfully delicious. I finally learned to ask for the spicy ancho aioli sauce and escabeche carrots on the side. After this trip to Austin, if every day turns into Taco Tuesday, I will be happy.
Long and Slow: Barbecue Heaven in Austin
Years ago, I learned an important distinction. Grilling means cooking smaller cuts of meat (think hot dogs/hamburgers/steak) high and fast, while barbecue means cooking large portions of meat low and slow (think ribs/roasts/brisket). I also found out that depending on what part of the country you’re from, the spelling of this food preparation technique matters. Purists say barbecue while less serious marketing folks shorten it to bar-b-q.
Austin has a number of great barbecue restaurants and even the Food Channel points out that people will wait in line for hours for good ‘cue. I can see why.
Of the four national distinctions for barbecue – Memphis, St. Louis, Carolina and Texas, I was most familiar with Carolina. All four traditions vary in how they use sauce and seasonings. Austin is considered Central Texas where dry rubs are king. Given all the cattle ranches, it’s easy to understand why Texans take their barbecue seriously.
My friend and her family wanted to make sure I sampled some of the very best barbecue in Austin. The night we went to dinner at Terry Black’s Barbecue, we were lucky the line contained only a dozen people out front. A multi-generational family business, Black’s Barbecue is legendary.
Inside the lines move quickly as this experienced barbecue establishment had crowd control down to a science.
From the delicious aromas and wide range of selections, to the opportunity to watch the staff cut the meat into portions by the pound right in front of you, having dinner at Black’s was a truly wonderful food experience.
With six of us at our table, we selected brisket, ribs and sausage for our meats. Our sides included cole slaw, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, beans, and a small pecan pie to sample for dessert.
After dinner, we noticed a sign on the wall which told patrons to “ask about a tour” and we did. A staff person directed us to an area on the side of the building where endless rows of hard wood were stacked in cords chest-high. Readjusting to the outside air, I sat for a quick photo.
Nearby, two apron-clad pit masters were hard at work tending three long smokers. Moving constantly, they each monitored the temperature of the fire smoldering in the grate outside the smokers, as well as the temperature of the meat slowly cooking inside the walled off area.
Standing outside and then going inside the tin roofed fenced off interior felt incredibly hot, just like a sauna. And it was already in the high 90s that day. Both pit masters were tall and lean with fit physiques. Although a cooler of water sat nearby to rehydrate, I’m sure they easily sweated off any unwanted pounds.
One of the pit masters introduced himself and asked us if we had any questions. He shared with us that briskets were the most popular meat choice with ribs coming in second. Using an offset heat method, the brisket is cooked in brown paper wrapped packages. Black’s usually barbecues about 1,000 pounds of briskets a day. They cook outdoors throughout the winter.
Black’s also offers a number of sides with the top three sellers being macaroni and cheese, potato salad and coleslaw. The most popular dessert sold is banana pudding.
He also mentioned that this Austin location is run by 31-year old twins, Michael and Mark, sons of Terry Black himself. Terry manages the original location in Lockhart, a town about 30 minutes away known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas.
Austin – I’ll be back!
Yes, Austin is much more than just a town that celebrates itself as Weird. It’s a vibrant city with great food, drink and activities which was why Austin was recently named (in April) by U.S. News and World Report as number one on their list of the 2019 Best Places to Live in the United States.
I’m really glad I took that early morning flight to have more time in Austin. It was well worth it. In my next post, I’ll share some of the other fun indoor and outdoor places and activities I experienced that contributed to Austin’s top ranking.
You made Austin look so cool! I’ve never even been to Texas. However, I am considering moving to Arizona, so Austin may be part of my future Southwest road trips.
Thanks. I hope you do pop over to Austin. I think you would really love visiting.