Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Globe Theatre in nearby Bertram, Texas
Guest article by Judy Rae Merhar
The world was by no means perfect in 1935, but perhaps it was simpler. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced across screens, and the world was graced with the birth of two cultural icons: the Dali Lama and Elvis Presley. And lo and behold, Globe Theatre in Bertram, Texas, opened its doors for the first time.
Campfire at Pace Bend (Credit: Christopher Dawson)
True confession time: I’m not what you would call outdoorsy. I don’t own any fancy wilderness equipment. I would be hard pressed to start a fire without the aid of matches. And my survival skills all involve googling stuff. But the truth is, I love camping. I love having an excuse to get away from computer screens and just sit around a campfire chatting with friends. I love coming up with innovative ways to cook delicious things outside. And I love sleeping under the stars and waking up to the sound of chirping birds.
Camping near Austin is great for fair-weather campers like me. You don’t need a sub-zero-ready sleeping bag. Barring the hottest part of summer and occasional rainy day, the weather is on your side most of the year. Plus, there are so many great drive-up camping sites a short distance from the city. In fact, one of my favorite things about Austin is the fact that you can drive just a few miles outside the city center and feel like you’re miles from civilization. In no particular order, here’s a round-up of some great options for camping near Austin! [Read more…]
Credit: Stephanie Bruno
Austin is quickly becoming one of the hottest travel destinations in the nation. Bachelors and bachelorettes, food and fashion bloggers, and weekend road-trippers are flocking here by the dozens. And they’re posting all about it on Instagram.
So whether you live here or are coming to visit, make sure to check out 17 of the most Insta-worthy places in Austin.
Zilker Park (Credit: Jared Tennant Photography)
There is never a day that Zilker Park lays dormant. If there isn’t a festival forming a patchwork over the grassy expanses, then the acres are still alive with visitors exploring its many attractions and arteries. Zilker Park isn’t a place you can fully experience in a day or even a week. It takes a full year to take in all of its faces, and a history lesson to understand how the park came to be the cornerstone of everything we Austinites hold near and dear. [Read more…]
Whiskey cocktail at Andalusia Whiskey Co. in nearby Blanco, TX
Guest article by Mathis Kennington
When you think of grain to glass whiskey, what comes to mind? It took me a minute, the first time I let that phrase sink in. It’s less familiar to me than, let’s say, farm to table food. Grain to glass whiskey hints at the same kind of untouched, unmessed with allure our favorite local restaurants offer: raw fruits and vegetables that must only travel a few miles from a local urban farm until they’re in the hands of a discerning chef. Locally and humanely finished beef and pork that didn’t get mixed into a big pile of neon pink mystery meat paste. We Austinites love to know where our food comes from and what our food ate.
It’s strange we don’t demand the same of our spirits.
Enter Andalusia Whiskey Co. This Blanco-based whiskey distillery startup is committed to producing world class whiskeys with integrity. [Read more…]
Located in San Marcos, 40 miles south of Austin, stands a 10-barrel brewpub by the name of Middleton Brewing. It’s one of those places you’re grateful to stumble upon, worth a trip on its own.
Middleton Brewing has 15 styles of beer, all crafted with pride and served in the most friendly manner. Patron-friendly, dog-friendly, kid-friendly. The whole aesthetic oozes relaxation and quality chill-time. Coming in for a visit solo? No problem. Looking to learn more about how a certain type of beer is made? Check. Wanting to celebrate any event at all with friends and family? This is the place. [Read more…]
Snowy Austin in 2010 (Credit: Jim Nix/Nomadic Pursuits)
Let’s face it: Austinites don’t know how to handle cold weather. We’re used to living in a land of perpetual summer, drinking our Topo Chicos and paddling across Lake Austin shirtless. When the temperature drops closer to freezing, however, we’re forced inside our homes to hibernate.
That doesn’t have to be the case! The cold season can be your opportunity to explore the parts of Austin you would otherwise ignore. There’s a whole world of local Austin originals waiting for you to walk in the door shivering. [Read more…]
Ready to recover from the holidays? We have tips and tricks to make it easy while keeping it local
(Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)
How was your holiday? Probably joyous, fun, and exhausting. Over a month of partying, shopping and traveling leaves most of us tapped out. We all need to recover from a December of debauchery. Luckily, The Austinot is here to help. Check out this surefire plan to use all-things-local to get back into the regular swing of things. [Read more…]
Hands and feet are protected during a whole body cryotherapy session (Credit: Recovery Zone)
Never in my wildest dreams did I think standing in negative 240 degrees – nekkid – would make me feel so good.
Vinylmnky offers a record subscription service for “Tribe” members
In a digital world, it’s a fun feeling to get anything delivered by mail. It’s especially fun when music is involved. Vinylmnky, a local Austin vinyl delivery service, has joined the movement to make listening to music a more tangible experience. And there are many reasons why people enjoy collecting vinyl records, from the album art to the feel of the grooves. It’s delightful to learn how to “drop the needle.”
After trying the service myself, this is what I’ve found. [Read more…]