Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.
One idea of utopia is a beautiful countryside rich for exploring. It consists of being surrounded by old friends, new friends, and family. There’s delicious food, amazing local music, and the perfect balance between sound and silence. Thankfully, a version of utopia comes to fruition for one weekend every year, during UTOPiAfest.
This year, the festival will be celebrating its 11th anniversary. Read on to discover everything that awaits you at UTOPiAfest, this Nov. 14-16, 2019.
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Cave Without a Name is the seventh longest cave in the state of Texas (Credit: Cave Without a Name)
I’ve made it a life goal to check out as many caverns as I can. A cavern adventure is the perfect day trip when I need to unplug or just stare open-mouthed at beautiful rock formations.
If you’re itching for a new adventure, I’ve got a few options for you. Keep reading to learn about five of the most awesome caverns in Texas. All are just a skip, hop, and jump from Austin.
Wine tasting in the Perissos vineyard
(Credit: Matt McGinnis)
When I sent in my RSVP for the annual Roll Out the Barrel event, I was signing up for three winery visits in one day. Although I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into, certified sommelier Matt McGinnis clued me in. Roll Out the Barrel is a Texas take on the time-honored tradition of hosting en primeur tastings of newly available wine for journalists and wine professionals, traditionally held in Bordeaux each spring.
Although far from France, Texas Hill Country is definitely becoming known for wine. Thanks to my intimate, first-hand experience during Rolling Out the Barrel, I now have a better understanding of why. Here’s what I learned from three day-trip-worthy Texas wineries.
Thank you to the vineyards featured in this article for allowing me to attend Roll Out the Barrel at no charge. All opinions are my own. [Read more…]
Photo credit: Kim Anh via Flickr CC
I can’t get enough of Texas state parks, especially during the heat of summer. Inks Lake State Park was one of my exciting 2012 discoveries, and I’m sorry I’ve taken so long to share it with you!
Located outside of Burnet, just over an hour from downtown Austin, this park spans more than 1,200 acres.
The lake stays at a constant level, so activities like swimming and boating are unaffected by drought conditions. [Read more…]
Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet
This guest post is by Vol Montgomery.
Ask your neighbors what Memorial Day means to them. Is it a three-day weekend? A barbecue? A mattress sale? What do you think Memorial Day should mean?
Carry the Load – Austin will help bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day. This one-day, non-profit event honors veterans and active duty service members, law enforcement officers, firefighters and their families. It raises funds to support the meaningful work of four local charities: The Comfort Crew for Military Kids, Heroes on the Water, Folds of Honor Foundation and Serve Who Serve.
Carry the Load – Austin will take place on May 25, 2013 at Reveille Peak Ranch, a 1,300-acre outdoor adventure and event center just outside of Burnet, one hour from Austin. Founded three years ago in Dallas by Clint Bruce, a former Navy Seal, Carry the Load is coming to the Central Texas area for the first time. [Read more…]
Credit: Jeff Cohen
This guest blog post is by Tracey Louis.
Austin and Burnet contrast greatly from one another. Funky, urban-yet-outdoorsy Austin is only an hour away from quaint, traditional Burnet.
Yet they share some commonalities, including a love of reveling in springtime’s natural beauty, and fabulous hospitality inclusive of our beloved pets.
One of my favorite festivals is the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, precisely because it does such a good job of showcasing Burnet’s small town charms, sharing the beauty of springtime wildflowers that paint the roadways and hillsides, and including our animal companions in the fun. [Read more…]
The 15th annual Burnet BBQ Cook-off is taking place this Saturday at Reveille Peak Ranch
This Saturday is the don’t-miss BBQ event of the year – the Burnet BBQ Cook-off and Music Festival!
Held at the incomparable 1,300 acre Reveille Peak Ranch on September 29th, the Burnet BBQ Cook-off is sure to get your taste buds twangin’. [Read more…]
After visiting the amazing Reveille Peak Ranch just northwest of Burnet, we decided to stop in at Burnet Feed Store BBQ, a Texas Hill Country landmark since 1977. But this spot wasn’t always a BBQ Joint.
Burnet Feed Store BBQ
In 1977, James and Drucilla Banner opened the Burnet Feed Store to provide for local ranchers in the Hill Country around Burnet. The Banners eventually sold the company, and though the business continued under new ownership, profits declined through most of 2000-2007. In December 2007, the place went up for sale. It was purchased by Lorenzo Romero and Rucker Ashmore. These two had the vision of turning Burnet Feed Store into a Hill Country BBQ restaurant, and that’s exactly what they did.
One of the largest restaurants in Burnet with seating for over 120, the Burnet Feed Store BBQ is now one of the busiest spots in Burnet on any given day. [Read more…]
Bluebonnets in bloom
If you owned 1,300 acres of pristine Texas Hill Country, what would you do with it?
For Vol Montgomery, the answer doesn’t have to do with profit or development, but with preservation and passion. The owner of Reveille Peak Ranch is actively creating a unique community for his friends and family, and those who share his interests.
On most days, Reveille Peak Ranch is a specially-designed haven for a small subset of outdoor sports enthusiasts: mountain bikers, trail runners and scuba divers. But it also functions as happy host to nature studies, school and youth camp outs, community BBQ’s and one-of-a-kind weddings. [Read more…]
