We are packed to the seams and hitting the road – destination Northwest. After four and a half years living in Hattiesburg, Miss., we are moving back to Washington State.
During our travels, I’ll be posting about our stops and discoveries. The updates will likely be sporadic, as we are camping most of the trip (aka no internet).
First up, Austin, Tx.!
We stayed with family friends and saw some city highlights.
Day One
Mount Bonnell Outlook
Up 100 steps, we were treated with a view of the Colorado River and downtown Austin. Our host informed us this is popular high school make out spot.
South Congress Street
We spent the majority of the afternoon popping in and out of SoCo stores. There is an eclectic mix of boutiques, bookstores and plenty of vintage clothing.
Torchy’s Tacos
An Austin original, this now Texas chain, has earned the right to put “damn good” in lights. We went to the South Congress St. location, but Torchy’s Tacos is scattered throughout the city.
I ordered the Brushfire, Mr. Orange and Mr. Pink. Kyler got the Crossroads and the Fried Avocado, in addition to the Brushfire. We split a side of guacamole to top our tacos. A huge, flavor packed lunch!
Capitol Building
Our host gave us a great tour of the Texas Capitol. Entrance is free and it’s open seven days a week. Our timely visit gave us the opportunity to sit on a debate regarding sanctuary city bans in Texas.
Chuy’s Tex Mex
For dinner, our hosts treated us to a Tex-Mex feast at the original Chuy’s. The tortillas are freshly made and their hatch green chili sauce is delicious.
Day Two
On our second day, we explored Austin by bike. We parked at Zilker Park and took the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail downtown.
Some of our stops included:
Graffiti Park
Graffiti Park, or the HOPE Outdoor Gallery, is a concrete foundation transformed into a living canvas. Anyone can grab a can and paint, as complicated murals are speckled with expletives.
Spider House Café
We stopped into Spider House Café to warm up (it was around 46° that day) and grab a coffee and beer. The café/music venue is proudly Austin and is keeping it wonderfully weird. Being close to the University of Texas campus, many tables were occupied by laptops and textbooks.
University of Texas at Austin
Biking through campus, we admired the beautiful buildings. Even though it is nestled downtown, it still has a distinct campus feel.
We biked back to Zilker Park using part of the Town Lake (previously Lady Bird Lake) trail.
Our evening was spent on Rainey St., a historical district and local hangout. Food trucks, restaurants and cocktails bars fill the old historic homes.
For dinner, we ate at Banger’s. It boasts 104 beers on tap, a variety of wines, and creative sausages of the meat and vegetarian variety.
The tables are reminiscent of a beer tent and add to the friendly atmosphere. The wait staff was phenomenal and knowledgeable.
I ordered the Dak Bulgogi on top of mixed greens instead of a bun, and Kyler ordered the Smokey and the Boar.
Austin, you treated us well! We loved the young and experimental energy. Your food, art and music have a unique flare. Next up, we are driving deeper into west Texas.
