Austin
Austin Skyline, July 2025
Everyone is a Local Somewhere
Plan Your Visit | Destinations | Cities and Towns
Each city in Texas has its own unique qualities. San Antonio has the culture. Houston has concrete.
But Austin? Austin has the character.
Austin has been home my entire adult life. It was also where we went to do “city business” growing up in nearby La Grange, so I have seen how Austin has transformed from small city to the cosmopolitan city it is today.
There is a lot to do in Austin, so I won’t be able to cover it all here. I can get you started by covering destinations I would show you if I gave you a tour. If you are looking for tips on South by Southwest, Austin City Limits Live, or Circuit of the Americas, I’m not your girl. I stay far, far, far away.
University of Texas at Austin
I knew growing up in La Grange that Austin would ultimately be my home. Like many who settled here, my time began at the University of Texas at Austin. To this day, walking around campus makes me happy, because it reminds me of my early-20s self who had a lot of road ahead and hope for the future. Though I have less road ahead now, it renews my energy to keep moving forward.
Even for those who don’t bleed burnt orange like I do, campus has a lot to offer, including:
It also has a lot of good coffee shops and food trucks on campus. The Drag (Guadalupe Street) borders campus to the west and has many coffee, food, and shopping options. For Texas Longhorns gear, I recommend University Coop on The Drag and the Team Shop at Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
The Bullock Museum
The Bullock Museum is the Texas state history museum and I recommend a visit. Located across the street from UT and close to the Texas State Capitol, it includes a permanent exhibit that tells the story of Texas from prehistory to today. It also has a good gift shop and café.
It is named for Bob Bullock, our longtime Lieutenant Governor who worked to establish this museum. I got to interview him when he came to Blinn College (where I attended before transferring to UT) to celebrate the Bob Bullock Center for Business and Computer Science. That interview was such a fond memory and a highlight of my time on the Blinn Log. Bullock was candid, interesting, and amazing to interview. Every time I visit, I think of him.
Sports
Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns dominate the sports scene in Austin, especially Longhorns Football, which should surprise no one. Other Longhorns teams do very well and have their own followings, but I must admit the only one I really follow is football.
Tickets to Longhorns football games are ridiculously expensive, but I recommend getting to at least one game because game day on campus is an amazing experience. I usually use StubHub for tickets, and non-conference games are less expensive with better seating options. If you have unused season tickets, I’m available for adoption.
Since the stadium does hold over 100,000 people and games are typically sold out, I also highly recommend NOT parking on campus for game day; rather, I catch the game shuttle at nearby Barton Creek Square Mall. Campus gets very congested after the game is over, and the shuttle buses sail out of campus.
For an extra treat, read more about the time I got to see the Texas Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. This was one of the best days of my life, and I have a plaque commemorating it.
Austin FC
With Austin FC, Austin now has a major league sports team. The Major League Soccer team plays in Q2 Stadium close to The Domain in northwest Austin. I’m not much of a soccer fan, but you can check out the Austin FC website for team and game information.
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express, a minor league affiliate of the Texas Rangers, play at the Dell Diamond in nearby Round Rock. I prefer Round Rock Express games to other major league baseball games because games at the Dell Diamond make you feel more connected to the game. The Round Rock Express website has more information about games and tickets as well as other events at the Dell Diamond.
I love Bananaball and am a huge Party Animals fan. Dell Diamond hosts a couple games there as well. Tickets to Bananaball games are hard to get and games typically sell out. I will be attending Party Animals vs. Texas Tailgaters in September 2025 and fully intend to gloat on this website.
Texas Stars
If you love hockey, the Texas Stars, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, plays at HEB Center in nearby Cedar Park. I am not much of a hockey fan, but if you have a spare ticket I’ll go with you. The Texas Stars website has more information about schedules and tickets.
Natural Beauty
Austin has a lot of natural beauty, parks, recreation centers and outdoor attractions for people who love the outdoors.
Gateway to the Hill Country
Austin straddles two land masses: the Gulf Coast Plain and the Hill Country. The dividing line is the Balcones Escarpment that runs parallel to Mopac, a major north-south corridor. The difference between the land masses is clear if you drive Mopac near downtown. Heading north, look to the right at downtown, you’ll notice it’s flatter than the Hill Country to the left.
Hike and Bike Trails
I love to hike and walk, and love that Austin has many hike and bike trails to choose from all over the city. My personal favorites are the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, which includes the board walk at Lady Bird Lake, and the Barton Greenbelt Trail.
During the summer, Austin is very hot, so I advise avoiding these trails between noon and 6 p.m. Regardless of when you go, stay hydrated. Also, it’s humid here, so if you are used to drier weather, it can be a bit suffocating.
Parks
The best-known is Zilker Metropolitan Park downtown along Lady Bird Lake. It is our oldest park and host to large events including:
Regular Zilker features include:
Other favorites include the Baron Creek Greenbelt and Emma Long Metropolitan Park. To locate a park nearby, learn more City of Austin website.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Founded by former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center tells the story of Texas through flora. It contains hundreds of native plants and flowers throughout the major ecoregions of Texas.
Entertainment
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World; regardless of the genre, there is something here for everyone. The best venues are downtown, mostly on Sixth Street and the Warehouse District. Both have plenty of bars, restaurants, and music. Even if you don’t drink or party (like me), the people-watching is fantastic. If you love comedy that is uniquely Austin, I highly recommend a show at Esther’s Follies on Sixth Street.
Shopping
Austin is a great place to shop. The selection of local and big-box shopping is great; just be aware that the sales tax here is 8.25%, which is higher than in most states.
While malls are dying nationwide, the malls in Austin are thriving and busy. My usual destinations include:
Round Rock Premium Outlets (Round Rock)
San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets (San Marcos)
Visiting Austin?
If you have any questions about visiting Austin, please contact me and I’ll be happy to answer your questions. As Annie All Around evolves, I will add more Austin-based destinations.
Related Content
I will update Annie All Around with more Austin destinations; updates will be announced through A3 News.
