Hot Summer Nights – 8 Great Things to do in 48 hours in Austin

As we are in the thick of winter, is it any wonder I am longing for a tropical getaway? Right now, all I am of thinking of is summer and the many “hot” spots I’ve visited.   Austin was a hot one for sure.  Looking back on it now, it warms me up and inspires me to plan my next trip.

When the year began, winter and spring were famine in the realm of travel.  Life was busy and it was a challenge to get away.  The summer was certainly going to make up for the dry spell though with back to back trips planned to so many places. In fact, I was planning my next trip while still on the trip before it. This is my dream life!  First stop, Austin, Texas with this gal.

There was so little planning for this particular trip. Planned mostly through email and text as the two of us were too busy to walk across the office we share to discuss. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  It should be hot. No kidding, right? After all we are talking summer in Texas ? Thank goodness for swimming holes. I brought along a bathing suit (or two just in case.) Austin had been on the bucket list for a while so I really should have had a list of things to do but I just didn’t.   What I did know is Austin is all about good food, good music, and oddities.  Here are the highlights of what we discovered in our 48 hours in Austin.

#1 – Food Trucks

I arrived in the late evening and as suspected, it was warm. I love the heat so it felt good to me. Warm summer nights are something I miss since moving to Los Angeles, where the temperature shoot down as soon as the sunsets. Straight from work to my flight, I arrived starving. Being very close to midnight, our options were one of the plethora of food trucks found all around town in almost every direction you turn. My friend had arrived earlier. She had already surveyed the area discovering that we were very close to the end of 6th Street where the college age drinking crowd gather with lots of bars, energy, and did I mention, food trucks. We are not just talking taco trucks. Whatever you can image, you are likely to find. If you go to Austin, don’t leave without a trip to one of the food trucks.  You cannot miss them.  They are everywhere.

#2 – Boozy Brunch

We got an early start the next day with a bit of a boozy brunch at Forthright Cafe. The wait was long but when they are serving up the variety of brunch cocktails available here, it is easy to keep your patience at bay.  No bar necessary. If you are waiting inside or out, you are quickly approached for your drink order.   There was something to satisfy any taste. Whether you go with the traditional brunch Mimosa or choose to be a little adventurous with a Spicy Paloma. Personally my preference was something a little more classic like the French 75. 

Once the cocktails were served, our outdoor patio table followed quite quickly.   The food menu had something for everyone as well from chia pudding to chicken and waffles.  If you want to go healthy, go for the avocado toast.  If you want semi-traditional try the Forthright waffle sandwich. Word of warning though, know this is not a sandwich you are eating your hands.  Make sure you have a fork and knife nearby.

#3 – Graffiti Park

Once we sufficiently satisfied our taste-buds, it was time to see the oddities of Austin.  After a quick Uber ride, we arrived at Graffiti Park.   On the ride over, I got the impression from the driver that we might be in for a letdown.  As we pulled up, it was easy to see what he was trying to express.   There were troves of people walking around what appeared to be a brightly painted half-demolished building site.  In sandals, (wear good solid shoes if you plan to visit) we were careful where we stepped.  The ground was not even and if you wanted that amazing view of the city promised, you have to travel upward to see it.  Initially, it seemed it would be a disappointment.   This of course is if you look at as a whole.   If you walk from place to place, viewing each image someone has spent time creating, you realize this is a mash of heartfelt art.  Yes, they are selling cans of spray paint for people to tag, “Rick was here” but there were serious artists who brought all of their tools to create their own personal masterpiece.  We were lucky enough to catch one in the act. 

#4 – Distillery Tour and Whiskey Tasting

After taking in all Graffiti Park had to offer, and enduring the Austin hot summer heat.  We grabbed another Uber and headed to Still Austin Whiskey Company for a tour and tasting.

While whiskey is not really my thing, I will admit, it is a worthy experience.  Have a drink while you wait, something cool and refreshing.  The tour, is very hot due to the need to keep the rooms heated for the preservation of the stocks and of course the machinery at work.  After the tour, you will get to taste the different types of whiskey.   My friend was particularly fond of the Mother Pepper Whiskey.

We had a full day already and went back to our room to rest before heading out for the second night in Austin.

#5 – Congress Bridge

As with the entire trip, the evening plan was loose.  We just knew the goal was to see some live music and explore town by foot.  We grabbed dinner at a very crowded restaurant we found along the way.   The restaurant was Tex-Mex and nothing really to scream about though I do recall the guacamole being particularly tasty.   We were stepping distance to the Congress Street Bridge so maybe that was the reason for the long wait on the patio.  Quickly we opted for inside dinning where we were seated immediately and were able to dine in the relief of the cool stream of air conditioning.   We emerged just in time to find a prime spot on the bridge to see the bats descend from under the bridge a few times.  I was honestly more impressed with view of the lake than with the bats so if you go keep an open mind.

#6 – The Music of Sixth Street

From Congress Bridge we wandered until we hit what I would I felt was a jackpot of music.  The streets seemed to go on for blocks and on both sides there were venue after venue of live music to check out.  It reminded me a lot of New Orleans.   We stopped in a half a dozen places to see a variety of music from southern rock to jazz to cover bands that performed covers so distinct you had to spend quite of bit of time determining how you knew the lyrics, singing along and yet still couldn’t quite place the song.  Since we did not have a clear direction of where we were going and essentially just followed the music until we landed in the musical promise land, I wasn’t even quite sure where we were.  

Later we discovered we were on the other end of famous 6th Street, “Dirty 6th Street.”   6th Street is broken in 3 sections, this part being the oldest and often compared to Bourbon Street, hence my feeling of familiarity with New Orleans.   We popped from bar to bar for hours, enjoying as many live shows as we could, each a little different in its own right. 

The evening could have gone on forever but we knew that we wanted to make the best of the next day, our last in Austin so we head back to the hotel so we could get an early start in the morning.

#7 – Missed Swimming Holes

Our final day was a bit of miss as the intention was to get some relief in those watering holes we had heard so much about. We got an early start but with poor planning and poor navigation on our part and on the part of our Uber drivers, our toes never touched the water. As chance would have it we did finally end at the other end of 6th Street. There were lots of chill spots to grab a bite or drink. We even found some more food trucks. We landed on a patio with some cool drinks and found a whole different version of refreshing.

8# – A Farewell Drink at the Driskill Bar

It was our last night and we had an early flight. After packing, it was still early so we headed out for one last adventure. Our very unplanned yet fruitful tripped end at the historical hotel, The Driskill. Around since 1886 it really is a gorgeous site to see. Host to many political events and celebrities, it has its own place and prominence in Austin history. Once you have taken in the fine architecture, head over to the bar. If you had by chance forgotten you were in the lone star state of Texas, this bar will give you a quick reminder with cow skin backed bar stools and statues of galloping horses. Don’t leave without one of their signature cocktails like the Blackberry Smash. It is as delicious as it looks and this was a fine end to our hot and sticky visit to Austin.

48 Hours in Austin was a great weekend getaway, even as unplanned as it was. In summary, there is tons of great music, food trucks everywhere, and looking back over my post, plenty of opportunities to grab a cool cocktail. At some point I will get back there to indulge in those swimming holes. Do you know and love Austin? If so, let me know in the comments if there are any other must sees on my next trip to Austin.