Austin, TX

Hey y'all!

Thought I'd start with one of my favorite places, Austin, TX. I just got back from a trip there, after I spent two years of my life in grad school at UT. It was as wonderful as I remember it.

So...planning a trip to Austin? A great place to start looking around is either on the mainstream daily newspaper The Austin-American Statesman or the alternative (and great!) weekly The Austin Chronicle. Or, just follow my trusty advice! Let's start with...

Places to Stay

Now, I have never stayed in a hotel in Austin, because I lived there and now stay with friends, but i can make a few recommendations.

First, there is an IH Youth Hostel in Austin. It's right on the water, which is nice, but you will have to take the bus in and out of town.

One hotel that has gained quite a reputation is the San Jose Hotel. Located right in the middle of popular South Congress, it is a hipster's paradise and has been featured on the Travel Channel's Great Hotels.

Alright, let's move on to...

Things to Do

Austin has quite a few outdoor activities. One popular place for locals in Town Lake, located right in the heart of downtown. There is a very nice walking trail around the lake, and you will see many an Austinite with their dogs! Also, if hiking is your thing, and you have a car, head out to Enchanted Rock; it's also a great place for couples.

In town, you should definitely not miss the State Capitol building. Made out of local rose marble, this is a gorgeous building and you will be wowed by the size of it, I promise! Continuing our slightly nerdy tour of Austin, make sure you check out the Texas State History Museum. I swear you will not be disappointed, even if this seems too much like school. This is one of the coolest museums I have even been too, and it will give you a good feeling for that Texas spirit!

While in Austin, the University of Texas main campus is definitely worth visiting. The buildings are beautiful and historic. On the border of the main campus is Guadalupe St, a great place for shopping and eating. Make sure you visit the University Co-op; they have more Longhorn paraphernalia than you could ever imagine.

Since you're now in a shopping mood, head over to one of my favorite blocks in Austin, right at the intersection of 6th and Lamar. Here, you've got Amy's ice cream (Root Beer Float is my favorite!) and Waterloo Records, an Austin classic. Also located here is Book People, my favorite book store in the world; with a great independent selection and lots of comfy (and mismatched) chairs, this is bound to steal an afternoon away from you. And don't miss the Whole Foods flagship store--it is amazing! Its prepared food section is the size of a small supermarket; this is a great place to pick up a quick meal or dessert.

Next, continue south to South Congress shopping area, or SoCo. This is a hip shopping area for antiques, art, jewelry, and other unclassifiable goods. One of my favorite stores here is Parts and Labour, which features handmade items by local artists.

For nightlife, there are two main areas for bar and club hopping. Sixth Street tends to cater more to a younger, college-age crowd. If you work for a living, the Warehouse District, on Fourth Street, will have everything you're looking for.

Wallet empty yet? Hope not, because it's time to find...

Places to Eat

This list is nowhere near comprehensive, as Austin is a great place for wonderful, cheap food, but these are a few of my favorites:

For one of the best hamburgers you will ever have, try Hut's Hamburgers. Wednesday is 2 for 1 burger night; don't miss the onion rings!
If your tastes run to the more Asian side, try Zen. They have huge teriakyi bowls as well as sushi. Everything here is made fresh and from scratch, with no microwaves or fryers. A lot of bang for the buck.
There are two barbecue places I love in Austin. One is County Line; they have great sausage and the beef ribs are enormous! Make sure you order some whole wheat bread. The location on Bee Caves Road has a great view! My other favorite spot for barbecue is Salt Lick. Their classic location is out of town, in Dripping Springs. It is in a dry county, so BYOB. This is a great barbecue experience; share a picnic table in a barn with your friends, and make sure you get the all-you-can-eat meal.
For pizza, you've got to try Mangia. They make a pizza like nowhere else, stuffed with cheese, with sauce on the top. If you want some great Italian food, Romeo's is a wonderful local place with good food, reasonable prices, and a patio.
Austin also has some great diner-like establishments, Kerbey Lane and Magnolia Cafe. Kerbey Lane has awesome pancakes, and if you get a hamburger, make sure you get it with the basil-pecan-pesto mayonnaise--it's to die for.
So, you're in Texas, gotta try some Mexican, right? My personal favorite is Guero's taco bar. People swear by the Guero's salad; I love the shrimp tacos. The queso is amazing, too.

So, there you have it. My personal guide to Austin. There are a ton of places I haven't covered, so be creative and explore! Have fun!

Wanderlust and an Introduction

Hi all! I'm not sure who will be reading this, but I thought I'd introduce myself and what I'm doing here.

First of all, why a travel blog? Well, travel was always a part of my life, although the international travel bug didn't hit until later on. I grew up driving up and down the west coast with my family. However, it wasn't until I was 19 that I left the country for the first time. I was lucky enough to study abroad in Spain; after that I backpacked twice around Europe. I've always been all over the Caribbean, as well as to India and Israel. And I've had the chance to do some more traveling around the States.

So...I thought I'd share what I know! I love to travel, and I think I have a knack for finding cool places to eat, drink, see, and stay. I'm the typical traveler in her 20s...I don't have too much money, but I'm creative with what I have. So look for some guides to places I love, of course only from my own perspective.
You can see below a map of where I've been...expect to find out more about these places soon!

Enjoy, be creative, and find the wanderlust inside yourself!