Austin Travel Forum

boy, i really had a hard time booking a hotel in the downtown location i wanted. finally gave myself a huge splurge at the hyatt regency town lake!!! so, in order of priority, what's good to do in austin; are there any good city bus tours around town...not ducks please!! thanx again...

Since you stay in hyatt regency, walk to the boat deck behind the hotel, there are a few boat tours that will offer sunset cruise along town lake, where you can watch the largest colony of bats fly out from South Congress bridge.
It definitely worth the time.

Within walking distance, there's state capitol, and also 6th St. for night life. Unfortunately, I don't have any information regarding city bus tour.

For myself, a trip to Austin won't be perfect without:
1. A stop at San Marcos outlet mall (it's huge ! Wear your walking shoes): 45 minutes driving from Austin
2. Dine out at one of Austin finest BBQ restaurants (so many to choose from)
Salt Lick, Iron Works (on the corner of Red River and Cesar Chavez St), County Line (FM 2222)
3. Experiencing 6th Street, the center of night life with many live music
4. Bat watching at South Congress bridge during sunset
5. Swimming at Barton Spring pool, the man made pool fed by natural spring

I used to live in Austin for few years, but I keep coming back for visit every now and then.
Have fun !

THANX for all the help...i won't have much time on my own in austin; i arrive sometime on a friday and my friends are picking me up saturday morning to see the REAL TEXAS!! i keep asking myself if i am really on my way to TEXAS!!! (being from new york!)

Since you are staying at the Hyatt on Town Lake, you should definitely try brunch at Las Manitas, located at 211 Congress Ave. It's located on the other side of Town Lake and has got fantastic food and atmosphere. As for city bus tours, Austin is really not big enough to warrant one. Nevertheless, you might try riding the %L[http://www.capmetro.org/riding/downtown_trollies.asp]'Dillo%L*. Possibly check out the West End shopping district (located on West 6th Street just west of Lamar Stree) and the nearby main %L[http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lamar/]Whole Foods Market%L*. If you like to walk/run, the Hyatt is located just off of Austin's hike & bike trail which runs along both sides of Town Lake.

It really depends on what you like to do. You're within walking distance from the bats and from the South Congress shopping area. I love exploring the antique stores and other unique stores in that area. The bats will be just north of you and the shopping area will be south of you. The Continental Club is nearby as well as restaurants/bars. I really like the Hotel San Jose lounge on South Congress.

There are several art museums and galleries on Congress Avenue north of your location and south of the Capitol. Zilker Park (check out Barton Springs and one of my favorite spots in Austin: Zilker Botanical Gardens) is to the west. You'll need some sort of transportation to Zilker, though.

I prefer 4th Street to 6th Street. I like 219 West, Saba, and Ginger Man in that location. 6th Street seems to mainly be populated by tourists and college students, unless you go to the bars west of the popular 6th Street strip. Star Bar, Little Woodrow's, Opal Divine's, and The Belmont are good places around there.

I'm really not sure about public transportation or bus tours other than the ducks. You can probably easily find your way around town to various locations. Or you can do what I do: roam around South Congress and downtown on foot. I'll find a place to park my car on a Saturday or Sunday and then just wander around.

The reason you had a hard time finding a hotel is because, May 31st to June 3rd is the weekend of a big motorcycle rally in Austin. It's one of the biggest events of the year here. Downtown will be packed in the afternoons and evenings of that weekend.

Happy trails,

Marc

whereabouts is the rally being held???

The main drag (Congress Avenue) will be closed to traffic from 6:00 PM, today, until 3:00 AM, tomorrow. We're expecting over a quarter of million bikers to converge on Austin and injecting some $40 million into our economy over the weekend.

I'm three floors up in a building, now, and I can hear all the bikers roaring by, now.

I'll be out on Congress this evening taking lots of photos of the mayhem.