The Best Things About Austin, Texas

Ford provided the vehicle for this trip to Austin, Texas. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The slogan might be Keep Austin Weird but after recently spending a bit of time in Austin during a conference, I decided the weird isn’t so weird and is actually pretty wonderful. The colors, the character, and the quirkiness all combine to make Austin, Texas a pretty great place to visit. I took piles of photos while I was there for a brief trip and thought you might enjoy seeing some of the best things about Austin, Texas! But be warned … you’re going to want to plan a trip to this entertaining city!

Last month, I attended a conference and had the privilege of driving a 2018 Ford Expedition Limited Max from Dallas down to Austin. I loaded up a few of my favorite blogger friends {Lindi from Love The Day, Mariah from Giggles Galore, and Rebekah from A Blissful Nest} and we hit the open roads for a quick trip that involved a lot of conference time and some intentional touring time.

On the way down, we stopped in Waco for a quick cupcake fix at Silos Baking Co {because if you’re driving right through Waco, you should always take a little Magnolia detour, right?}. If you’re traveling to Waco, be sure to check out my DIY Magnolia Market Fixer Upper tour … and if you’re in Austin, consider popping up to Waco {it’s just an hour and a half north}.

We couldn’t resist getting a photo of the Ford Expedition in front of the famous Magnolia sign.

I’m not a car expert by any means but I do know what I like and I fell in love with the Ford Expedition during the week I had it. I was a bit worried that I would find it too big {I normally drive a minivan} but I quickly got used to the size and found it super easy to drive. I even found it super easy to park thanks to the sensing system. The gas mileage was way beyond what I expected in a vehicle this size …

… and it easily passed the comfort test with lots of room for both people and luggage, as well as the mom test with cup holders and storage galore {’cause that’s what moms really care about, right?}. And I loved the seats that could both heat and ventilate, an awesome treat for our crazy up and down Texas weather! {My kids LOVED that the second row also had heated seats!}

From the convenient push button start …

… to the panoramic vista roof, I loved driving this vehicle and was pretty sad when I had to give it back! But while I had it we used it well, touring Austin and checking out the scene. And here’s what I loved most in this fabulous little city!

Food Trucks

Austin has food trucks everywhere! They’re parked on South Congress Avenue, on South First Street, and in locations and food truck parks all over Austin. If you love the food truck trend, this is your town! We saw the original Torchy’s Tacos {this location is no longer open but will forever be a taco icon} …

… perused the menus at a variety of food trucks, and ate some delicious Indian food, maybe some of the best chicken curry I’ve had.

The food truck trend is so enjoyable because it’s a meal and an activity all in one and you can enjoy bits of food from a variety of places. Total score for the foodie crowd and Austin has an abundance!

Color

I thrive on color and Austin has plenty of it.

From colorful installations like this one by Color Condition {I totally want to make a backdrop like this for a party!} …

… to bright doors …

… to fabulous painted walls …

… Austin is a lively city of color! I got the sense that Austin is just always ready for a party!

Character

I’ve been to a lot of Texas cities and towns and Austin definitely has a character unlike any other place in this big state. There’s graffiti in random spots, stickers placed on bike racks …

… and posters, torn and weathered, stapled to poles. While you may look at these things and see them in a negative light, I found myself loving the character they add. It just feels right in this artsy locale.

Wall Murals

If you look at instagram at all, you’ve likely seen wall murals in Austin. I always get excited about a good wall mural and love to take photos of them when I’m visiting a different city. A quick walk down South Congress will give you an interesting variety including the famous love mural …

… this amazing piece of art …

… and one for laughs. The wall murals definitely add to the flavor of Austin.

Greenery

Even in the heart of downtown, Austin has done a great job of keeping and adding natural elements. In the midst of concrete and metal, a bit of greenery is even more fabulous …

… and softens the city just a little.

And any city that has an abundance of cacti is a win in my books {wink}!

Easy to Get Around

Austin traffic can be a bit of a nightmare but seeing the city on foot is definitely an option. While you can’t walk all over Austin, there are lots of areas both downtown and adjacent to the downtown area that are totally walkable … or bike-able, if you’d prefer that. Austin has bikes to rent and there are bike lanes all over, making biking a practical way to see the city.

Restaurants

The food scene in Austin is awesome. The end. Great food, great atmosphere …

… and lots of variety give Austin a fantastic food scene {and I tried to take in as much of it as I could in the few days I was there!}.

Sweet Treats

In addition to the food trucks and restaurants, Austin has everything you could ever need to satisfy your sweet tooth! Cupcakes, donuts {can I admit that I think I tried donuts from three different places while in town?} …

… and ice cream top off the food scene! While you can’t judge a city only by its donut game, if you could, Austin’s got it made.

Inspiring

Finally, I would say Austin is inspiring. All of these traits combine to make Austin a unique, fun, exciting city that can appeal to any age or interest. I loved my whirlwind tour and can’t wait to spend more time in this weirdly wonderful city!