AUSTIN — While Austin is known for its annual events such as Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, there are other year-round attractions that keep Austin weird and fun for tourists to enjoy.
From great food to fun adventures, Austin has a little bit of everything for people of all ages to experience!
If you're someone who's looking to visit Texas' capital but only have a short amount of time to do it, this is for you!
Here are the highlights Austin has to offer. Pick and choose wisely.
ATTRACTIONS
Austin Graffiti Park
At Austin Graffiti Park you can climb and snap pictures on concrete blocks that are covered in graffiti. Although this artistic attraction is moving soon, you still have time to visit and take a look at the variety of graffiti art.
Location: 1008 Baylor Sreet, Austin, Texas
'I love you so much' mural
If you're a lover and not a fighter, visit the "I love you so much" sign. This mural is one of the most popular places in Austin as it makes for a perfect photo opportunity. Grab the one you love and snap a photo in front of this mural that's on the side of Jo's Coffee.
Location: 1300 S Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
Bats under Congress Street bridge
When the sun goes down, the bats come out! If you're looking for a sight to see that's free, visiting the Congress Street Bridge to see bats is a must! Visit Congress Bridge bats for more information.
Location: 100 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
6th Street
For all you legal drinkers out there, 6th Street is Austin's strip of bars that are guaranteed to give you a good time. Some of the most notable bars include, The White Horse, Green Light Social, Shangri-La, Shakespeare's, Kung Fu Saloon, Blind Pig Pub and Violet Crown Social Club.
Location: West 6th Sreet, Austin, Texas
ADVENTURE
Paddle boarding and kayaking
Break a sweat and get wet! The best places to rent a kayak, paddle board or a canoe in Austin is Rowing Dock! Put your paddling to the test while enjoying the wonderful views that Austin has to offer! This option is is perfect for those who want to enjoy the outdoors with a little reprieve.
Location: 2418 Stratford Drive, Austin, Texas
Hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is an urban oasis that not only offers views for days but a list of things to do as well! Here, adventurers can hike, bike, climb, swim and run around.
Location: 3755 S Capital of Texas Highway B, Austin, Texas
Rent a boat on the lake
Renting a boat is a great way to get away for a while without going too far! One of the best places to rent a boat in Austin is at Float On. You can either party on Lake Travis or Lake Austin.
Lake Austin location: 5019 Capital of Texas Highway North
Lake Travis location: 16405 Clara Van Street
FOOD
Breakfast/Brunch
Irene's
When it comes to food, Irene's is a must! Irene's is an American bar and restaurant that is very trendy and fun. From biscuits and booze, to salads and soup, Irene's has it all. Don't miss your chance to dine here and take a cute picture in front of their neon pink sign.
Location: 506 West Avenue Austin, Texas
Kerbey Lane Cafe
With several locations across Austin, it's not hard to see why Kerbey Lane Cafe gets so much hype. They offer tasty food at affordable prices. The cafe also offers gluten free and vegan food options.
Locations: 2606 Guadalupe Street, 13435 US Highway 183, 3003 South Lamar Boulevard, 701 South Capital of Texas Highway, 4301 West William Cannon Drive
Lunch/Dinner
Food trucks
Austin is known for their fast, friendly and tasty food trucks, so we definitely recommend stopping by one when you're in town. There are countless food trucks that offer tasty tacos, barbecue, Indian food and more. One of the best locations to get the widest variety of food trucks in one spot is The Picnic.
Location: 1720 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX
Barbecue
The barbecue in Austin is so good it needs its own category. We couldn't end this list without including the variety of places in Austin that serve juicy, tender meat for all you carnivores out there. Some of the must-try barbecue places include Salt Lick BBQ, Styles Switch BBQ and Franklin Barbecue.
RELATED:
Dancing & Music
Boot scootin' boogiers -- listen up! ACL and SXSW aren't enough for Austinites. Austin offers a variety of music all year-round. Visiting Broken Spoke dance hall will not leave you unsatisfied with their live music and good food. If you're looking to bust a move, visit Bar Hop on Rainey Street!