Advertisement
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Walmart. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog.
A couple of weeks ago, my family headed down to Austin, Texas for a family wedding. I’ve been to this cool city a few times before (for another family trip and a bachelorette party), but this was the longest amount of time we had in this thriving town. We got in on Thursday morning and headed back to Chicago on Monday. This left us with plenty of time to eat, drink, and have an amazing time together.
Whenever I’m looking for recommendations, I always head to Insta Stories to ask for your opinion. So I knew you guys would have some good suggestions for Austin. Boy, you guys did not disappoint! I’ve added your suggestions throughout the post on what to see, where to go, and what to eat. Hopefully, these tips help as you plan your next trip to this city!
Casey: Shorts || Shoes || Floral Top || Purse
So let’s get to it, here’s our weekend guide to Austin!
Weekend Guide to Austin
Where We Stayed
Instead of opting for hotel rooms, we rented a big house so the entire family could stay together! We ended up getting this huge house in the Zilker Park area of the city and it was perfect. A great location, where we could easily walk or scooter to fun areas of town. There was tons of room for the kids to play inside and they loved hanging in the cute backyard. I was so blown away by some of the homes in the neighborhood too. So many large unbelievable houses. Finn and I kept saying…”maybe we should pick up and move here?!” But seriously…how cool would that be?
What We Wore
So as you guys saw from the top, this post is sponsored by Walmart. I’m really digging their revamped site and updated vibes, and have been doing a lot of online shopping through them. And have you seen their new MoDRN home line? Chris Loves Julia just used their leather headboard in a room makeover and I can’t even believe the affordable price tag!
But anyways, let’s chat about clothing! Finn and I picked up a few new things for the trip for spring. Austin has such a laidback vibe, so it was nice to pack casual spring essentials for our trip.
I got these Sam Edelman espadrilles and I’m officially obsessed. They’re incredibly comfortable, so I was able to walk all around the city without a blister in sight. I love when that happens with new shoes. And while they’re casual, the platform look made me feel a teensy bit dressy (and made me a little taller for my super tall husband!).
I also opted for Levi’s jean shorts (a classic), this floral top, and aviator sunnies. The circular crossbody bag is only $15…say what?! I used it the entire trip and jammed my phone, money, and extra goodies in there as we explored the city. I’m also eyeing these camo leggings because they’re from Ellen Degeneres’ new line and I’m obsessed with everything that woman does. She is just the best!
Finn got these shorts (for $17!), this polo, and these shoes for the trip. He raved about the shoes the entire time…so comfortable and perfect for exploring Austin. He logged so many miles in those bad boys.
The shorts are a hybrid stretch, so they’re lightweight (which is ideal for hot & humid days in Texas). He plans to golf in them all summer, along with the cool polo. 
Overall, the fashion in Austin is incredibly laid back. Jean shorts & sneakers are the way to go during the daytime! At night, you can opt for a sundress and jean jacket…but again, super casual is the way to go!
Where We Ate
OMG…the food in Austin is incredible and we ate so much the entire weekend. Every place is adorable with their outdoor patios and string lights. Here are a few of the spots we ate at during our short stay…
- Uncle Billy’s – A yummy BBQ joint really close to our house in Zilker Park. Casual and fun ambiance.
- Barlata – We had the most incredible Spanish tapas at this spot for dinner. Everything we ordered was good.
- Torchy’s Tacos – So many of you guys recommended this spot and it did not disappoint. Best tacos ever!
- Perla’s – The cutest patio and fresh seafood. Yum!
- Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill – We ate here for dinner before heading out to Rainey street one evening. I had the salmon and it was delish!
- Zax – Our big group went here for Sunday brunch! Such a diverse menu.
- Jo’s Coffee – We got up early one morning to explore South Congress and picked up coffee and breakfast tacos from this local spot. This is also where the famous “I love you so much” mural is located!
- Amy’s Ice Cream – Creamy & delicious ice cream and you can mix in all kinds of toppings!
Your Suggestions
- Emmer & Rye
- Holy Roller – “A little punk rock vibe place, it’s worth the wait!”
- La Barbecue (lots of recommendations for this one!)
- Micklethwait – “Amazing BBQ”
- Salt Lick BBQ
- Bucky’s
- Kerby Lane Cafe – “It’s a 24-hour diner”
- Velvet Taco
- Gordoughs – “The best doughnuts!”
- Summer Moon Coffee
- Kerbey Lane – “Get the queso or pancakes”
- Odd Duck
- Qui
- Hank’s
- Fresas
- Salt & Time – “Butcher shop turned cafe”
- Pitchfork Pretty – “Locally sourced southern fare. Decor is on point!”
- Home Slice
- Hopdoddy
- Tatsuya – “Get the ramen on a rainy day”
- Halcyon Coffee Shop – “You can make s’mores there”
- Mozart’s – “Coffee shop with yummy treats.”
- Cabo Bob’s – “I dream about the burritos. The shredded pork is amazing”
What We Did
We had all day Thursday and Friday for exploring and we took full advantage. Luckily, the weather was fantastic those 2 days with sunshine and temps in the low 80’s. Saturday and Sunday were another story…severe (and boy, were they severe!) thunderstorms all day long. This put a damper on our exploring, but we still were able to fit in lots of fun. 
- Walk around South Congress – Lots of cute shops and restaurants here.
- Hotel San Jose – We had drinks by the pool at this gorgeous hotel and it was unbelievable. Sipping frose with your feet in the water…can’t be beat!
- Scooter around town – OMG…the scooters! There are electric scooters all around town and they are so fun (not to mention an easy way to see a lot of the city!). Be sure to download the Bird, Lime, or Lyft app so you’re prepared to rent them. We hopped on them constantly and zipped all around town.
- Explore Downtown & 6th Street – One afternoon we scootered over to downtown for shopping and bar hopping. It was a blast!
- Little Woodrow’s – We had a drink on this outdoor patio.
- Darcy’s Donkey – Refreshing moscow mules here.
- Rainey Street – This street is a must-see. It’s a little neighborhood with houses that are turned into outdoor bars and restaurants. We went there one night and then hit up the food trucks for some grub.
- Unbarlievable – A bar we visited on Rainey Street with a circus theme. They even have a slide inside!
Your Suggestions
- Kayak with the bats – Lots of recommendations to see the bats, I’m so sad we didn’t have time to fit this in.
- Mt. Bonnell
- Hamilton Pool
- Icenhaur’s – “Live bands outside on Thursday nights”
- Modcloth Boutique
- LBJ Library
- Hike Mt. Bonnell for great views
- Wimberly Valley Winery
- Barton Springs to picnic
- Free tours at the capital
- Go to a movie at the Alamo Draft House
Wow, that was definitely a lot of info. I hope you guys liked our weekend guide to Austin. Have you been to this cool city? If we missed any must-see, must-eat, must-do activities…let me know in the comments below!
Casey
Advertisement
