Texas’ captivating capital also offers superb cuisine, unique attractions, world-class museums, fantastic shopping, plenty of outdoor activities around picturesque Lady Bird Lake and top luxury hotels. For those seeking a getaway that blends great music, great food and laid-back Texas charm, Austin hits all the right notes. This is a place you not only visit – you feel.

 

Music pulses through Austin 365 days a year with 250 live music venues hosting top blues, jazz, pop, country, rock, and Latin rhythms, nightly. From popular festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest drawing artists and fans from around the globe, to iconic nightclubs, elegant lounges and the neon-lit bars of Sixth Street – there’s surely something for every taste.

 

 

LIVE MUSIC EVERYWHERE
Some of the many music venues include:
Antone’s Nightclub; the legendary blues venue founded in 1975 that hosted B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and James Brown is still going hot today. A recent 50th-anniversary celebration featuring the Antone’s 50th Allstars, brought the house down. Stop off at their store where you can snag their prized CD’s, vinyl’s, records and photos. The iconic, lively and popular Continental Club known for hosting top local artists has been a staple of Austin’s music scene since the 1950’s. Jam sessions are part of the fabric of the city and Elephant Room, open since 1991, delivers the quintessential laid- back basement lounge experience, with live music nightly and the legendary Monday Night Jam.

 

The Parker Jazz Club features a suave ambiance, great acoustics and gorgeous jazz. Austin based award-winning vocalist and woodwind specialist Kris Kimura, often performs the timeless music of the American Songbook, accompanied by the Ryan Davis Trio in this jazzy gem. Step into the glamour and mystique of jazz’s golden era at Nica, Austin’s new hot intimate jazz boite. Amber lighting, velvet seating and warm jazz melodies create a sexy, romantic vibe in this jewel box of a club.

 

Additional music venues such as The Saxon Pub, Stubb’s, C-Boy’s Heart & Soul, The Jade Room, Paramount and Moody Theater, among many others, feature diverse offerings ranging from flamenco, gospel, zydeco, reggae to The Gypsy Kings and the Great Cuban Pianist Chucho Valdés.

 

 

FOOD AS VIBRANT AS THE MUSIC
In addition to legendary barbecue like Terry Black’s mouth watering slow-smoked brisket, you’ll find fantastic Tex-Mex, chef driven restaurants, a thriving food truck scene and a host of diverse eateries. I loved Michelin Star Winner Nixta Taqueria’s inspired Mexican cuisine such as amazing duck confit tacos and Kalimotxo’s Spanish delights including tantalizing tapas, cod and Texas Wagyu Ribeye.

 

 

SUNSET BAT CRUISE
Don’t miss seeing Austin’s famous bats on a sunset Bat cruise. The spectacle of North America’s largest urban bat colony, approximately 1.5million, flying out from the Congress Avenue Bridge at the golden hour, is a sight to behold. It’s also great way to take in Austin’s beauty from the water and learn about the locale’s history from a prime-viewing seat at the
Bat Show!

 

 

AUSTIN ATTRACTIONS
Outdoor activities include: Scenic walks, hikes and bike trails along Lady Bird Lake; kayaking; paddleboard; canoeing; and boating; strolling Umlauf Sculpture Garden, zip-lining through Hill Country, exploring the stunning Barton Creek Greenbelt trail, taking a dip at Barton Springs Pool, visiting Austin’s iconic murals and more.

 

The lively 2nd Street District in the heart of downtown is home to numerous locally owned shops, restaurants serving up excellent local fare and entertainment venues aplenty.

 

 

SHOPPERS PARADISE
Walkable South Congress is a shopping paradise housing the chic boutiques of Music Lane, Kendra Scott for custom jewelry, cowboy boots and other Western delights at stylish Tecovas, world famous Allens and fashionista favorite South to North. Top your visit off at Maufrais for a custom Western hat, sure to turn heads.

 

 

LBJ LIBRARY/ MUSEUM
The must see Lyndon Baines Johnson Library/Museum offers a fascinating journey through American history during the turbulent 1960s with dramatic interactive and engaging exhibits. These include a replica of LBJ’s Oval Office, photos and videos including those of Johnson signing the historic Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, and recordings of actual personal telephone conversations of the 36th President with Jackie Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and many others that make you feel like you are right there with them. LBJ’s famously persuasive charm flowing through his distinctly Texas roots is on full display and is very entertaining.

 

 

LUXURY HOTELS
Austin is home to many top luxury hotels. Some of my favorites include:
The Four Seasons Hotel Austin – this serene luxurious oasis with impeccably manicured grounds, an enviable location on Lady Bird Lake and within walking distance of downtown – features direct access to the bike and hike trails, stunning lake-view rooms and suites done in stylish contemporary décor and a saltwater pool with cabanas. Guests enjoy locally inspired dishes with Latin influences at acclaimed Ciclo Restaurant, the excellent spa and are surrounded by trees, plants and gardens with hammocks and loungers.
www.fourseasons.com

 

Austin Proper Hotel located in Downtown’s Second Street District features design forward rooms and suites with vibrant interiors by Kelly Wearstler that mix vintage and modern through texture and color. The vibe is upscale trendy, with a rooftop pool, immersive wellness experiences and various restaurants with menus built around local farms.
www.properhotel.com

 

The 10 acre Commodore Perry Estate, 10 minutes north of downtown, features a restored 1928 Italianate Mansion and three-story newly-built Inn amid oak trees, flowing fountains, oval swimming pool, English-style gardens and Lutie’s Restaurant. Part of the Auberge Collection, the retreat combines relaxed European elegance with Texas charm.
www.auberge.com

 

Hotel Saint Cecilia, a 20-room secluded estate inspired by the patron saint of music and poetry in the South Congress neighborhood, offers a retro, glamorous rock-n-roll vibe mixed with Southern hospitality. Stylish accommodations scattered throughout the estate showcase fetching vintage, artistic design along with the coveted heated “SOUL” pool. www.bunkhousehotels.com