I'm heading to Austin to stay with family for 2 weeks over Easter. I've been once before but it was for a family wedding so there wasn't too much time for sightseing etc. I have quite a few friends and relatives around the area but most of them will be working during the day so I'm looking for ways to fill my time.

If anyone has any recommendations of places to visit / things to see / restaurants to go to that would be great. My parents (in their late 60's) will also be there for some of my stay so anything that would also be suitable for them would be fantastic (they're pretty spritely but my Dad has some problems with his leg so nothing too physically demanding). We will have a car so places a bit further out are fine too.

Many thanks in advance

The state capitol is nice,there is the Texas State History Museum, you can watch the bats come out of the Congress Bridge, to name a few.

Also a day trip to San Antonio is possible since its only about an hour drive away.

There's a possibility you'll be too early for the bats. They arrive late March through mid-late April, it just depends.

However, Austin never runs out of things to do:

1) Great music, not just on 6th Street but in multiple venues around town.
2) Take a tour of the highland lakes.
3) Bluebonnets will be starting to erupt everywhere - Burnet has their bluebonnet festival (small but cute) April 9-11.
4) Educate yourself about BBQ, Texas style. Take a trip East to Taylor for Louie Mueller's, south to Lockhart for Smitty's (my fave), Kreuz's, or Black's, a bit farther south for City Market in Luling, or west to Llano for Cooper's.
5) Visit the State Capitol
6) Have a drink in the lobby bar at the Driskill
7) Visit Zilker Park and see the botanical gardens or take a dip in the Barton Springs Pool (cold even in summer)

Check Austin 360's website to check music/entertainment in the area as well as restaurants and events.

Yes, you have to see a live band, eat some barbeque and watch the bats.

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone ^ (more welcome of course).

I've already seen a few lives bands in Austin but looking forward to seeing plenty more. I'm also well aquainted with Zilker Park and Barton Springs (as they are just a stone's throw from where my family live), both beautiful places I look forward to seeing much more of

I've been in a canoe under the bridge during the day but am yet to see them at night, fingers crossed it won't be too early for them.

Great thread. I am off to AUS this weekend. I think I have bbq and tex-mex covered, as well as a day trip to San Antonio.

My question is what to do this weekend?

Probably too cold for bats and swimming. I have a two year old too.

Any ideas?

In addition to the Texas State History Museum, another Austin museum well worth visiting is the Blanton Museum of art, very near the History Museum.

Also, a day trip to the hill country may be of interest. Some places to visit include Lyndon Johnson National Historical Park, Fredericksburg (a quaint and touristy German town), and the wineries. This is all about 1.25-2 hours West of Austin.

Go to Scholz's and drink beer with the ghosts of the past. That's J. Frank Dobie settin' over in the corner of the backyard. Mosts there have been there often, some over many decades.

Walk up (or down) Guadelupe. Go to Dirty's. Have another beer or two. Eat a burger.

Go to Cisco's for breakfast. Occasionally the famous and more often the infamous will be there.

There used to be a great model airplance collection in the Tower, now likely hidden away. Even more deeply concealed is the Kinsey Collection of pornography which includes all the great 40s and 50s stuff owned by former Egyptian King Farouk who had money and furrin' agents to purchase and send examples to him in the Diplomatic Bag. Hell of a library of "8 Pagers", classic 'Merkin porno from the Golde Age.

You've got to know somebody, a real somebody for access.

There are several great, and free museums on the campus of The University of Texas. You can see original local dino footprints, an original Gutenberg bible, and the first photo ever taken, for example. Plus various collections of art. However, parking on or near campus is not fun/cheap.

Ciao,
FH

Check out the Oasis Restaurant on Lake Travis. It has some amazing views over looking the lake. Or at least it did, it burnt down a few years ago but was rebuilt.

http://www.oasis-austin.com/

I agree, sunset at the Oasis on the deck with a margarita in hand is wonderful. Food: mediocre at best, but the view is great.

open question to this thread, is there a better website to search local music.

Both websites quoted in this thread are VERY limited in listings.

1) what are the good music venues in town? (I realize good music can happen anywhere but some venues are known for producing more of it than others)

2) anyone done the Sunday gospel brunch @ Stubb's ?

Heading the Austin this coming weekend.

Thanks !!!

I am taking Mrs_E to see Elton John on April 10th at the John Frank Erwin Events Center, that is with the 2-weeks mentioned by the OPs timeline.

Good if you like that kinda stuff.

This seems like a major venue, I was looking for a listing/ranking of the smaller Austin joints.

good music venues

the continental club
momo's
saxon pub
antone's (home of the blues)
the cactus cafe (UT campus)
Stubb's
Threadgill's
The Broken Spoke (for country dancing)
the hole in the wall

are among my fave's
here's a good link
http://www.austinmetro.com/
have fun,
dan