A Weekend in Austin, Texas
Mar 6, 2019, 3:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
A Weekend in Austin, Texas
A short weekend jaunt to the Texas State Capitol, Austin. This trip report is more brief than my others, but figured it was worth posting (unlike my recent trips to Sao Paulo and Paris). Some good food and great weather makes for a great day.
Previous reports:
Exploring Ukraine - Kiev, Chernobyl Nuclear Powerplant and Pripyat
A Short Trip to Panama City, Panama
A Week in the Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan
and
Armenia
A Landscape Photography Trip to Oregon
A Trip to Nigeria
A Trip to the Grand Canyon and Sedona
A Trip to the Azores.
One Week in India: Mumbai, Amritsar, Agra/Taj Mahal, Jaipur and Delhi CX and EY J
A Snowstorm in Tokyo and Volcanoes in the Philippines
New Year’s in Seoul, South Korea Delta A350 Suite
Keeping it Domestic: Grand Teton National Park
9 Days in Asia: Taipei, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Shanghai
Two Weeks in South Africa and Namibia: Joburg, Cape Town, Sossusvlei and Kruger
¡Bienvenido a Cuba!
Previous reports:
Exploring Ukraine - Kiev, Chernobyl Nuclear Powerplant and Pripyat
A Short Trip to Panama City, Panama
A Week in the Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan
and
Armenia
A Landscape Photography Trip to Oregon
A Trip to Nigeria
A Trip to the Grand Canyon and Sedona
A Trip to the Azores.
One Week in India: Mumbai, Amritsar, Agra/Taj Mahal, Jaipur and Delhi CX and EY J
A Snowstorm in Tokyo and Volcanoes in the Philippines
New Year’s in Seoul, South Korea Delta A350 Suite
Keeping it Domestic: Grand Teton National Park
9 Days in Asia: Taipei, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Shanghai
Two Weeks in South Africa and Namibia: Joburg, Cape Town, Sossusvlei and Kruger
¡Bienvenido a Cuba!
Mar 6, 2019, 3:37 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Austin has long been on my list for domestic cities to visit. Finally, with open flights and a free weekend, I finally crossed it off the list. The trip was short, but confirms that Austin is the type of city I could live in and would love to return to.
The trip started with some evening flights on a Friday out to Austin.
Starting the day off with some chipotle eggs benedict.
The Texas State Capitol was the first sight of the day.
Texas State Capitol architecture.
Capitol rotunda.
Senate Chamber.
Remember the Alamo.
Supreme Court Courtroom.
Capitol building.
The Texas African American History Memorial (ironically across from a Confederate memorial) in front of the Capitol building.
The next stop was the Zilker Metropolitan Park.
After a short walk, we got a pretty good view of downtown Austin.
Austin, Texas.
Swan.
Barton Creek, a runoff of the Colorado River.
Our $22 rental car (thanks National Executive Elite status). We decided to drop the car off downtown and pickup some Lime Scooters to get around.
This was my first time using Lime Scooters, and I have to say, I'm a fan. I can see how they can likely be annoying for locals/drivers, but they're super convenient for visitors and people who just don't want to deal with driving around and parking. Simply scan the barcode on it (which uses the app to pay) and take it. When you're done, you end your trip and leave it wherever is convenient.
Downtown Austin is a pretty nice place to be. Very clean, organized and the weather was perfect.
Mural.
Austin City Hall.
Riding around Austin just exploring.
At the recommendation of a local, we visited a food truck for some Texas BBQ. Oh, and free beer.
Ribs, sausage, potato salad and beans.
After dropping the scooters off, it was time to head back to the airport. I could easily spend another couple of days in Austin, but had to be home for Sunday back in Tampa.
I was pleasantly impressed by Austin and can't wait to return. I think my next trip will be a double Austin-San Antonio trip over a long weekend, but we'll see.
Next: Guatemala
The trip started with some evening flights on a Friday out to Austin.
Starting the day off with some chipotle eggs benedict.
The Texas State Capitol was the first sight of the day.
Texas State Capitol architecture.
Capitol rotunda.
Senate Chamber.
Remember the Alamo.
Supreme Court Courtroom.
Capitol building.
The Texas African American History Memorial (ironically across from a Confederate memorial) in front of the Capitol building.
The next stop was the Zilker Metropolitan Park.
After a short walk, we got a pretty good view of downtown Austin.
Austin, Texas.
Swan.
Barton Creek, a runoff of the Colorado River.
Our $22 rental car (thanks National Executive Elite status). We decided to drop the car off downtown and pickup some Lime Scooters to get around.
This was my first time using Lime Scooters, and I have to say, I'm a fan. I can see how they can likely be annoying for locals/drivers, but they're super convenient for visitors and people who just don't want to deal with driving around and parking. Simply scan the barcode on it (which uses the app to pay) and take it. When you're done, you end your trip and leave it wherever is convenient.
Downtown Austin is a pretty nice place to be. Very clean, organized and the weather was perfect.
Mural.
Austin City Hall.
Riding around Austin just exploring.
At the recommendation of a local, we visited a food truck for some Texas BBQ. Oh, and free beer.
Ribs, sausage, potato salad and beans.
After dropping the scooters off, it was time to head back to the airport. I could easily spend another couple of days in Austin, but had to be home for Sunday back in Tampa.
I was pleasantly impressed by Austin and can't wait to return. I think my next trip will be a double Austin-San Antonio trip over a long weekend, but we'll see.
Next: Guatemala
Mar 6, 2019, 8:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: St. Paul, MN
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, IHG Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 448
Great photos. My wife and I went to Austin back in 2016 to celebrate my 30th birthday and we had a blast. Great food, things to do, and the weather was perfect. I definitely took a few runs around Lady Bird Lake!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Mar 7, 2019, 12:07 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 2,350
Thanks for the brief Trip Report. Next time you visit Austin I recommend that you visit The Broken Spoke. How did the flights go and how was the service on those flights?
Mar 7, 2019, 8:17 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: JNB
Programs: Flying Blue, Miles and Smiles, Hhonors, ICHotels
Posts: 1,307
I think my next trip will be a double Austin-San Antonio trip over a long weekend, but we'll see.
Again, great reading and amazing photos - thank you for sharing.
Mar 7, 2019, 10:35 am
#8
Original Poster
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Location: TPA
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Some time ago, I spent time south of Houston and over Thanksgiving toyed with the idea of visiting Austin based on info from this forum, but ended up going to San Antonio - also a great destination. Wish I could have done both, but was happy to at least visit S.A.
Again, great reading and amazing photos - thank you for sharing.
Again, great reading and amazing photos - thank you for sharing.
Thanks!!
Mar 9, 2019, 9:38 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Thanks and very nice! We must've almost crossed paths, when were you in Antigua? I was down there Jan 19-21 (just now realizing it's March as I type this, man does time fly). the GUA report should be good to go by tomorrow. SE Asia (Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia) to follow sometime next week and I'll be all caught up
. SE Asia must have had some tasty eats too
.
Mar 9, 2019, 10:25 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
h wish I'd known you were in Austin. Looks like you had great weather, we've had mosly crummy weather on weekends lately! And no line at Micklethwaits?!? I've always had to wait an hour or more...
Mar 10, 2019, 5:48 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Thanks for the TR, with nice pictures and information.
A helpful report for me, as Austin (and San Antonio) are in my thoughts for 2020 ... along with Charleston. Two weeks hopping between them could be good, and rack up a good few BA Tier points in the process!
A helpful report for me, as Austin (and San Antonio) are in my thoughts for 2020 ... along with Charleston. Two weeks hopping between them could be good, and rack up a good few BA Tier points in the process!
Mar 10, 2019, 7:03 am
#12
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Mar 10, 2019, 9:16 am
#13
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Mar 10, 2019, 1:09 pm
#14
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For Austin simply opt for the Four Seasons no arguments. I have never been to Charleson so couldn't comment.
Mar 11, 2019, 9:59 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
This was my first time using Lime Scooters, and I have to say, I'm a fan. I can see how they can likely be annoying for locals/drivers, but they're super convenient for visitors and people who just don't want to deal with driving around and parking. Simply scan the barcode on it (which uses the app to pay) and take it. When you're done, you end your trip and leave it wherever is convenient.