NIGHTLIFE
Austin, Texas is the Live Music Capital of the World! The music and nightlife scene in ATX is legendary, but that certainly isn’t the only thing the state capital has going for itself. Be sure to check out some of the places below while you’re in town.
ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE
Alamo Drafthouse isn’t just a movie theater, it’s a movie-watching experience that has fresh-prepared food, craft beer, and only one rule: no cellphones. They show a mix of current big-budget films, 35mm cinema, and VHS flicks.
SIXTH STREET
C’mon, you know this one! Sixth Street is Austin’s live entertainment center. You’ll find over 57 bars, live music venues, tattoo parlors, art galleries, upscale restaurants and more on the seven blocks that make up Texas’ most well-known street. If that’s not enough for you, keep on moving down to West Sixth Street!
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
Like Sixth Street, the Warehouse district is a collection of bars and restaurants in the heart of downtown Austin. Hot spots include Imperia Sushi and TenOak Bourbon House.
GHOSTS OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN
Who doesn’t love a good scare?! Austin has a storied history dating back to the 1800′s, and Austin Ghost Tours will help you explore the scarier side of it.
S. CONGRESS AVE.
Known as SoCo, South Congress Avenue has great restaurants, food trucks, music and shopping. Grab some Home Slice Pizza and pick up a pair of boots at Allen’s. You might even hear some tunes at Guero’s patio!
A FEW MORE GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR NIGHTLIFE
In case you haven’t noticed, Austin isn’t exactly short on nightlife. After you wear out everything above, Rainey Street has over 10 bars, events almost any night of the week, and food trucks that are sure to please your belly. 2nd Street District is another great spot with over 50 (mostly locally owned) specialty shops, services, entertainment venues and dining destinations.
ACTIVITIES
Austin is not the kind of city you can explore in a single day. There’s always something new around the corner—a new show, a new food truck, a new special event, etc. Here are a few more things in ATX that we think you should check out:
LADY BIRD LAKE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND BARTON CREEK TRAILS
Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail is 10 miles of trails right in downtown Austin. Runners, walkers, and cyclists are all welcome. Barton Creek Trails are another fantastic spot to bike and hike to your heart’s content.
SEGCITY SEGWAY TOURS
Yeah, it looks pretty goofy, but SegCity Segway Tours are a great way to explore downtown Austin (and they’re pretty fun). You can either start your tour on Sixth Street or from the Capitol and they have several different tours, including one that focuses on Austin’s best street art.
BUY SOME RECORDS
If you’re looking for some new CDs or vinyl records, be sure to check out Waterloo Records! They have new, used, and sometimes rare music from artists of every genre. Also check out BackSpin Records for tons of used vinyl—their collection of classic hip-hop is fantastic. If obscure indie is more your thing, hit up End of An Ear on 1st St. Other great shops include Antone’s Record Store, Out of the Past, and Breakaway Records.
BARTON SPRINGS
If you weren’t planning on bringing a swimsuit to ATX, you might want to reconsider. Barton Springs in Zilker Park is three acres wide and it’s fed from an underground spring with an average water temperature of 70 degrees! It’s open every day except Thursdays from 9am-7pm, and costs just a few dollars to swim.
LAKE TRAVIS ZIPLINE
Just 25 minutes from downtown Austin, Lake Travis Zipline is the longest zipline in Texas. It’s a three hour adventure with zips ranging from 250-2,800 feet. It’s a great way to see Lake Travis and Texas Hill Country!
A COUPLE MORE THINGS TO DO
We can’t list everything you can do in Austin, but here are a few more things to do while you’re here:
- Lake Austin boat and kayak rentals
- Volleyball at Aussie’s Bar & Grill
- Top Golf
- Pubcrawler of Austin