2 days of live music and late tacos in Austin

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Texas State Capitol

   A grand pink granite building at the head of Congress Avenue, finished in 1888 and taller than the Capitol in Washington. Walk under the dome, then wander the shady grounds. Check ahead for a tour.

   Go when Late morning, once the group is up and fed. The grounds are shaded and the building is calm.

   Local tip Stand on the south steps and look straight down Congress Avenue, then look up inside the rotunda. A tour is the easy way to hear the stories, so check ahead.

   

   About 15 min walk0.7 mi
2. 2
   EveningWorth the time, book ahead

   ACL Live at the Moody Theater

   The theater that hosts the long-running TV series Austin City Limits, with a big stage and a good view from almost every seat. Check ahead for a show that suits the group and book your tickets before you leave home.

   Go when Evening, with time to settle in before the first act.

   Local tip This is the big night, so book ahead for the group and sit together. Ask about the bar and dinner options in the same building before the show.

   

   About 13 min walk0.7 mi
3. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Red River Cultural District

   A few blocks of small clubs and music rooms on Red River Street, where many bands in town start out. Walk it, listen from the doorways and pick a room for the night. Check ahead for who is playing.

   Go when Evening, once the bands start and the doors are open along the street.

   Local tip Every room has a different sound, so walk the street once before you choose. Check ahead for who is playing and for any shows that need tickets.

   

   About 13 min walk0.6 mi
4. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Rainey Street

   A short street of old bungalows turned into patios, food trucks and bars, a relaxed spot for a group to spread out and toast the trip. The yards are big, so a big group can stay together.

   Go when Evening, after dinner, when the patios fill and the lights come on in the yards.

   Local tip The yards are big and the seating is mixed, so a group can spread out and not lose each other. Walk the whole short street before you choose a spot.

   

5. Dinner

   A last dinner from the food trucks

   The yards around Rainey Street are full of food trucks and patios, so everyone in the group can order something different and meet at the picnic tables.

   Local tip Grab a table first, then split up to order. It keeps the group together when the street is busy.

   Places to try2 near Rainey Street‹›

   • Sausage, beer garden

     Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden

     A sausage house and big beer garden on Rainey Street, close to the bars of the district.

     0.8 mi from Rainey StreetPhoto: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • Pizza, Detroit-style

     Via 313

     A pizzeria on East 6th Street that began as a food trailer, serving Detroit-style pizza.

     0.3 mi from Rainey Street

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail

   A loop of about ten miles circles Lady Bird Lake in the middle of town, and you only need a piece of it. Take the trail on the south shore, watch the paddlers and rent a kayak or a paddleboard nearby.

   Go when Late morning, when the trail is calm and the light is soft on the water.

   Local tip You do not have to do the whole loop. Walk a piece, sit on a bench and watch the paddlers. Bring water and a hat.

   

   About 23 min walk1.2 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Barton Springs Pool

   A long swimming pool in a natural spring, in the middle of Zilker Park, with grass banks to lie on. Bring a swimsuit and a towel, and check ahead because the pool closes at times for cleaning and after heavy rain.

   Go when Midday, when the sun is high and the spring-fed water is a welcome change.

   Local tip The water is cool all year, so a short dip is plenty. Pack a towel and check ahead on closures before you walk over.

   

3. Lunch

   A food-trailer lunch

   Austin is a food-trailer city: tacos, burgers, fried chicken and plant-based plates from a row of trucks in a lot. Order a few things for the group and eat on the grass.

   Local tip Look for a shaded picnic table, and ask for napkins, since this is a messy meal.

   Places to try4 near Barton Springs Pool‹›

   • Food trailers

     The Picnic

     A food-trailer lot on Barton Springs Road with several trailers and picnic tables, near Zilker Park.

     0.4 mi from Barton Springs PoolPhoto: Thomas Cole on Wikimedia Commons
   • American, small plates

     Odd Duck

     A restaurant on South Lamar Boulevard that began as a food trailer and serves small plates from local ingredients.

     0.8 mi from Barton Springs Pool
   • Tex-Mex

     Chuy's

     A Tex-Mex restaurant on Barton Springs Road, a short walk from the pool, with a themed dining room.

     0.4 mi from Barton Springs PoolPhoto: LoneStarMike, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • Tacos, Mexican

     Tacodeli

     A taco restaurant on Spyglass Drive in the Barton Hills area, near Zilker Park.

     1.1 mi from Barton Springs Pool

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 10 min by car or transit1.6 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   South Congress Avenue

   The long, lively street south of the river, with boutiques, vintage shops, food trailers and a view straight up Congress Avenue to the Capitol. Browse slowly, snack as you go and keep an eye out for the murals.

   Go when Afternoon, when the shops are open and the sidewalks are lively.

   Local tip Walk one side down and the other side back. Food trailers sit along the way, so a group can snack as it goes and keep moving.

   

   About 18 min walk0.9 mi
5. 4
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge

   The bridge over Lady Bird Lake is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies in North America. In season the bats fly out in a long ribbon at dusk, so check ahead for the season and the best time.

   Go when Dusk in season, so arrive well before sunset (about 7:00 PM) to claim a spot on the bridge or the grass below it.

   Local tip The bats fly out in a long stream right as it gets dark. They are a spring-to-fall sight, so check ahead on the season and on the weather for your night.