Austin for 3 days
 

3 day trip. I am located in the PNW.
originally had this trip set for Dallas, changed it to Austin. Going there in April

Plane tickets bought and hotel reserved.
Budget would be $1300

So, at a baseline budget looks like for 4-5 nights
Flight: $352 Roundtrip - bought
Hotel: $80-$100 per night - motel 6 for $83 a night right now
Food: $80 per day
Transportation: $60-70 rent a car

Things I want to do:
Explore the city, depends on how far I get around the place in a few days.
George washington carver museum
horseback riding
lots of tex-mex

Will probably rent a car, don't think uber is a thing in Austin.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Sounds like a fun trip. It has dubbed itself as the Live Music Capital of the World (“Austin City Limits” is filmed here). You can hear a variety of music in nightclubs including Norteno, Blues, County Swing, Folk, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, Soul and Jumpin’ Jive. It is only 30 minutes away from the lovely Hill Country (i.e. Barton Creek Preserve)

This being Texas, it has great Tex-Mex (such as Migas), Chili and BBQ. Check out the Museum of Ice Cream; ride the Lady Bird Lake Trail; if warm enough swim in Barton Springs Pool; wander around Zilker Botanical Gardens; and, hike up Mount Bonnell which at 781 feet above sea level allows for amazing views. I didn't know that Austin had a George Washington Carver connection. I know he was born in Missouri and lived in Kansas, Iowa and Alabama.

Traffic is absolutely brutal. Driven through there several times, most recently yesterday. So figure on long delays wherever you'd be going.

The museum you mention is known for Juneteenth displays and genealogy, I assume you know that. Dr Carver's connection to Austin is that he wrote letters to someone who lived there.

The LBJ Presidential Library is a top attraction, I didn't find anything else to be worth the trip. If you want to explore the Austin music scene, do your homework as the venues are not really downtown. [There are better US cities to explore live music.] Of course there is Uber, it's a large city.