mah1980

Anything especially interesting going on in Austin over Memorial Day? We are going for 3 nights for a road trip since my husband and I have never been. Staying at the Sheraton downtown via Priceline bidding. Would like to hang out downtown for live music, eat good Tex-Mex and barbecue, go to Barton Springs, and do anything else that is really worthwhile. I read about a symphony in the park that will be going on on Sunday during our trip...anyone experienced that and would suggest it?

Thanks for the recommendations!

trippinkpj

There's another recent post where P_M gave great Austin suggestions (she lives there). I've visted four times in recent years, as my daughter lives there. So I'll give a few things I like to do/ dining ideas:
BBQ: the Iron Works, Artz Rib House
Tex-Mex upscale: Z Tejas and South Congress Cafe
Tex-Mex/ Tacos: Maria's Taco X-press (great patio with live music often!)
Tapas & Wine: Malaga's on 4th street.
Upscale/ nice: the Roaring Fork
Other stuff to do: walk around the UT campus, see the bats under Congress Street bridge (you may be too early/ they're out more in summer), walk around downtown and visit the capitol building, cruise south Congress and south Lamar for great music, visit the Whole Foods flagship store, etc.. If I think of more, I'll post again.

trippinkpj

Oh I forgot the Broken Spoke on South Lamar. Great Country music, large dance floor for Texas 2 stepping, down home food and a mini museum of the owner's mostly country music related memorabilia.
Can you tell I like Austin?!

trippinkpj

I found P_M's recent post with it's great links (I've wanted to try that Duck Tour!):
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

mah1980

Thanks! I'll look at that thread.

P_M

Hi trippinkpj, I clicked the link you posted but my thread didn't come up.

Mah1980, here it is:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34983198

trippinkpj

Thanks P_M!

bkluvsNola

Memorial Day is "Splash Day" at Hippie Hollow (clothing optional beach at Lake Travis) and it's usually well attended

Other ideas:

Walk around the 2nd Street District, that's pretty nice. Jog along the Town Lake trails. Visit "The Domain", a new "new urbanism" development that basically is a retro looking main street with shops, restaurants, a Starbucks, a Borders Books, and a Neiman Marcus. It's the way all new developments should be, with shops on the bottom floors and apartments on the upper levels.

Visit a restaurant on the Lake, either the Oasis or Iguana Grill and take in the views.

MohleTraveler

Drive up to Mt. Bonnell and walk up the stairs for a great view of the lake.

lpsmith

Try Gueros on S. congress. Good food, fun crowd and they have a nice shaded outdoor area where local bands play.

Also, a little further north on S. congress is Mars, the restaurant. They have a great shaded outdoor terrace/patio area.

It is currently raining off and on, so hopefully the whole weekend won't be ruined for those visiting

caribqueen

I'm heading to Austin in the am with some friends to go to the Austin Wine Festival (www.austinwinefestival.com). It's in a park downtown not terribly far from 6th street (the entertainment district). Lots of live bands and wine tastings!