This Summer has been one for the books! I’ve traveled near and far, and I’m excited to start rounding up my favorite things to do, places to stay, food to eat, and shops visited on the blog!
I’m starting off with a travel guide through one of the places near and dear as our future wedding city… Austin! Although the heat was brutal, I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying new and old favorite spots in this weird but equally amazing city! Austin is a mecca for vegan food, food trucks, vegan food trucks (okay, there was a lot of eating involved on this vacation…), art, vintage shopping, and murals. So let’s get into some of my favorite places and spaces in ATX!
WHAT TO EAT
Our first stop in Austin was to get a vegan burger at Arlo’s. I had heard a lot of buzz about this place, and it completely lived up to it. One of the best vegan cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. We also tried the chicken sandwich, tater tots, and mac n cheese. All were to die for. Absolutely one of the best vegan food trucks in Austin!
Pop into Citizen for a vegetarian brunch. We sipped on mimosas and had some BOMB vegan breakfast food in their super modern and airy restaurant.
My absolute favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant in ATX. Everything is amazing, but the vegan eggs benedict are the best thing on the menu, and only served until sold out!
The Factory – Cafe With a Soul
Even though it was 105 degrees out, I still couldn’t resist a great hot matcha latte! ! The Factory – Cafe With a Soul is known for their chicken and waffles, which looked to be amazing, but we drank our lattes with bear art (so cute), while swinging on their indoor swing benches.
Derek got us a reservation at The Brewer’s Table while in Austin, and our dinner was so delicious! They are an innovative restaurant and brewery serving their owner beers with local, seasonal food. Their menu is always on rotation, but I have no doubt everything is amazing! This is the perfect spot for a date night or happy hour!
MURALS
Don’t Mess With Texas Mural
This mural is a college of everything Texas. Definitely a mural to check out!
Possibly the most famous mural of all time so obviously a must see!
Probably right behind the I love you so much mural in popularity is the Welcome to Austin mural. This is my favorite ATX mural with its details and vintage postcard look!
THINGS TO DO
If you’re a fellow plant lady like me, then East Austin Succulents is a must! A part from having a HUGE collection of succulents, they also have cacti and other indoor and outdoor plants. We strolled through their greenhouses, and it took everything in me not to take another plant baby home. It’s also the perfect location for some desert inspired shots!
This museum is in no relation to me (my last name is Blanton), but it was a must see! Part of UT’s campus, The Blanton Museum of Art is a medium sized art museum with art ranging from European paintings to their beautiful 2,715-square-foot stone building with luminous colored glass windows. We knocked this out in 1.5 hours, and was really happy we stopped in. They have a unique and beautiful collection!
Right outside of Austin in Dripping Springs lies Jester King, a brilliant farmhouse brewery. They have some of my favorite beer in the world, and it sits on some of the most beautiful Texas Hill Country.
I may partial to this little city outside of Austin since our wedding will be held in Dripping Springs, but I love visiting this hill country town! We stayed at an air bnb situated on a farm complete with all the farm animals here the first night, and it was probably one of our favorite parts of the trip! We loved getting outside of the city some, and the fact that it was so close to Jester King Brewery.
This historic hotel boasts of character and class. I’ve stayed here in the past (for a pretty penny), and it was one of the best hotel stays I’ve ever experienced. This time, we stopped in the 1886 Cafe and Bakery and were immediately transported into an old French bakery. We ordered coffee and watched the pastry chefs bake decorate desserts for a party. The head chef brought us over samples of cake bits that would have otherwise been tossed, and they were mind blowingly good.
During the months of March – November, Austin’s South Congress bridge hosts 1.5 million bats. Although it sounds like a bit of a nightmare, it’s truly amazing to see the bats flying out during dusk for their nighttime feeding. We parked by the bridge, and watched the bats fly out while the sun went down. Truly an infamous Austin thing!
Every time we’ve come to Austin, I pine over staying at this retro motel perfectly situated on South Congress Ave. This time, we were able to get a great deal, and ended up staying at the Austin Motel for a few nights! From the decor to the fridges fully stocked of beer, this motel was a dream come true. I loved the retro decor, refreshing pool, and the overall vibe of the place. I’m a sucker for aesthetic, especially of the vintage variety, and I cannot recommend this motel enough!
Rainey Street District – Craft Pride
My favorite area for late night drinks and food trucks – the Rainey Street District. Full of old bungalow style houses turned into funky bars, Rainey Street is everything Austin resembles. One of our favorite stops on Rainey Street, Craft Pride, is a craft beer bar with a permanent Detroit style pizza food truck in their backyard. Get some amazing pizza (non-vegan and some of the BEST vegan pizza) and enjoy a brew!
WHERE TO SHOP
Y’all have probably seen me rave about Passport Vintage already, but this vintage store is seriously amazing. They have a huge selection of vintage denim and T-Shirts, and the owners are so nice. Read more about Passport as well some of my other favorite vintage shops in Austin in my Austin Vintage Guide blog post here!
I couldn’t leave a thrift store out! I’ve shopped at many thrift stores in Austin, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them! I stopped by a Value Village since we don’t have any in Nashville, and found some great pieces!
