Visiting Austin/Hill Country - recommendations?

[vlad]

Hi Zoners

A friend of mine and his family are visiting Austin in August and looking for recommendations. They are from Sydney so they say they can deal with the heat.

Its him, his wife, two little girls (9&11) and his in-laws. Never been to Texas before, so they are looking for a "Texas" experience...

Anything cool you can think of would be very welcomed of course, and then more specifically

- Places to eat (bbq, tex mex, anything else special to texas) - oh and an Indian place for her parents.
- Things to do out in nature, not just in the city as driving around is not a problem, they have a week. His wife asked specifically about a "dude ranch", then I figure there are good springs or water things or whatever
- Anything fun for those kids - Sea World?
- Anything to do with star gazing, caves, hills, etc...again nature theme.

They don't care for "fancy" things if that helps.

Much appreciated!

 

[Ranching]

Hi Zoners

A friend of mine and his family are visiting Austin in August and looking for recommendations. They are from Sydney so they say they can deal with the heat.

Its him, his wife, two little girls (9&11) and his in-laws. Never been to Texas before, so they are looking for a "Texas" experience...

Anything cool you can think of would be very welcomed of course, and then more specifically

- Places to eat (bbq, tex mex, anything else special to texas) - oh and an Indian place for her parents.
- Things to do out in nature, not just in the city as driving around is not a problem, they have a week. His wife asked specifically about a "dude ranch", then I figure there are good springs or water things or whatever
- Anything fun for those kids - Sea World?
- Anything to do with star gazing, caves, hills, etc...again nature theme.

They don't care for "fancy" things if that helps.

Much appreciated!

Google Hamilton pools, beautiful area just outside of Austin for a nice hike. Also, Google Saltlick BBQ.

 

[Tabascocat]

Dinner at Paesanos' on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, they will feel the Texas vibe there in the area. Seaworld for the kids and maybe a day on the Comal river.

I would spend less time in Austin and more around SA and the various lakes and trails.

 

[paladin]

Eat - Saltlick is a good choice, Franklins bar-b-que (wait in line) my fav is actually a trailer called Valentina's in S Austin, Maudie's is a good local choice for Tex-mex
Nature, many caves in the area, take a dip in Barton Springs, hike up Mt Bonnell to see Austin from the heights, Schliterbahn is close but you can tube down the Comal alot cheaper.
Indians - hmm a lil stumped on this one, Enchanted rock in Fredericksburg is Commanche sacred ground stop by the LBJ ranch it's close.
in Austin , the UT tower, french legation, bob bullock museum... all downtown.
hope this helps

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

If they like the outdoors you can rent bikes from Barton Springs Bike Rental and go ride the green belt. The Barton Springs green belt is around 12 miles long and you'll have access to everything from tacos, to great swimming holes, to climbing walls.

The Lone Star River Boat cruise is pretty cool too. It's a quick bat watching tour where you see the largest urban bat colony in North America come out for evening feeding. It's a quick tour where you get to see some of the city from the boat as well.

 

[vlad]

Thank you everyone for your responses, much appreciated. Please keep them coming...oh and by Indian I meant India

Thanks

 

[CyberB0b]

Salt lick is garbage. LA BBQ. Franklin's old pitmaster started his own thing.

 

[Tabascocat]

Salt lick is garbage. LA BBQ. Franklin's old pitmaster started his own thing.

Salt Lick is overrated but still better than any BBQ they have ever had, Stiles Switch is my goto there

 

[trickblue]

Google Hamilton pools, beautiful area just outside of Austin for a nice hike. Also, Google Saltlick BBQ.

I live near both of these. Salt Lick is an institution. It's not as good as it once was, but it is still good and the experience can't be matched at another BBQ place in Austin. Remember 3 things, though. It's BYOB, they don't take plastic (although they have an ATM) and there is quite a wait on weekends. While you wait they have picnic tables and games. It's very nice out there.

Hamilton Pool would really be something they enjoy as well as Barton Springs Pool.
Mount Bonnell
Longhorn Caverns
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail
Mexican Free-Tailed Bats emerge Congress Bridge at dusk. Largest colony in the world.
Most importantly: Mexican Food

 

[CyberB0b]

If you are really into BBQ, drive down to Lockhart and eat at Smitty's, Black's, Kreuz Market. That's where it all started. I prefer Black's, but they're all awesome.

 

[xwalker]

Hi Zoners

A friend of mine and his family are visiting Austin in August and looking for recommendations. They are from Sydney so they say they can deal with the heat.

Its him, his wife, two little girls (9&11) and his in-laws. Never been to Texas before, so they are looking for a "Texas" experience...

Anything cool you can think of would be very welcomed of course, and then more specifically

- Places to eat (bbq, tex mex, anything else special to texas) - oh and an Indian place for her parents.
- Things to do out in nature, not just in the city as driving around is not a problem, they have a week. His wife asked specifically about a "dude ranch", then I figure there are good springs or water things or whatever
- Anything fun for those kids - Sea World?
- Anything to do with star gazing, caves, hills, etc...again nature theme.

They don't care for "fancy" things if that helps.

Much appreciated!

Hill Country Wineries. They have tours were a Limo takes you from one to another.

The Bats flying out from the Congress Street bridge in the evening is a cool thing to see.

The lakes are cool in Austin but I've always been in my own or friends boats. I don't know what's available in terms of rentals/tours but it is a very scenic lake. Just driving over the Dam is a cool scene. There's a big restaurant out on a pier at Lake Travis but maybe not a family scene. There is anther restaurant/bar on Lake Austin but again maybe not a family scene.

Food, Mexican and BBQ as mentioned. If it requires sauce, then it's not Texas BBQ.

Schlitterbahn water park. The setting is kind of cool as compared to water parks in the middle of metro areas.

Tubing down the river. It's a slow relaxing type of tubing but there will be drunk people.

The Hamilton Pool is really cool.

In San Antonio, visitors seem to love the River Walk. They have boat tours on the River Walk that are worth doing. They even have Dinner boat tours.

Most people love place on the River Walk that makes the Guacamole at the table (Boudro's).

There is a toll road that has the highest posted speed limit in the US. I thinks it's SH130. The speed limit is 85mph. Most people seem to drive about 100mph. I I drove about 90mph and people blew past me like I was on a moped.

 

[Rockport]

Salt lick is garbage. If you want a real Texas experience get away from Austin or San Antonio. Just rent a car and drive non-interstate highways in any direction. Hill Country is a good place to start.

 

[Tabascocat]

If you are really into BBQ, drive down to Lockhart and eat at Smitty's, Black's, Kreuz Market. That's where it all started. I prefer Black's, but they're all awesome.

Joel's in Flatonia is pretty good for chopped sandwiches. I usually get their Texas size on road trips from the West coast to back home in Houston.

 

[vlad]

Round 2 of thank you's.... Appreciate the thoughtful info. I don't know if they'll just want to set loose in a direction on a low traffic road with two little girls in summer , but they are Australian so you never know.

I'm going to send this thread to my friend. Thanks again everyone.

 

[trickblue]

I would add "The Oasis" restarant on Lake Travis. It's called the Sunset Capital of Texas. Brilliant burnt orange skies...

 

[joseephuss]

Reimers Ranch is not a dude ranch, but you can ride horses.
https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/reimers-ranch

Valentinas is an excellent BBQ place. Love their brisket tacos.
http://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/

There are so many good options for Tex-Mex. You can just stumble upon a good one.
Matt's El Rancho
http://mattselrancho.com/

Hecho en Mexico This place serves interior Mexico style food. Very good.
http://www.hechoenmexico-restaurant.com/

Barton Springs Pool is very refreshing in the summer
https://austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool

The Clay Pit for Indian food
https://www.claypit.com/

Here are the caves. I've enjoyed a few of them.
https://austinfamily.com/awesome-au...wners-to-the-coolest-places-in-central-texas/

 

[paladin]

The Clay Pit for Indian food
https://www.claypit.com/

I second the nomination of Clay Pot & am ashamed to say I've been here 30 years and never been to Matt's