• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
July 16, 2010

Living it up in Austin, TX Family Style

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

Ok, well, maybe by “living it up” I don’t mean taking part in the awesome music scene in Austin, or going to any of the many great bars, or even shopping.

But, if you are like me, an adventurer with kids, than you will manage to live it up the best way you know how…with kids in tow.

Truth is, we didn’t do much in Austin, well, except eat, and THAT list will come soon enough. What we did do a lot of was spend time with our family there, especially our little nephew whom we hadn’t met until now and for whom we had traveled so far.

From the second I laid eyes on that cute little boy I fell in love, and though I suspected at first that my kids would be upset, they were not for they themselves had fallen in love with their little cousin just as hard and just as fast. Aside from the food, which is great in Austin, we really enjoyed the sights (which we took in when we weren’t napping).

Austin reminds me of Madison, WI in that it is college town. It is larger than Madison and of course warmer, but the vibe seemed similar in many ways. I can’t say that is a good or bad thing. I liked Austin from what I was able to see. It felt young and hip, artsy and friendly.

I also found it to be an active town, with lots of sidewalks and people who love to bike and jog. Dog and kid-friendly it was easy to navigate and we found  a lot of places to take the kids to, from shops to restaurants.

I can see why many people say Austin is a great city. Some of the things that many people suggested we do, but we never got around to was watch the hundreds of bats that come out from under the crevices of the Congress Avenue Bridge each night around sunset to feast on thousands of insects they find along the way. This awesome display is said to go on till October. It’s free and my kids would have totally loved that, except we just never got to it.

Another spot we were told by locals that we should check out was Austin Children’s Museum, which by the way is free to the public every Sunday from 4-7pm. With wonderful exhibits and daily story time it definitely is one way to get in from the hot sun, especially around this time of the year, but we skipped it as well.

Instead we window shopped for boots at Justin Boots where my kids quickly learned, to their disappointment, that the Flintstone feet they inherited from me do not fit well into boots and where I learned that I look darn sexy in a cowboy hat!

We ate ice cream at Big Top Candy, where a regular scoop means bigger than your toddler’s head and where you can find any type of candy treat you’d like even, so I’ve heard, chocolate covered bacon!

But the one place we spent most of our time outdoors was at Barton Springs. Located in the incredible Zilker Park which also had wonderful walking and jogging paths, as well as a dog park and other resting areas, the springs are a cool, relaxing reprieve from the Texas Summer heat and a favorite of many of residents. It is also the home to the rare Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum).

And so, though we missed a lot of the things that people say there is to enjoy about Austin, we enjoyed Austin for the things it is not: loud, pushy, fast-paced, cold, or rude. It was the opposite of all of that. It was great for us because of the comfort and welcoming feeling it provided us, and yes, for the many, many naps!  For that we are most extremely grateful.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
7 Comments
  • Brenda B
    July 16, 2010

    That video is absolutely beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Brenda B
      July 16, 2010

      Thanks Brenda!

      Reply
  • Kathy W
    July 16, 2010

    That was just incredible. It made me cry. I could just feel the love.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Kathy W
      July 16, 2010

      Aw! Thanks Kathy!

      Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Kathy W
      July 19, 2010

      Aw, thanks Kathy!

      Reply
  • Mommy on the Spot
    July 16, 2010

    I love these pictures! Glad you had a great time!!

    Reply
  • Meats and Other Eats in Austin, TX | NYCity Mama
    July 19, 2010

    […] Big Top Candy for ice cream. What more can I say that I didn’t already in my previous Austin review where I mention the endless supply of any type of candy you could want? Just remember “scoops as big as a toddler’s head” and “chocolate covered bacon”. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Eating Adventure in Memphis, TN
Next Post
Meats and Other Eats in Austin, TX

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America316 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Are you a MacKenzie-Childs fan? I only heard about Are you a MacKenzie-Childs fan? I only heard about @mackenziechilds after moving to the Finger Lakes, as did my husband. But my MIL is very well-versed in all things MC and is a massive fan. We were so pleased to have learned that her visit coincided with their Artisan Crafts Festival (going on through today, Oct 1, 2023), featuring regional artisans and craft makers, as well as tons of discounted MC items! We thought for sure this would be fun FOR HER and that was the goal. Little did WE ALL expect - including the teens - to enjoy it so much and get caught up in the excitement of finding items we also wanted (the pumpkins and Xmas decor were a huge hit)! Plus the festival has several delicious food trucks and beautiful grounds to explore, as well as this whimsical farmhouse to tour - seen here. 

So we walked away with several goodies (not just for grandma) and a lesson on not making assumptions because we actually really loved it. In the end, it was such a fun day and we all agreed we would return, even without grandma in tow!

To learn more about the artists who founded MacKenzie-Childs and the fun festivals they host throughout the year, visit their website.

#mackenziechilds #aurorany #fingerlakes #artsandcrafts
The only place I happily wake up before the sun is The only place I happily wake up before the sun is in the country because it is absolutely magical. ✨

#fingerlakes #countryside #myflx #countryliving
There’s so much to see, pick, eat, and enjoy dur There’s so much to see, pick, eat, and enjoy during harvest season in the Finger Lakes! The lakes are a bit colder but still so beautiful, our favorite wineries are busy harvesting grapes (thanks to our friends at @wagnervineyards for taking me along for the ride!), and there is so much abundance from our local farmers to enjoy!

Here’s a glimpse of life in wine country! 🍁🍂🍎🍏🎃

#myflx #flxwinecountry #harvest #citygirlgonecountry #countrylife
My awesome babes. Love them so much. #NationalSons My awesome babes. Love them so much. #NationalSonsDay
The early morning fog is my favorite view of the s The early morning fog is my favorite view of the season. If by the lake it dances over the vineyards, water, and hills. If in the valleys, like Corning, it sits like a blanket cuddling the streets and homes while everyone slowly starts their day.

The runners at this weekend’s @wgmarathon might get to enjoy a glimpse of it as they start their race (I will be up early to cheer my girl @thereshegoesagn on! 🙌🏾). But even if you don’t get up early enough to enjoy this sight, the fall colors are here to take your breath away too. 🍁🍂 

#myflx #flxwinecountry #corningny #flxfall #bestfallgetaways #fallvibes #autmnseason
Yay! It’s officially autumn, my absolute favorit Yay! It’s officially autumn, my absolute favorite season especially since moving to the Finger Lakes! Harvest has already started and soon everything will be colorful with a warm glow. 🍂🍁🎃 Have you visited the region in the fall?

#myflx #fingerlakes #flxwinecountry #flxfall

Copyright © 2023 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice