Jester King goat farm

Jester King Brewing: Austin’s Best Kid-Friendly Brewery

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

I’ve visited Jester King Brewery more times than I can count, and most of those times were before I became a parent. But since bringing two little boys into the world, I can confidently call Jester King austin best kid-friendly brewery for a full afternoon of fun.  If you’re looking for something fun to do…

St Elmo Springdale

The Best Austin Breweries With Playgrounds

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

Craft breweries in Austin are a family event. Here are some of the best breweries with playgrounds.

Carpenter hotel coffee

23 Coolest South Austin Coffee Shops

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

I normally wouldn’t say that coffee shops are “cool.” I’d call them serene, calming, or excellent places to work or start your day. But in this case, these South Austin coffee shops are cool. And that’s not just because South Austin, in general, is just a cool little area of ATX… It’s also because the…

Better Half Bar beens and greens

Better Half Bar Is Still The Best Lunch In Downtown Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 7, 2025

It’s not new, and it’s not a trendy, but Better Half Bar in downtown Austin is still the best place to get lunch in downtown Austin.  Better Half Bar is an all-day coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. They have a robust coffee program that opens early in the morning, an all-day menu featuring breakfast, lunch,…

Evan LeRoy (James Beard Nominee) Launched A Special Menu, And It’s Insane

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

There are only two Austin nominees in the James Beard Award – Best Chef Texas category, and Evan LeRoy is one of them. And if you haven’t been to the new LeRoy and Lewis brick-and-mortar restaurant in South Austin, seriously, what’s wrong with you? 🙂 I’ve been geeking out about LeRoy and Lewis being one…

Violet Crown Trail

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots: Here Are The 15 Best Hiking Trails in Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

Austin is a very outdoorsy city with lots of great hiking trails. Ask anyone who lives here and they’ll tell you that the terrain of Austin, with the limestone cliffs and numerous creek beds, lends itself to lots of great, easy hiking. So if you’re looking for a fun weekend adventure, here are 15 of…

hiking at Walnut Creek Park

FREE In Austin: Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park (And It’s A Gem!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

I love scoping out free things to do in Austin, because sometimes it seems like the cost of simply walking out your door is $400 these days! (Does anyone else feel this way?) There are loads of free things to do in Austin, but one of my very favorites is finding incredible public parks and…

Best South First Street Restaurants

Where To Eat On South First Street

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

South First Street is a powerhouse of amazing restaurants in Austin. It runs parallel to the popular South Congress Ave, but unlike the tourist destination that SOCO has become, South First is mostly full of locals who have found their favorite neighborhood restaurant or bar. After years of living walking distance to these restaurants, I’m…

SXSW live music | How To Do SXSW For FREE!

How Does SXSW Work + How To Do SXSW For Free 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 5, 2025

South By Southwest Festival (also known as SXSW, SX, or “South By”) is a massive festival that happens in Austin Texas every spring. Although it started in the 1980s as a small-ish festival of 700 people, it has expanded and it’s now one of the biggest international stages to showcase the best and brightest in…

House Wine

Best New Restaurants in Austin (With Map) – February 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 3, 2025

It’s hard to keep up with all the new restaurants opening in Austin! Use this guide + map to find something new to try near you.

Top Notch

20 Classic Austin Restaurants For Your Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 15, 2025

Austin has a rich history of restaurants; some have even been around since way back in the mid-1800s!  If these classic Austin restaurants have managed to stick around that long (amidst all the trendy, modern-day restaurants that are opening nearly every week), we all want to know why. And so, after running around the city…

Mexta Restaurant Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend It

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 13, 2025

Well, I already shared my TL;DR in the title, so I’ll go ahead and cut right to the chase about the new Mexico City-inspired restaurant in downtown Austin: Mexta isn’t going to be on my Best Restaurants in Austin list, at least for now. Here’s my review of Mexta where I’ll share both the (very)…

Uchiba Austin patio

Uchiba Is My Favorite Of The Uchi Restaurant Empire

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 10, 2025

I recently went on a double date to Uchiba and felt compelled to say why this restaurant is my very favorite among the Uchi restaurant empire.

Black's BBQ Austin

9 Austin BBQ Spots You Need To Visit

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

Whether you’re local to the Austin area or you’re visiting for a long weekend, one thing is really clear about this town: we love our barbecue. I mean, we LOVE it. In fact, ever since Franklin Barbecue put Austin on the map for being one of the best places in the United States to eat…

East Austin Restaurants

Map Of The Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin (For 2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

It’s not hard finding breakfast tacos in Austin, but what about the best ones? We’re talking about soft homemade tortillas that are softly dusted with flour, warm, fluffy eggs, and homemade, fiery salsas. Sure, you can get decent breakfast tacos on just about every street corner in Austin. If you’re a and you want to…

Jester King Brewing: Austin’s Best Kid-Friendly Brewery

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025
Jester King goat farm

I’ve visited Jester King Brewery more times than I can count, and most of those times were before I became a parent. But since bringing two little boys into the world, I can confidently call Jester King austin best kid-friendly brewery for a full afternoon of fun.  If you’re looking for something fun to do…

The Best Austin Breweries With Playgrounds

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025
St Elmo Springdale

Craft breweries in Austin are a family event. Here are some of the best breweries with playgrounds.

23 Coolest South Austin Coffee Shops

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025
Carpenter hotel coffee

I normally wouldn’t say that coffee shops are “cool.” I’d call them serene, calming, or excellent places to work or start your day. But in this case, these South Austin coffee shops are cool. And that’s not just because South Austin, in general, is just a cool little area of ATX… It’s also because the…

Better Half Bar Is Still The Best Lunch In Downtown Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 7, 2025
Better Half Bar beens and greens

It’s not new, and it’s not a trendy, but Better Half Bar in downtown Austin is still the best place to get lunch in downtown Austin.  Better Half Bar is an all-day coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. They have a robust coffee program that opens early in the morning, an all-day menu featuring breakfast, lunch,…

Evan LeRoy (James Beard Nominee) Launched A Special Menu, And It’s Insane

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

There are only two Austin nominees in the James Beard Award – Best Chef Texas category, and Evan LeRoy is one of them. And if you haven’t been to the new LeRoy and Lewis brick-and-mortar restaurant in South Austin, seriously, what’s wrong with you? 🙂 I’ve been geeking out about LeRoy and Lewis being one…

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots: Here Are The 15 Best Hiking Trails in Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025
Violet Crown Trail

Austin is a very outdoorsy city with lots of great hiking trails. Ask anyone who lives here and they’ll tell you that the terrain of Austin, with the limestone cliffs and numerous creek beds, lends itself to lots of great, easy hiking. So if you’re looking for a fun weekend adventure, here are 15 of…

FREE In Austin: Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park (And It’s A Gem!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025
hiking at Walnut Creek Park

I love scoping out free things to do in Austin, because sometimes it seems like the cost of simply walking out your door is $400 these days! (Does anyone else feel this way?) There are loads of free things to do in Austin, but one of my very favorites is finding incredible public parks and…

Where To Eat On South First Street

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025
Best South First Street Restaurants

South First Street is a powerhouse of amazing restaurants in Austin. It runs parallel to the popular South Congress Ave, but unlike the tourist destination that SOCO has become, South First is mostly full of locals who have found their favorite neighborhood restaurant or bar. After years of living walking distance to these restaurants, I’m…

How Does SXSW Work + How To Do SXSW For Free 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 5, 2025
SXSW live music | How To Do SXSW For FREE!

South By Southwest Festival (also known as SXSW, SX, or “South By”) is a massive festival that happens in Austin Texas every spring. Although it started in the 1980s as a small-ish festival of 700 people, it has expanded and it’s now one of the biggest international stages to showcase the best and brightest in…

Best New Restaurants in Austin (With Map) – February 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 3, 2025
House Wine

It’s hard to keep up with all the new restaurants opening in Austin! Use this guide + map to find something new to try near you.

20 Classic Austin Restaurants For Your Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 15, 2025
Top Notch

Austin has a rich history of restaurants; some have even been around since way back in the mid-1800s!  If these classic Austin restaurants have managed to stick around that long (amidst all the trendy, modern-day restaurants that are opening nearly every week), we all want to know why. And so, after running around the city…

Mexta Restaurant Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend It

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 13, 2025

Well, I already shared my TL;DR in the title, so I’ll go ahead and cut right to the chase about the new Mexico City-inspired restaurant in downtown Austin: Mexta isn’t going to be on my Best Restaurants in Austin list, at least for now. Here’s my review of Mexta where I’ll share both the (very)…

Uchiba Is My Favorite Of The Uchi Restaurant Empire

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 10, 2025
Uchiba Austin patio

I recently went on a double date to Uchiba and felt compelled to say why this restaurant is my very favorite among the Uchi restaurant empire.

9 Austin BBQ Spots You Need To Visit

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025
Black's BBQ Austin

Whether you’re local to the Austin area or you’re visiting for a long weekend, one thing is really clear about this town: we love our barbecue. I mean, we LOVE it. In fact, ever since Franklin Barbecue put Austin on the map for being one of the best places in the United States to eat…

Map Of The Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin (For 2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025
East Austin Restaurants

It’s not hard finding breakfast tacos in Austin, but what about the best ones? We’re talking about soft homemade tortillas that are softly dusted with flour, warm, fluffy eggs, and homemade, fiery salsas. Sure, you can get decent breakfast tacos on just about every street corner in Austin. If you’re a and you want to…

The Austin Things

Where To Eat In Austin

Visitor Tips For Austin

Best Austin Activites