Walnut Creek Playground in Austin

The Best Playgrounds In Austin (With Parking Info!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025

The city of Austin has recently invested in some significant remodels on the playgrounds in Austin. Luckily, it’s warm nearly year-round in ATX, so you can enjoy these magnificent public parks during any month. This roundup includes parks all over the Austin area, from Round Rock all the way down to Circle C.  When you…

Austin patio

Where To Eat In Austin During SXSW 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025

Alright y’all, it’s just about time for SXSW 2025! *Cue the trumpets.* Thousands of people are coming to town for this festival, and in addition to seeing amazing bands and panels and interactive events, everyone is asking, “but where should I eat in Austin during SXSW???” Hi! I’m here to help. I’m a long-time Austin…

South Austin Beer Garden

A List Of All The Bars on Menchaca Road (Ranked)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 12, 2025

Let’s be honest…there are too many people on Rainey Street and Downtown Austin on any Saturday night. Those two popular spots for nightlife in Austin are typically packed, so we’re always searching for more venues for drinks and live music. Austinites love to go out and have a good time, and we need more venues…

How To Plan The Perfect Bachelorette Party In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 12, 2025

All the best hotspots you need to book ASAP + every detail you need for planning the ultimate bachelorette weekend in Austin.

spring break ideas in Austin

13 Epic Spring Break Ideas In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 12, 2025

SPRING BREAK!! If those two words in all caps don’t make you want to jump in a swimming pool and open a can of ice-cold beer, not sure anything will… 😉 Austin Texas is one of the premier destinations for spring break travelers around the country. Why? Sun, tacos, music, swimming. Do you really need…

Mercado Sin Nombre

15 Most Instagrammable Spots In East Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 12, 2025

If you’ve spent any time in east Austin, you know that it’s adorable. It has that “Austin-y” feel, with weird murals and old buildings and lots of local restaurants and shops. And of course, there are a bunch of cool spots to visit in this part of Austin, like amazing east Austin restaurants you need…

Elizabeth Street Cafe

10 Best South Austin Restaurants

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 11, 2025

South Austin restaurants have never been better. Just when you think you’ve hit up all of the great places to eat and drink in south Austin, another great restaurant opens.  And this restaurant scene is quite different from the new restaurants that are opening in downtown Austin, which are often multi-million dollar build outs at…

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…

Hidden Gem Restaurants In Austin (Tourists Need To Visit These!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 11, 2025
Buenos Aires Cafe

In the age of Google My Business a “hidden gem restaurant” doesn’t really exist anymore…but sometimes I still like to bring attention to some lesser-known Austin gems. While most people visit Austin and get the same 8-10 recommendations (MICHELIN-rated, the 30 all-time best restaurants in Austin, and then tourist-y spots like Salt Lick and Torchy’s),…

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 10, 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.

FREE in Austin: 9th Street BMX Trail

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 7, 2025

Tucked into the heart of downtown Austin is an unassuming park of dirt mounds and hills. You might drive by it a few times without noticing it (especially if it’s empty), but if you head to 9th Street and North Lamar on a weekend, dozens of BMX bikers of all ages and skill levels will…

Here Are The Best Sandwiches In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 6, 2025
Mum Foods pastrami

Sandwiches in Austin (unfairly) don’t have the same hype that they get in a lot of other cities. I mean, it’s not like we have the same claim to fame as NYC deli markets or the New Orleans po’boy scene. (Granted, we totally own the market on tacos and barbecue.) But I’m on a mission to showcase…

The Ultimate Patio Guide To Austin, TX

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 25, 2025
Central Machine Works

When the weather is absolutely freaking gorgeous, everyone in Austin is going to want to drink or dine on a beautiful outdoor patio. Honestly, it’s almost easier to list places without patios than with, because nearly every restaurant and bar in Austin has outdoor seating. But where are the best patios in Austin? Use the…

The Best Happy Hours In Austin For Cheap Eats + Drinks

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 25, 2025

Austin is known for its food scene, but those restaurant tabs can add up pretty quickly  The solution? Austin happy hours! You can often try the same amazing menu items at a fraction of the cost. Plus, happy hour is just…happy.  PS: weekend-specific happy hours in Austin are here. powered by Proxi About me: I’m Kelsey,…

Best Restaurants In West Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 24, 2025
Ling Wu Asian Restaurant | best west Austin restaurants

Sure, downtown Austin and east Austin are probably where you’ll find the biggest clusters of award-winning Austin restaurants. But the sprawling area of west Austin (from Westlake to Lakeway to Bee Caves, and even closer to the city like Tarrytown and Rollingwood) has lots of residents. So where are all the west Austin restaurants?? Actually,…

Where To Find Cozy Food In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025
best cozy food in Austin

Cold front in Austin? Cue all the cozy foods! There aren’t many snow storms or cold, blustery days here in Austin, but when they hit us, they hit us HARD. Those freezing wind chills and ice-cold temps are brutal (no thanks to the fact that none of us own a proper winter wardrobe…), but you…

The Prettiest Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025
prettiest bars in Austin

I am not a world-renowned mixologist or sommelier, but I know my way around a cocktail menu. A decade of food writing and city blogging has given me a front seat at some of the hottest cocktail bars in Austin and beyond. But do you know what I keep discovering, over and over again? It’s…

Best Food at the Austin Airport: Quick Guide

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 19, 2025
Parkside at Austin Airport

The Austin Airport is unique in the fact that we have a huge amount of local Austin restaurants located at the airport.  You won’t find a McDonald’s or a Subway at this airport, but you will find local breakfast tacos and famous Austin barbecue at the main terminal at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Here’s the…

The Best Bars and Restaurants On Rainey Street (According To An Austin Local)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 18, 2025
best bars on Rainey

You love, you hate it, but there’s no denying that you’re aware of Rainey Street in Austin. It’s one of our biggest nightlife districts! Here are the best bars and restaurants on Rainey.

Play For All Abilities Park Is One  Of The Best Parks In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 18, 2025

If you haven’t had the chance to visit yet, Play For All Park in Round Rock is truly one of the best parks in the greater Austin area. This MASSIVE, state-of-the-art park covers a vast area and was thoughtfully designed with inclusivity in mind to make sure that every child-regardless of their abilities-has the opportunity…

The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary For Your Weekend Trip To Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 16, 2025
Weekend Itinerary in Austin

Sure, there are plenty of “best of” lists floating around the Web. But what are the “perfect” things to do to fill your first weekend in Austin? Austin Texas: one of the top travel destinations in the United States. It’s perfect for bachelorette parties, family trips, girls’ weekend getaways, and romantic vacations with your significant…

Best Restaurant Bars In Austin For Solo Dining

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025
EZOV

If you have the urge to go out and enjoy a fabulous meal at an Austin restaurant but you don’t have someone who’s available to join you…go anyway! Dining solo is amazing! And there are so many great Austin bars for dining solo.  For starters, it’s totally normal to dine solo and you shouldn’t be…

The Best Bars and Breweries Near Q2 Stadium

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025
bars near Q2 stadium

Q2 Stadium is the gorgeous home of Austin’s major professional league soccer team, Austin FC. It’s pretty far north in Austin (located in the North Burnet section of North Austin), and it’s one of the newest sports facilities in the country, consisting of 20,500 seats. During those fun soccer game days, this stadium is crowded…

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