First Light Books in Austin

This Independent Austin Bookstore and Cafe Is In An Old Post Office

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 6, 2023

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…

Miracle on 5th Street Austin

21 Fun and Festive Holiday Bars In Austin for 2023

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 1, 2023

‘Tis the season for ugly sweaters, over-the-top holiday decor, hot toddies, and HOLIDAY BARS IN AUSTIN! These 21 pop-up bars all feature a bit of whimsy and playfulness, making them the perfect spot to stop by, indulge, and soak up the holiday cheer. A few things about pop-up bars in Austin: Some of them have…

best restaurants with a view in Austin

17 Best Restaurants With A View In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 25, 2023

Searching for a restaurant with a view in Austin is pretty common because – let’s face it – Austin has a lot of beautiful bodies of water for a landlocked city! From the downtown Lady Bird Lake to the trickling Colorado River in east Austin to sprawling Lake Travis on the west side of the…

Best Haunted Houses in Austin

7 Spooky Haunted Houses In Austin To Visit This Year

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 24, 2023

Do you love a good scare fest? Haunted houses are one of the most popular activities this month, but you have to have a high tolerance for fright (or a strong hand to hold while you’re in the haunted house!) if you’re going to take on the challenge! Along with some of our other favorite…

Things To Do In Austin With Kids

Top 10 Tips For ACL Festival 2024

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 12, 2023

ACL Fest is quickly approaching, and there are lots of things you should know about it before you attend. Knowing what’s allowed at the festival, your transportation options (those pedi cabs are AWESOME), the best hotels to stay at during ACL Fest, picking your cute festival outfit, etc. are just as crucial as knowing the…

DeSano Pizzeria

50 BEST North Austin Restaurants (2024)

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 31, 2023

North Austin is the bridge between Round Rock and downtown Austin, so it’s where a lot of residents are looking to spend their evenings and weekends. And while many of the hot new restaurants in ATX are in downtown or east Austin, north Austin is home to some hidden gems that are absolutely worth checking…

Plugger Bridge

20 Best Places To Do A Family Photo Shoot In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 16, 2023

A family photoshoot in Austin can be one of the best way’s to capture memories from your year. Good thing Austin is one of the most photogenic cities in the country! We have plenty of options for both beautiful urban sceneries and stunning natural backdrops. But before booking your annual family photo shoot in Austin,…

A Beginner’s Guide To The Austin Greenbelt

A Beginner’s Guide To The Austin Greenbelt

By Maranda Suescun | August 11, 2023

Austin is renowned for its many outdoor activities and trails, so if you love to get out there and explore, you’re in the right place! After living here for two years, I’d heard endlessly about the Barton Creek Greenbelt. I’m not the most outdoorsy person and thus needed help figuring out where to start. I…

BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART - 101 free things to do in ATX!

101 Free Things To Do In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 27, 2023

Austin, Texas isn’t cheap, but there are still plenty of free things to do in Austin if you know where to look! So if you love hunting for a deal and scoping out budget-friendly travel ideas, this post is for you. From music to festivals, to museum exhibits, concerts, free zoo events, guided tours, kid-friendly…

The Oasis Brewing Co

Austin Breweries With The Most Award-Winning Beers

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 23, 2023

If you’re visiting Texas, you absolutely must go to some craft breweries in Austin. The Austin craft beer scene has never been hotter, and the competition to get those national medals is fierce. That means, as a consumer, there’s a record number of INCREDIBLE beers out there for you to sip and enjoy. While there…

Best Seafood In Austin

The 11 Best Local Seafood Restaurants In Austin (For 2024!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 22, 2023

Let’s get to it: does Austin even have good seafood? That depends on who you’re asking. If you look at the quality, variety, and availability of fresh seafood restaurants in Austin, especially compared to what was available in this city just 10 years ago, you’ve got to admit: Austin is a pretty good city for…

Pancakes at Kerbey Lane | breakfast spots in north Austin

15 Best Breakfast Spots In North Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 22, 2023

Are you an early riser who loves to start your day with a big, delicious breakfast? Or do you hit the snooze button a million times and HATE actually getting out of bed? No matter what type of morning person you are (or aren’t…), if you’re awake and you’re hungry, you’re probably looking for the…

Go to a farmers market

What Is There To Do In April In Austin? 

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 22, 2023

Sure, it’s not quite the crazy month of march when SXSW hits Austin. And it’s not the beautiful fall months when you can experience warm afternoons and ACL Festival. But spring in Austin is an AWESOME time to live in/visit this city, and there are tons of things to do in April in Austin. Here…

Forthright Cafe

24 Great Spots For Easter Brunch In Austin (2024)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 20, 2023

Easter is coming up soon! Have you made your brunch plans? If you’re planning to do an easter brunch in Austin 2023, make sure you book reservations as early as possible. Restaurants fill up so fast for Easter brunch reservations!  Here are 24 great options for a beautiful Easter Brunch in Austin. Some of these…

How to see the bats in Austin

Austin Bats: Here’s Exactly How To See Them!

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 17, 2023

  The Austin Bats are the largest urban colony of bats in the WORLD! So yes, if you’re visiting Austin Texas, you absolutely must go see the bats emerging from the Congress bridge. It’s actually very, very cool. What’s the best way to see the Austin bats?  It’s pretty simple. They sleep all day under…

The Ultimate Patio Guide To Austin, TX

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 16, 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…

10 Best South Austin Restaurants

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 16, 2025
Elizabeth Street Cafe

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…

20 Best Tacos In Austin That I Always Recommend To My Friends

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 15, 2025
Cuantos Taco

There’s a wide variety in this city, so here are the 20 best tacos in Austin, including everything from cheap street tacos to James Beard Award-Winning fancy tacos.

The Best Brunch Spots In Austin Texas

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 15, 2025
Elementary brunch

Austin is a brunch city, and here’s a map of all the best brunch spots you need to check out.

Where To Eat On South First Street

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 14, 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…

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 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 THE AUTHOR 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.

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