Hi Friends! Today, I am bringing you a weekend guide to this not-so-little city that might as well be called Taco Heaven. It was our first time in Austin and if you watched my stories, you know it was a great experience!
Although, a weekend is NOT enough to really get to know Austin, it was enough to see what the hype is really all about. To be honest, I did not have any expectations and was completely blown away by the impression this city left on me. So much so, I am already thinking about when we will be going back!
Greetings from Austin
But for now, lets get into what you can accomplish in Austin over the course of 2-3 days.
Day 1
We started by grabbing breakfast tacos! The city has no shortage when it comes to tacos and you can literally find a place no matter where you are! Our favorite Torchy’s Tacos.
Torchy Taco’s
Another thing Austin doesn’t have a shortage of : Coffeeeeeee. We ended up visiting Picnik right down the street from the Torchy’s Taco in South Lamar. It looks like trailer and the set up is quite laid back. Their selections are far from what you would call an ordinary cup of coffee but worth a try once. They also have smoothies and some grab n go bites.
Interesting Drinks
Next up, try visiting one of the numerous outdoor parks in the city of Austin! For a place that packs a view and some outdoor exercise, check out Mount Bonnell. You will see the beautiful Colorado river on one side and the city of Austin on the other. Something cool we also learned was that the Native Americans may have used this site as a point to keep a lookout due to its height and views.
Mount Bonnell 
Views
Chances are you might be hungry again! Head to Barton Springs Picnic Park for a plethora of food trucks to get your fill! We ended up going to Four Brothers Venezuelan Food.
Park with Food Trucks 
Venezuelan Food Truck
Something we both are into is star gazing and being in Texas, it was a no brainer for us to try and find the closest place with the least light pollution. Little did we know, a two hour ride ish away from Austin was Enchanted Rock State Park. The place is one of the few designated international dark sky locations so that was cherry on top.
Enchanted Rock State Park
I am sure it would be great place to explore during day time but we decided to head there at night time in hopes of catching the gorgeous sky. It did not disappoint and we even heard some coyotes while we were there.
Day 2
Grab a Texas style breakfast at Arturos Underground Cafe! Then head to Inner Space Caverns about 20 minute or so drive from the city center. It may sound gimmicky but this place is actually pretty amazing.
Inside the Underground Caverns
We did the basic tour which was about 1.5 hour long and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The underground caves really make you wonder what else is left to be discovered right underneath our feet!
You will come across a few prehistoric fossils here which are showcased when you enter the area. The caverns are estimated to be about 90-100 millions years old.
For lunch, wander the South First Street for more food trucks to grab a bite! While you are here, a stop at Gourdough’s Donuts is a must & grab some mid day coffee at Seventh Flag Coffee . Try the Matcha.
Next up, Murals! Another thing the city has no shortage of. If you head to pinterest, you can actually find a list of all the murals and their exact locations. We didn’t have time to check every single one out but the main one’s we hit up were “Greetings from Austin” & ” I love you so much”. Both close to each other in terms of walking.
Greetings from Austin is located on 1720 S 1st St.
I love you so much is located on 1300 South Congress St.
For dinner, we decided on Kurry Tacos for an Indo-Mex fusion affair followed by a stop at Austin Chaiwala! Its a truck that sells all kinds of Chai [insert my mind blown face].
They will not disappoint 
Karol Bagh Tacos
When it comes to nightlife, Rainey Street is an obvious choice. It’s an adorable street with bars built in what used to be homes. It’s practically a neighborhood of its own. Perfect for bar hopping, eating and checking out the night time food truck scene. Our picks Parlor Room, Container Bar and Unbarlievable (there is a slide inside this bar).
Day 3
Breakfast tacos, again!!! I mean how can you not take advantage of the availability of tacos in Austin. We ended up at Guero’s Taco Bar in SOuth COngress (aka SOCO).
SoCo is a great place to walk around in and do some shopping, eating and drinking. Check out Hotel San Jose for photo -ops, Manana coffee for a coffee break or Juice Austin for a refreshment and the various antique shops.
SoCo 
Manana Coffee
We decided to venture about 50 minutes outside of Austin to Pedernales Falls State Park for some outdoor fun. The drive brings you to a quite a vast area of land which is great for hiking, picnic and swimming.
On your way in, do stop by the small bar right before you enter the park for some refreshments. You may be able to chill in the patio area with some horses here as some people do tend to take the horses out on the trails in the park.
Finally, you have to check out the Capitol State Building. We did not get a chance to go take a look during day time but we did drive by it several times and it is absolutely majestic.
We had plans to hit up Lady Bird Lake Trail for some biking to end our day but due to pure laziness from being on the go since we stepped foot in Austin, we were unable to get to this!
Add to this list of not being able to get this time is Hamilton Pool Preserve, watching the bats take flight under the South Congress Bridge & plenty of more food places. All of which has been added to our list for next time.
I hope this was helpful if you are planning a trip to Austin! If you have been and have suggestions for our next trip, please leave a comment below.
Until next time..
-Dhara