© Getty ImagesTravel Guide: United States Grand PrixWe’re heading back to the US and if you’re joining us, here’s what to do whilst in Austin
Everything’sbiggerinAmerica–astheysay–butifyouwanttogobiggerthanbig,thenTexasisforyou.AndforRound19ofthe2023FormulaOneseasonisheadingtheTexasStateCapitalofAustin.Austinisknownasthe‘LiveMusicCapitalOftheWorld’asitboastsmorelivemusicvenuesthananyothercityintheUS.However,there’ssomuchmoretoAustinthanmusic,andifyou’reluckyenoughtobeintheLoneStarStatefortherace,here’swhatyoucangetuptowhilstawayfromthetrack…
The title of ‘Live Music Capital Of the World’ is well-deserved. You’re first taste of live music could come before you even leave the airport. Music is everywhere in Austin, from the arrivals terminal, to shops and on the streets. There are more than 250 live music venues, we’re not going to list them all, but there are several that come highly recommended. Broken Spoke is an old-fashioned honky-tonk bar which first opened in 1964. There are even dance lessons in the evenings so, you’ll be able to learn the ol’ Texas two-step. Stubbs Bar-B-Q is another popular outdoor venue, set in an amphitheatre. The Sunday Gospel Brunch is highly recommended where you’ll enjoy live music with a buffet of southern comfort food.
If you prefer something a bit more laid back, then you could take a kayak tour of the city. The Colorado River runs through the middle of Austin, which has some stunning architecture, so a guided tour along the river is a unique, and less-crowded way to learn about the city.
There is a rich history in the city of Austin and the granite and marble Capitol Building, which was built in 1888, is worth a visit. It is considered one of the nations most distinguished budlings and it is open to the public for tours daily.
And if you’re in the mood for history, then the Bullock Texas State History Museum should be on your to-see list. The museum is spread over three floors, and tells the story of Texas, which dates back 16,000 years. As you climb the floors you’re travel through time and arrive in the modern 21st century on the third floor. The museum also boasts an IMAX Theatre showing a variety of films throughout the day.
Austin is a cosmopolitan city with a cowboy twist, so you can expect to find everything a shopaholic is looking for. If you head south of downtown, you’ll find the South Congress District. Known as SoCo, it offers some of the best shopping in the city along with restaurants and live music venues. It began life as a place to buy retro clothing but has built up to host some of the biggest names in clothing and other cool shops. Most famous of all is Allen’s Boots, where you can turn yourself into a cowboy, from boots to a ten-gallon hat. The shop has been in SoCo for more than 50 years and you might recognise it from when Danny and Max got kitted out for the 2018 United States Grand Prix.
There are several malls in and around the city as well. The Domain and The Arboretum are two of the most popular. The Domain has every high-street brand you could think off and The Arboretum offers more upmarket boutiques. If you’re heading to Austin with empty suitcase, planning to fill them with bargain clothes, then just north of the city is Round Rock Premium Outlets, which boasts 125 stores spread over 200 acres.
If you’ve got any energy left after a day of sightseeing and shopping then it’s time to paint the town red. But first, you’ll want to eat! And you’re in luck, because Texas is famous for two types of food: Tex-Mex and barbecue. Austin often finds itself in the top three when it comes to America’s best barbecue cities. Barbecue is often a matter of preference, so you’ll find a lot of restaurants claiming to be the ‘best BBQ in Austin’. Three that come highly recommended are Franklin Barbecue, KG BBQ, and Black’s Barbecue. Franklin’s is famous for two things, its brisket and the queues that snake out the door and down the street, but it’s well worth the wait. KG is a barbecue truck and offers an Egyptian/Texan mix, that sees barbecued meat in rice bowls or in a stuffed pita. The lamb bacon ribs are a best seller. Black’s has been selling barbecued food since 1932 and is run by a fifth-generation pitmaster, their beef ribs are a must-try. And just remember when it comes to barbecue food: the messier it looks, the better it tastes.
As you’d imagine, there are LOTS of Tex-Mex restaurants in Austin, in case you don’t know – it’s a mix of Texan and Mexican comfort foods and family run restaurants can be found all over the city. DK Maria is a restaurant with a rich history. The namesake of the restaurant, Maria, brings strong, spicy flavours to classic dishes. The signature dish is brisket enchiladas, topped with chipotle sauce and chili con queso. El Arroyo, famous for its everchanging sign that is now a popular meme. The sign is funny, but the food is serious. Two dishes to try are the green chilli chicken chimichanga and pulled pork burritos.
Austin is a city that comes alive at night and there are plenty of place to drink and party. Sixth Street is full of bars, live music venues and restaurants. Closed to traffic at the weekends, it becomes packed with people looking to have fun. In the middle of Sixth Street is the iconic Driskill Hotel, which has been there since 1886, and makes a top-notch Old Fashioned. Maggie Mae’s has a rooftop bar full of people dancing, drinking and watching the crowds of people down below.
If you want a bit more of a chilled-out night then the Midnight Cowboy and Firehouse Lounge & Hostel have a ‘speakeasy’ feel to them and are a quiet oasis away from the noise and neon of Sixth Street. And that’s it everything you’ll need to have a fantastic time in Austin, you lucky things!
