Texan Rebecca Darling from R We There Yet Mom? gives us the
inside scoop on exploring Austin with kids. She dishes on where to
stay, what to do and all the amazing food in Austin. Rebecca gives
tips on the best place to view the Congress Avenue bats emerging
out from under the bridge at sunset, where to get the best BBQ and
how a trash collection can be a fun tourist stop.
ON THE PODCAST
0:35 Tamara's girlfriend getaway to Gulf Shores, Alabama
5:00 Where to eat in Gulf Shores, Alabama
9:20 Rebecca Darling from R We There Yet Mom?
11:26 5 week road trip (#Austin2Boston)
12:28 What makes Austin great for families
13:37 A typical Austin itinerary
14:58 Texas State Capit0l
16:15 Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool
17:40 The Congress Avenue Bats
19:52 Keep Austin Weird
23:35 Where to stay in Austin
26:19 Insider tips
27:40 Where to eat in Austin
34:00 Best place to take a family photo
36:36 Rebecca's favorite travel gear
39:52 App of the Week
41:37 Stay tuned to talk about RV Travel next week!
ABOUT REBECCA DARLING, R WE THERE YET MOM?
Rebecca Darling is a freelance travel writer who lives near
Austin, Texas. She is a mom of three (15, 13, and 6) who loves to
create exceptional memories with her family. Whether that be on the
other side of the world or right down the street, her goal is to
help families create exceptional memories too. You can find her
writing at
R We There Yet
Mom?, or follow her on
"https://www.facebook.com/RWeThereYetMom/">Facebook,
Twitter,
or
"https://www.instagram.com/rwethereyetmom/">Instagram.
VISITING AUSTIN WITH KIDS
Austin is known for South by Southwest Interactive in the
Spring and Austin City Limits in the fall, but there is so much to
offer families from a vibrant Hill Country with hiking and
waterskiing, to a ton of history and family attractions. A long
weekend is sufficient for exploring the city but ideally families
should plan on four to five days. Sometimes families may combine a
trip to Austin with a visit to San Antonio.
Texas State Capitol is 131 years old and made of pink granite
to create a beautiful building with a whispering gallery, a Texas
history museum for kids and memorials. Across the street you will
find
"_blank">Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Another must do is to to experience the outdoors
at
"nofollow">Zilker Park in downtown Austin where you can
fly kites and swim in the Barton Springs Pool. Barton Springs Pool
is manmade but fed by a natural spring so it is 68 degrees
year-round. The springs feed into Town Lake and you can rent
kayaks, paddle boards and water bikes. After your water activities,
you can ride the Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train with excellent
views.
At night, you must see the Congress Avenue bats, which live
under the Congress Avenue Bridge from March through October. Every
evening at dusk, the bats fly out from under the bridge en
masse.
However, don't go to the legendary Sixth Street -- it is for
college kids and above. But there are plenty of fun and eclectic
shops on South Congress.
Some off-the-beaten path places to visit in Austin:
- Tom's Coffee Shop with a set up a Tom's shoes and a back yard
garden - Austin Murals
- Cathedral of Junk
WHERE TO STAY IN AUSTIN
Rebecca recommends staying in downtown Austin at
the
"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7484453-11707460-1448548514000?sid=VM011&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fthe-driskill-austin-texas.html%3Flabel%3Dgen173nr-1FCAEoggJCAlhYSDNiBW5vcmVmcgV1c19yaYgBAZgBMbgBB8gBDdgBAegBAfgBAqgCAw%3Bsid%3Dde636b88135a30c8de13d73071519e21%3Bdcid%3D12%3Bdest_id%3D20126394%3Bdest_type%3Dcity%3Bdist%3D0%3Bgroup_adults%3D2%3Broom1%3DA%252CA%3Bsb_price_type%3Dtotal%3Bsrfid%3D85cf15bba74a4a4b83c5b23c51ada91544d6da7dX1%3Btype%3Dtotal%3Bucfs%3D1%26"
target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Driskill Hotel on the edge
of Fifth and Sixth Street with unique, beautiful rooms. She also
likes the
"http://www.dpbolvw.net/ak108iqzwqyDLIMIIJHDFFLELIKEDFIIMJIMJFIEEE?sid=VM011+FS&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fninty-eight-downtown-austin.html%3Flabel%3Dgen173nr-1DCAEoggJCAlhYSDNiBW5vcmVmcgV1c19yaYgBAZgBMbgBB8gBDdgBA-gBAfgBAqgCAw%3Bsid%3Dde636b88135a30c8de13d73071519e21%3Bdcid%3D12%3Bdest_id%3D20126394%3Bdest_type%3Dcity%3Bdist%3D0%3Bgroup_adults%3D2%3Broom1%3DA%252CA%3Bsb_price_type%3Dtotal%3Bsrfid%3D45066460a46ef2821b0329c64282b86b72a84b36X1%3Btype%3Dtotal%3Bucfs%3D1%26"
target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Seasons by Town Lake
and the
"http://www.kqzyfj.com/4c106zw41w3JROSOOPNJLLRKROQKJLOOSPOSPLOKKK?sid=VM011+MAR&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fjw-marriott-austin.html%3Flabel%3Dgen173nr-1DCAEoggJCAlhYSDNiBW5vcmVmcgV1c19yaYgBAZgBMbgBB8gBDdgBA-gBAfgBAqgCAw%3Bsid%3Dde636b88135a30c8de13d73071519e21%3Bdcid%3D12%3Bdest_id%3D20126394%3Bdest_type%3Dcity%3Bdist%3D0%3Bgroup_adults%3D2%3Broom1%3DA%252CA%3Bsb_price_type%3Dtotal%3Bsrfid%3D7d346d853ae7c5a620978091a24483c8fa933d93X1%3Btype%3Dtotal%3Bucfs%3D1%26"
target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.W. Marriott, which are both in
great locations to walk to the main sites.
WHERE TO EAT IN AUSTIN
Rebecca recommends:
- Franklin BBQ -- great BBQ but really long waits and there are
many other options - Salt Lick BBQ in Dripping Springs
- Matt's El Rancho -- Tex-Mex that really caters to the kids with
face painting, balloon animals... - Home Slice Pizza on South Congress -- NY-style pizza with dough
balls for the kids - Hopdoddy -- unique burgers
BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO
- Greetings from Austin Mural -- on South First and Annie
- I Love You So Much Mural -- on South Congress on the side of
Joe's Coffee house - Zilker Park field with downtown Austin and the Congress Avenue
bridge in the background - Hike up Mount Bonnell and on the northwest side you overlook
Lake Austin and the downtown is behind you
FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR
Rebecca loves LuLaRoe leggings (just like Kim!) and Tom's
shoes because they are comfortable and easy to slip on and
off.
TIP/APP OF THE WEEK
Google Maps is a great app to use when walking around the city
to find a walking path to your destination and get voice-guided,
turn-by-turn directions. Plus, if you turn it on while you are in
WiFi it even works when you have data turned off or if you are out
of cell coverage.
MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST
"http://we3travel.com/planning-a-girlfriend-getaway-to-gulf-shores-orange-beach-alabama/">
Planning a girlfriend getaway to Gulf Shores,
Alabama
"http://we3travel.com/where-to-eat-orange-beach-alabama/">Where to
eat in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Alabama
"http://rwethereyetmom.com/things-to-do-in-austin-texas.html"
target="_blank">Things to do in Austin, Texas
l
"http://rwethereyetmom.com/top-5-tips-to-see-the-austin-bats.html"
target="_blank">Tip 5 Tips to See the Austin Bats
"http://rwethereyetmom.com/10-tips-for-families-visiting-krause-springs-spicewood-tx.html"
target="_blank" rel="nofollow">10 Tips for Families Visiting Krause
Springs
"http://rwethereyetmom.com/cathedral-of-junk-austin-texas.html"
target="_blank">Cathedral of Junk
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