Iid Guide AUSTIN2015/2016 Off the Beaten Path EXPLORING HAMILTON POOL’S WATERFALL AND GEOLOGICAL WONDERS TUNE IN: ESSENTIAL YOUR GUIDE TO AUSTIN’S NEARBY GEMS: PERFECT MUSIC EXPERIENCES NEIGHBORHOODS HILL COUNTRY ROAD TRIPS PAGE 10 PAGE 15 PAGE 45 WE DITCHED THE LANDSCAPES FOR MORE SOUNDSCAPES. If you’re going to spend some time in Austin, shouldn’t you stay in a suite that feels like it’s actually in Austin? EXPLORE OUR REINVENTION at Radisson.com/AustinTX AUSTIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 111 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin, TX 78701 800-926-2282, Fax: 512-583-7282, www.austintexas.org President & CEO Robert M. 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JW Marriott® Austin 110 East 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 Phone 512.474.4777 jwmarriottaustin.com © 2015 Marriott International, Inc. 05 Connect with Austin Kite Festival at 06 Zilker Park On Our Radar Contents06 Calendar of Events page 07 5 Events for Food Lovers 08 Fest with the Best 06 10 Essential Austin Music 14 Austin Diversity 15 Around Town 16 South Congress 18 South Austin 20 East Austin 22 Central Austin 26 Downtown 30 Sixth Street Festivals & Events From art and culinary celebrations to bat fests and wacky runs, Austin knows how to throw a party. 34 Red River District 36 Market District Perla’s on South 38 Rainey Street Congress 40 West Austin 42 North Austin Enchanted Rock State Natural Area 45 Texas Hill Country 52 Do Like the Locals Do: Eat Like a Chef 53 Dining Resources page page 58 Do Like the Locals Do: Party Like You 15 44 Live Here Around Town Austin’s diverse Texas Hill Coun y Follow 59 Nightlife Resources neighborhoods are full of surprises. the surrounding rolling hills and Here’s the inside scoop on where to eat, winding rivers to open-air adventures, 66 Do Like the Locals shop, jam out and explore across the city. wine trails and luxury getaways. Do: Explore Like an Expert ON THE COVER 67 Things to Do Swimmers take the plunge at Hamilton Pool. Resources ©AUSTIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Find maps between pages 48 & 49 KITE FESTIVAL: PHOTOGRAPHER BRUCE LEMONS; COURTESY OF PERLA’S/PHOTOGRAPHER CASEY DUNN; ENCHANTED ROCK STATE NATURAL AREA: COURTESY OF FREDERICKSBURG CVB/S. RAWLS 04 Crave the Latest? Read all about the latest vacation ideas and must-hit happenings from Austin by signing up for our monthly eNewsletters at austintexas.org. Get Social. Connect. Follow. Save. Austin is an evolving city on the move. Keep a pulse on what’s happening anytime, anywhere — online, on your phone or on a tablet. AUSTINTEXAS.ORG TRUE AUSTIN Visit austintexas.org to plan your perfect trip. Discover what locals and other Head to the True Austin page at visitors love about Austin, find hotel deals, and listen to and buy music by local austintexas.org and tap into local experts’ musicians. Go mobile and browse the site on your smartphone for on-the-go blogs on music, family, food, events Austin info and deals. and more. First-hand sources dish on everything from Austin shopping hits to AUSTIN INSIDER FOR IPAD mom-approved family musts. Tap into locally recommended shopping, dining and events by downloading the free Austin Insider iPad app from the App Store. Plus, the map and business It’s the ultimate way to get the inside directory puts key local restaurants, nightclubs and sights at your fingertips so scoop on experiencing Austin like a local you can make reservations, find tickets and plan your visit all in one sitting. and staying connected. Have a specific Austin question? Just hashtag #TrueAustin AUSTIN INSIDER BLOG on Twitter, post it on our Facebook page Written and curated by the Austin CVB, this friendly blog shares the things that (facebook.com/visitaustintexas) or send visitors love and locals can’t get enough of. Read about Austin’s best tours, an email to [email protected]. delicious brunch spots, day trips, outdoorsy to-dos, festivals, Spotify playlists Watch a video on True Austin and then and tons of other Live Music Capital of the World® staff picks. Find it all at click on one of our bloggers’ smiling faces austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog. at austintexas.org/trueaustin. Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube facebook.com/ instagram.com/ pinterest.com/ twitter.com/ youtube.com/user/ Save visitaustintexas visitaustintx visitaustintx visitaustintx visitaustintx Big at local shops and restaurants with Listen up Austin Insider Deals! Check out Austin CVB’s latest 1 Visit our website: Volume 14 ALL ATX British Invasion austintexas.org/ CD. This 19-track compilation CD deals. Browse of local Austin musicians serves as 2 a celebration of some of rock ‘n’ fabulous deals on roll’s biggest bands. Popular Austin shopping, dining and more. artists cover hits from the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and more. 3 Print your Available for sale (October 2015) favorite coupons, or at the Austin Visitor Center and just show them on your mobile device online at austintexas.org/visit/ at checkout. shopaustin. SOCIAL MEDIA: ISTOCKPHOTO/PIXDELUXE austintexas.org 05 Austin Celtic Festival Armadillo Christmas Bazaar On the Web For up-to-date event information, On10/29/15–11/5/2015 O Rad FEBRUARY 2016 visit austintexas.org/ AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 2/14/16 visit/events. Paramount Theatre and various locations, austinfilmfestival.com Recognized as one of the top film AUSTIN MARATHON & HALF MARATHON festivals in the country, this event shines the spotlight Downtown Austin, youraustinmarathon.com Event on top-billed films and indies alike. speakers, live music from more than 40 local bands, and a course that winds through Austin’s most scenic neighborhoods make this popular 13.1 and 26.2-mile The capital city loves NOVEMBER 2015 race a must-hit for runners and spectators. 11/6/15–11/8/15 to celebrate. With 300 FUN FUN FUN FEST 2/27/16 Auditorium Shores, funfunfunfest.com National touring CARNAVAL BRASILEIRO annual days of sunshine, indie rock, hip hop, punk, electronica and metal bands Palmer Events Center, sambaparty.com Carnaval converge on Austin for two days of music. in Austin is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnaval unbeatable urban parks celebrations outside Brazil. Brasileiro-style samba, 11/7/15–11/8/15 costumes and wild abandon included. and legendary Texas AUSTIN CELTIC FESTIVAL Fiesta Gardens, austincelticfestival.com The largest pride, we rarely need an gathering of Celts in Central Texas features four stages MARCH 2016 excuse to throw a party. of Irish, Scottish and Breton music, dance, storytelling, 3/6/16 workshops, plus sheepherding demos, Highland Games ZILKER PARK KITE FESTIVAL and more than 30 Celt craft vendors. Zilker Park, abckitefestival.com The nation’s oldest kite festival features hundreds of kites in the air and is SEPTEMBER 2015 11/14/15–11/15/15 free to attend for people of all ages; complete with kite flying contests, food, games and more.