Breadwinner SIGHTS! 15 Non-SXSW Things to Do or Eat in Austin (Part III)
Posted by breadwinner on March 10th, 2010
Welcome to the third in the three-part series entitled “15 Non-SXSW Things to Do or Eat in Austin.”
So like I said in my previous posts, I’m in no way attempting to compete with drocolate’s near-fanatical, yet truly fantastical pre-appraisal of SXSW events, I’m rather attempting to create a complementary set of to-dos for you to do with what you will.
This post finds breadwinner less than 24 hours from setting sail (in a car) toward Austin. It’s time to talk about SIGHTS! aka things to do or see in Austin while you’re there, should you happen to need some time-fillers. If you’re going out there for SXSW, then you probably won’t need any of these. But hang onto them for next time, k?
Strap in to your seat and put your quacker whistle in your mouth because it’s time for…
SIGHTS!
SIGHTS! #5
Fly a kite at Zilker Park
Oh go fly a kite!
Or have a picnic, or celebrate Eeyore’s birthday, or play a game of Frisbee golf, or just take a walk. It’s a great park. I also tend to enjoy the Zilker Botanical Gardens (Arboretum) for an alternative outdoor location. Not the mall, the place with the flowers and gazebos and whatnot.
SIGHTS! #4
Wince at a naked hippie at Barton Springs
Look out for wrinkled butts.
No not Barton Creek—that’s another mall. And to my knowledge they don’t have any naked hippies there. Not even at Hot Topic. Anyway, this cool little pool is a natural, natural place to show off your ass. But just like in Europe, the peeps who show up super naked are always the ones you wish were clothed. For winter. So watch out.
SIGHTS! #3
Huff and Puff at the top of Mount Bonnell
Gasping for breath is HOTT!
Do you like romance?! Do you like cool views of the lake!? Do you like heading up a shit-ton of steps and feeling lightheaded at the top, but not because of said romance and views!!? Well, then you will adore Mount Bonnell. It’s hard to find, up and around the winding roads of hilly, mountainous Austin, but I tend to think the view and coolness of the spot is worth it. Plus, all that exercise is good for the heart.
SIGHTS! #2
Tour the University of Texas campus
Longhorns are sexy.
I love walking around my old alma mater. If you happen to be walking around my old alma mater along with me, I’ll likely give you a little tour of the campus as I remember it. Said tour will involve long stories that go nowhere real slowly. We’ll talk about the hundreds of fried rice snacks and egg rolls I ate from the food carts with nice ladies who years later got busted for re-selling stolen electronics out of their carts. We’ll discuss random classes and teachers I likely will not be able to recall. And then I’ll probably tell you to go ahead and find someone who does this tour guide thing for somewhat of a living rather than a washed up Dallasite/ex-Austinite like me. Either way, don’t miss this sexy, sexy campus.
SIGHTS! #1
Get out on the water at Lake Travis
That's one sexy lake.
No matter how you do it, Lake Travis is something awesome. I’ve been on a pontoon boat (bachelorette party awesome), I’ve been on a couple Duck Tours (touristy-bumpy awesome), I’ve been stranded on a broken duck-boat-thingie (not as awesome, but still kinda awesome!). Basically, it’s a fantastic lake and great place to make friends. Like with water cops, for instance. Okay I wouldn’t recommend that. But the Duck Tour thing is pretty awesome all-around. I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to check out all the Austin sites without moving from their cushiony seat on a large, strange, imported vehicle that people point and stare at. And anyone who likes annoying the fuck out of others with the ridiculously loud and grating sound of a duck quacker-whistle-thing. Yeah.
SIGHTS! Honorable Mention #1
Tour the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History
Pictured: Austin's biggest belt buckle.
Honestly I threw this SIGHT! in because I just wanted to make fun of a couple guys I know who showed up to this stately museum across the street from the UT campus and were laughed at when they revealed they were NOT there for a class, work or any required type of purpose. Laughed at. By their tour guide. Haa!
But seriously, they’ve got an IMAX theater so check it out.
Well folks, that concludes my bossiest tips on what to eat, where to shop and what to see when you’re down in Austin for SXSW — or at any other time. Please take advantage of my allknowingness. You won’t regret it. Probably not.
And remember to follow the hashtag #TeamCJ while we’re at SXSWi March 12-16. Follow @inthiseconomy on Twitter, and as always, you can follow me too.
ROAD TRIP!
Tags: 2010, austin, economy, fun, hippies, lake travis, mount bonnell, sights, sightseeing, SXSW, SXSWi, texas, UT austin, zilker park
As a college student in the 90s, I would go the top of Mt. Bonnell on summer mornings, climb down the other side about 30 feet to a rock ledge, listen to new CDs on my Sony Discman and smoke drugs. One time I fell to my death. I will be missed 12 years ago.
Go “to” the top…