I have been dreaming of visiting Austin for a long time. After all, it’s a city that has a reputation for being cool and fun. A city that boasts of being the live music capital of the world and a must-visit for foodies. A city that has a reputation for being a bit hippie, even though it finds itself right in the heart of cowboy country.
So, like I said, I had dreamed of going there for a long time, and I finally had to spend two weeks there for work in January. While I never really have much time to explore when I’m on the road for work, I still fell in love with Austin.
So what made me fall for the capital of Texas? Maybe it’s his atmosphere in general. Austin is often found among the best cities to live in the United States, and it has a pretty low crime rate. The city prides itself on having a unique character, and its unofficial slogan, Keep Austin Weird, is proudly displayed throughout souvenir shops.
Maybe I fell in love with its outdoors side too? Austin is built on the banks of the Colorado River which you can follow along a trail. When I walked there on a sunny Sunday afternoon, it seemed as if the entire city was outside to take advantage of this beautiful day. And I was amazed to see several turtles and cormorants along the trail, despite it being close to downtown. And that’s without counting the bats, the local stars. Austin has one of the largest urban populations of this small flying mammal and seeing them soar at sunset from Congress Avenue Bridge is, oddly enough, a popular tourist attraction.
Or maybe Austin charmed me through my stomach? The city is known for its culinary scene and every local I met in the course of my job had an extensive list of restaurants to share with me. And rest assured: Austin may have a character a little different from the rest of Texas, there are still many barbecue joints.
Anyway, this very short article probably doesn’t do justice to a cool city where I really hope I will have the opportunity to return one day with more time to explore!