(On Travel) #1 Austin, Texas

 

Sunset in Downtown Austin, TX

A Respite From Training

Three days after running my first marathon, I traveled to Austin, Texas for six days (Wednesday 5/27 to Tuesday 6/2) to visit three of my college friends who recently moved there. Another one of my college friends came for five of those days, and it was a reunion of sorts.

After investing heavily in marathon training over the four months prior, I knew that I would inevitably fall out of the routines I had built when traveling. My body is recovering from the hardest physical feat I have ever accomplished, with large, oval-shaped blisters on both arches of my feet as proof. For recovery purposes, the itinerary we had planned was not ideal. For enjoyment, it certainly was. 

The three activities I did most frequently were eating out, exercise, and going out at night. Over my six days in Austin, I went to eight different eateries; went to two run clubs, played two hours of pickleball, and two rounds of golf; and went to ten different bars/places to drink. Here is my take on the food, social, and fitness scene in Austin.

Food for Thought

I consider myself a foodie. The best part of traveling for me is experiencing local cuisines, the dishes that each place is known for. In Texas, the local cuisine seems to be Mexican and BBQ. Out of the eight places I tried, I quickly identified favorites. 

After a Thursday that included a 6:20 AM run club, two hours of pickleball, and nine holes of golf, dinner at Cabo Bob’s Burritos on the University of Texas Austin campus was incredible. I typically go for staple items when traveling, and chose to have a burrito. Cabo Bob’s has five tortilla options, including the Ancho Chili I had, which they hand spun and pressed the dough in front of me. It does not get much fresher than that! The ingredients I had all tasted as if they had come in that day. The combination of steak, guacamole, and the popular 66 Red sauce formed the best burrito I have ever had.

Burrito from Cabo Bob's

On Sunday, my four college friends and I visited Terry Black’s BBQ. We planned to eat at the famous Franklin’s BBQ, which my dad had recommended to me, but the 5 lb minimum order (takeout) and line that often begins four hours before they open ultimately deterred us. At Terry Black’s, I had 1 lb of brisket, with sides of mac and cheese and coleslaw. The complimentary burnt ends for first time visitors were the best I have ever had, and the brisket was good too. If I could do it all over again, I would bite the bullet and wait in line at Franklin’s, though. 

On Friday night, we celebrated my friend’s birthday at De Nada Cantina, a sit-down Mexican restaurant with notoriously strong margaritas. Needless to say, one large frozen margarita is all it took to feel the alcohol. Having hardly drunk alcohol during marathon training, the celebration we had was a necessary respite from the discipline I have developed. 

A Twenty-Somethings Dream

Over the many conversations I had with the friend I stayed with in Austin over the year he has lived there, I anticipated a lively nightlife, and it delivered. He explained the system that divides the bar scene, segmented by location (East, West, Sixth, Dirty Sixth, Rainey, etc.). On Thursday, we went out on East, home to Flower Shop, a multi-story rooftop bar with a cozy interior, and Latch Key, a dance-bar with a patio where picnic tables serve as coveted elevated surfaces. I enjoyed both, especially Latch Key, which reminded me of my college years. 

On Friday, we started at Whisler’s on Sixth Street, and bar-hopped there until ending at Hotel Vegas. By the time we reached Hotel Vegas, I was thrilled to dance in Volstead, which is an indoor dance club attached to the bar’s large outdoor space. Dancing in a place like Volstead can be a workout, and I quickly burned off the De Nada marg I had earlier that night. 

Racing Mount Pleasant, Antone's Nightclub

Saturday was the best representation of Austin’s youthful culture. After adequately recovering from the night prior, we visited Banger’s on Rainey street, which is a beer garden that has the largest draft beer selection in Austin. Then, we watched the first half of the San Antonio Spurs Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Victory Lap, which drew a large crowd. Afterwards, we saw rising indie band Racing Mount Pleasant at Antone’s, a historic music venue. 

My two favorite bars we visited were also on Saturday. The Bee’s Kneez is a classy establishment, with a DJ that mixes 70s & 80s hits and bartenders that deliver your receipt enclosed in a book. Dirty Bills is the polar opposite, which can be best described as a fraternity party posing as a bar. The deafening 2000s throwbacks and the bottles of Mad Dog that bartenders poured into the mouths of guests awakened a youthfulness I had long forgotten as a graduate student. 

An Active Community

Along with conversations about nightlife, my friend also shared an ongoing joke that “nobody works in Austin,” based on the amount of people that are seen running outside or playing on local pickleball courts. An apt description. The Desnudo Run Club at 6:20 AM was my first run post-marathon; a much needed 3-mile recovery. Desnudo is known for their coffee, and while I quit caffeine a year ago, I enjoyed my first decaf latte. I also went to what is colloquially known as the Sprint Club, an influencer led group that focuses on the 40 yard dash. This developed an appreciation for shorter running events, rather than the long distance training I have endured. 

Star Ranch Golf Course

Recently, I have developed an interest in improving my golf game. We played 9 holes at Harvey Penick on Thursday, where I was able to rent clubs for $13, including the exact same iron set I just bought. It is an ideal course for a beginner: affordable, some challenges, and short hole distances. This differs greatly from the Star Ranch, in which I was confronted with one-tier pricing on rental clubs and ended up with a set I had no business playing with. Nonetheless, the 18-holes we played there led to an incredible golfing experience, with a beautifully designed course, pristine fairways, and high-tech golf carts that turned off if you got too close to the woods (which I inevitably did). I managed one par and six bogeys. As a beginner golfer, a par is a huge accomplishment, and it is the pride of executing each stage of a hole that keeps me coming back to golf. 

Another highlight of my trip were the two swimming areas we visited. On Friday, we went to the highly popular Barton Springs, which was littered with students and adults alike trying to catch a tan. Less well known is the cliff-jumping spot at Pace Bend Park alongside Lake Travis, about 45 minutes outside the city. There, I went cliff jumping off a 35 ft drop, navigating a sketchy rock face to get back to the top. I highly recommend this for any thrill seekers, although the climb out requires upper body strength and strong climbing technique.

Cliff jumping at Lake Travis

Austin: An Alternative Texas Experience

If I could only live in Texas, it would undoubtedly be in Austin. The food, social, and fitness scene match my interests well. We lucked out with beautiful weather (although it was undeniably hot) and having multiple friends there to show me the ropes was a joy. If you are looking for a unique, alternative Texas experience, look no further than Austin, TX. 

Ryan K. Beck can be reached at reflections@ryankbeck.com

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