Plan your next girls’ or guys’ weekend escape to Austin, Texas, the city where you can always count on sunny skies, great music, and plenty of fun to be had.
It’s not every day you get the opportunity to bring together your near and far friends for a getaway together. Austin has quickly developed into a top destination for girls’ and guys’ getaways, thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and a string of things to do that you can’t find anywhere else, from famous barbeque joints and outstanding live music to watering holes and late-night rooftop bars. To help you get the most out of your time together, we’ve built this guide – a section for girls’ getaways and a section for guys’ – to make sure you make the most of every minute.
For your base camp, Valencia Group’s centrally located Lone Star Court offers the right mix of in-room comfort and style with the kind of communal amenities that make it a natural fit for your group getaway. Some examples: fresh s’mores kit, an outdoor fire pit and patio, and an old-fashioned fridge stocked full of snacks and beverages. Once you’ve checked in, take a seat in your patio rocking chairs and get down to hard-hitting decisions of what you’re going to do first: feast at La Barbeque, stroll around Zilker Park, or just unwind by the fire pit and toast to some great, long-missed company – it is your weekend after all.
Girls’ Weekend in Austin
Play: The appeal of Zilker Park is that there’s something for everyone in your group, which means you can all join in an activity together or splinter off in smaller groups. Outdoor yoga sessions are perhaps a good option for you all together, followed by rewarding cool-off in the three-acre wide Barton Springs pool in the warmer months. There’s also walks through the botanical gardens, kayaking, and disc golf (on a course suited for beginners) available within the park’s boundaries.
See: Just taking a stroll around downtown, the thriving contemporary art scene is palpable – building after building, brick and cement walls are disguised in remarkable murals and abstract paintings. To see why Austin street art is voted some of the best in the US year after year in a more confined space, head over to 11th and Baylor Street to check out the Hope Outdoor Gallery. This project, covering up what was once trashed, abandoned space, allowed graffiti artists to create pieces driven by positive and educational messaging. For the iconic “Greetings from Austin” wall mural, head to 1st Street to get a frame-worthy photo of the gals snapped in front of the vibrant life-sized postcard.
Discover: You can’t go to the city that prides itself on its oddities and come back with something ordinary. When an antique shop has rave reviews from publications like GQ and the New York Times, a visit is merited. At Uncommon Objects, twenty-four passionate antique sellers came together to make this store a “genuine and quirky slice” of American culture and history. You never know what you will find – from a clay sculpture of a bunny on a bicycle to century-old tapestries that hung during WWI – but you will certainly come out having purchased some invaluable items with an experience of equal worth.
Eat: For some classic Southern charm, indulge at Mattie’s for dinner on the porch under the quaint string lights and ancient oak trees. The oaks’ roots date back to the history of the restaurant itself, which opened over a century ago in the very same location, a 20-minute Uber ride from your room at Lone Star Court. Recent renovations have the space looking striking and new, but what Mattie’s is famous for hasn’t changed: vibrant peacocks roaming around the land, a picturesque bar, and farm-fresh fare and cocktails served with a generous side of Texas hospitality. The barbeque, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and spiked lemonades will have your bevy feeling like Southern belles in no time.
Night Cap: No matter how tired you all might be from a day of exploring in the sun, throw on something cozier and mosey on over to the big leather couches at the Water Trough back at the hotel. Order a round of espresso martinis and catch up on life – something you’ve probably been too busy this weekend to actually do. Take a night to enjoy the Austin staple of famous live music right at Lone Start Court, and just enjoy all being together, with a log fire burning in front of you, your quarters just steps away, and your friends beside you.
Guys’ Weekend in Austin
Play: When you think of things to do in Austin, you probably didn’t pencil in a hike – but you may want to reconsider. In just an hour, you can reach the highest point in Austin and witness the city like you never have before. Mount Bonnell, which ends up being just a 102-stair climb, will bring you 775 feet up and give you an incredible view of the city skyline over the Colorado River. With the sun likely shining, we recommend hiking toward the latter part of day, one, to stay cooler, but mainly to witness the famous vivid sunset atop the mountain, from the highest point in Austin.
See: It’s considered a Texas sin to visit Austin and not see some live music. One venue we recommend among so many options: The tried-and-true famous venue, The Continental Club, with some 60 years of guitar jams and memorable solos under its belt. What started out as a working man’s blue-collar bar turned into a location where hundreds of well-known performers and bands, from Robert Plant to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, have now played. Not only is there always an energetic crowd and great vibes, but you can start with a blues band upstairs, and finish off with a country band downstairs – getting your fill of live tunes in one night.
Discover: Situated on the historic Rainey Street, known for its many shops adorned with string-lit covered patios, authentic food trucks, and famous bars, sits Craft Pride, the unique brewery that solely serves Texas brews. But with 54 taps flowing, Craft Pride still seems to have every kind of beer imaginable, from pale ales and pilsners to hops and Helles. Their quaint courtyard houses their very own food truck serving up custom pizzas and fresh bacon strips – yes, bacon strips – to complement your cold one. Perhaps this is where you guys should pop in to indulge in a flavorful brew, reminiscing on the days when your beers had little to no flavor at all.
Eat: It’s time to indulge in one things Austin knows they do right – barbeque. But, the best barbeque you may ever taste also takes patience. The lines out the door for many of Austin’s famous brisket joints are as notorious as the flavors celebrated within. We’ve all learned patience is a virtue, though, and La Barbeque knows that quality well – the brisket you’ll be indulging in roasts slowly over Texas post oak for 14 to 16 hours before hitting the plate. They also take the time to source only locally grass-fed, hormone-free beef from local ranches. So, whether you go classic with some sticky barbeque and buttery cornbread, or mix it up with a sandwich topped with sausage, pulled pork, pickled red onions, and chipotle slaw, you can count on it being well worth the wait from a restaurant that knows waitin’ well.
Night Cap: The fire pits back at Lone Star Court are the right spot for retelling those classic tales from way back when. Rounds of “Orange Fashioneds” – a tequila’s take on the classic old fashioned – from the Water Trough bar will feed the stories right up to last call. Should you need a late-night snack, s’mores are at the ready as the final toast for getting the crew together again.
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