We love living and working in Austin. From food to entertainment to business to weird celebrations you have to check out at least once, Austin is a culturally (and in every other way) diverse city to live in. Here are our top 30 reasons why we think Austin is so awesome.
The festivals! What other city has ACL Fest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, SXSW, X Games, MotoGP, Pecan Street, Moontower Comedy Fest and F1?
Barton Springs. This may be the most popular, but actually, there is a fabulous list of swimming holes all over the Austin area.
We heart bike-riding. Some areas have special bike lanes, but if you’re looking for an off-road adventure, the Greenbelt will give you miles and miles of paths to explore.
Food trucks. Featured on national cooking channels, these little spots boast some of the best food in Austin. Taste and comfort often trumps fancy around here.
Live music capital of the world. We have some of the best live shows on the planet. Plus, Bob Schneider lives here.
Football. We have some pretty serious football fans. It’s impossible to walk around Austin on a UT game day without seeing crowds dressed in burnt orange.
Austin is dog-friendly! Aside from dog parks, our furry friends are welcome to many of our restaurants, and are often treated like people. But sometimes better.
Zilker Park. Activities, organic markets, food, music, a train ride, and more- something is always going on at Zilker.
The Kite Festival. While we’re talking about Zilker, have you checked out the yearly kite festival? Thousands of us from all over the place gather just to simply go fly a kite. It’s glorious.
Torchy’s Tacos. You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten one of everything there. You’re welcome.
Christmas trees. Forget cutting down trees. Just head out to Hwy 360 with some garland and ornaments. You can decorate the trees right along the highway. One of my personal favorites.
Blue Starlite. Yea, we have the world’s only mini-drive-in to catch classic flicks. I like to have a burger and shake before heading out there. In my poodle skirt.
Whole Foods. It’s like the organic, crunchy, hippie, (or hipster) capital of the world! You can find any and everything there- from food to body products to incense to movie stars!
Ice skating rink. In the winter time, Whole Foods turns their roof into an ice skating rink. When you’re finished, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa at the coffee spots downstairs.
Book People. Get lost for hours in this incredible 2-story bookstore. Or visit for a book signing. Or bring a sack lunch and a tent because if you’re like me, you never want to leave.
Austin Pets Alive. We have no-kill pet shelters! Right on!
Eeyore’s birthday party. He’s so gloomy that we just want him to know he’s loved and cherished. The whole city rallies behind this little guy every year for a joyous celebration.
Brunch on South Congress. Don’t call it SoCo. It’s South Congress. And I’m pretty sure this strip of eateries invented the proper brunch.
South Gongress period. There is a REALLY BIG candy shop, a costume store, an antique store, enough restaurants to keep you fed for weeks, and tons of shops to discover unique treasures.
Amy’s Ice Cream. Voted the best ice cream place by patrons for 8 years in a row.
The bats. Every summer evening at dusk, hundreds of people gather to see the world’s largest urban bat colony emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown. It’s amazing. And sometimes creepy.
Local pride. We thrive on protecting our local businesses, especially our farmer’s markets. We grow ‘em locally and sell ‘em locally.
The graffiti. We love it! We especially love when people don’t destroy or paint over it.
Business growth. We are proud to have innovators and entrepreneurs bring their talent (and jobs!) to our great city.
The skyline. When you drive down I-35 (or when you’re sitting there in traffic), you can’t help but stare at those gorgeous buildings downtown. Actually, that’s all there is to do in traffic.
Hippie church. The best way to spend a leisurely Sunday morning is by eating some of Austin’s most delicious tacos, followed by free-style dancing. Maria’s Taco Express is one of our little gems.
Texas BBQ. The world-famous Salt Lick restaurant serves ribs, sausage, and brisket smoked and sauced with a family secret recipe, passed down for generations.
The flora. At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 650 indigenous Texas species grow across 20 gardens. The spring is the best time to visit because the bluebonnets are at their peak.
Mount Bonnell. With a peak at 785 feet, Mount Bonnell stands as one of the highest points in the city overlooking the Colorado River, and it is one of Austin’s oldest tourist attractions.
Do you think this list could be longer? What is your favorite restaurant, activity, or sweet spot in Austin?