Okay, this post is embarrassingly overdue. We’ve been in Austin, Texas for three weeks now. With only one week left, I’m finally sitting down to write our first update. Apparently living the adventure has taken priority over documenting it.
So here we are.
Our Little East Austin Home
For this month’s stay, we rented a small three-bedroom bungalow in East Austin. It’s cute, cozy, and exactly what we need for a short-term landing spot. Nothing fancy — just comfortable and functional.
That said, we’ve officially discovered our biggest rental miss so far on this journey: couches. Why is it so hard to find a good couch? Every place has had beds we happily sink into at night, but the couches? Questionable at best.
Thankfully, we’re not here to lounge indoors. If anything, we’re barely home.
And that’s largely because of where we’re located.
We’re just a couple of blocks from Lady Bird Lake, Austin’s outdoor heartbeat right in the middle of downtown and about 1.5 miles from the city center. That proximity has completely changed how we experience the city. Morning walks around the lake have become routine, and without even trying, we’re averaging close to 20,000 steps a day.
It turns out that when everything is walkable, you just… walk.
The Music Plan That Wasn’t
When we picked Austin, we told ourselves this stop would be all about music. Live shows. Late nights. The full “Live Music Capital of the World” experience.
There was just one small problem.
We didn’t book tickets in advance.
By the time we started looking, most of what we found had opening bands starting at 8 or 9 p.m., with headliners hitting the stage around 10. And while that sounds reasonable in theory… in practice, 10 p.m. is when we’re usually brushing our teeth and discussing how excited we are for sleep.
Somewhere along the way, we became morning people.
So while we've stumbled upon a few live bands, our grand music tour quietly pivoted into something else entirely: a full-blown food tour.
And honestly? No regrets.
Austin, the Food City
If music didn’t define our time here, food absolutely has.
Austin does not mess around when it comes to eating well.
It started with burgers at Casino El Camino — a dive bar that serves the kind of burger that makes you pause mid-bite. Then there was Bufalina, the small, cozy pizza spot conveniently located around the corner from our rental.
We went deep into taco-truck territory, sampling as a few and debating rankings like it was a competitive sport. After some discussion, we landed on Discada as our favorite.
BBQ was non-negotiable, of course. Terry Black’s delivered exactly what you want smoky, tender, and completely worth the inevitable food coma.
Then came JewBoy Burgers with creative spins that somehow convince you you’re still hungry enough for another patty.
And mornings? Those belong to Swedish Hill Bakery, where choosing just one pastry feels like an unfair exercise in restraint.
We even kicked off our Michelin-level dining experience at Barley Swine, which set a very high bar for the rest of our culinary adventures.
If Austin has a weakness, we haven’t found it yet. The only real challenge has been pacing ourselves.
Earning Every Bite
With all the eating, we’ve made sure to stay active.
We’ve biked Lakeway, Reimers Ranch, Spider Mountain, and the Mopac/Barton Creek trails. Then of course nearly every morning starts with a walk around Lady Bird Lake. Between biking and walking, we’re hovering around 20,000 steps a day — which makes that extra taco feel justified.
Beyond the trails and food scene, we’ve packed in a surprising amount of local experiences. We toured the Texas State Capitol, caught the Austin Marathon, attended a cheese tasting at a specialty shop, and toured the Austin City Limits Live stage during Community Day.
We’ve also managed to find ourselves at Super Bowl gatherings, Mardi Gras celebrations, Chinese New Year festivities, and even a day trip down to the San Antonio River Walk.
Apparently we don’t sit still well.
Getting Around, Austin-Style
One unexpected highlight? Transportation.
We’ve fully embraced Lime electric scooters and Waymo, the fully autonomous ride service that feels slightly futuristic every time you step inside. Both have been surprisingly convenient and honestly, kind of fun. In a city where traffic can test your patience, they’ve been game changers.
One Week Left
It’s hard to believe we only have one week left here. Austin has surprised us not with late nights and music like we expected, but with walkability, energy, and a food scene that absolutely delivered.
Next up: Nashville for the month of March.
We’ll try not to wait three weeks before writing about that one.
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