Looking for Some Great Things to Do on a Weekend Trip to Austin - and Best Hotel

Hey J.. Not sure if this is something you would be interested in but maybe your husband will like it. The Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin is home to 1.5 million bats. There is a park area where people set up blankets and watch the bats leave to go hunt in the evenings. This link has directions and a bat watching schedule. Seems like a lot of fun. http://www.austin360.com/search/content/events/special/ba...

Just south of downtown is a Boutique I used to work at in college called the Bazzar. They sell anything from Betsy Johnson apparel to lingerie and lots of mix and match swim suits. One night take him there and pick out a sexy piece of lingerie together. There is a large price range, so you are bound to find something you like; classy or risky!

If you are going South on I35 just past downtoen, take the Riverside Exit, just south of the river. Go East over the bridge and get in the right hand lane. It's the first business on your right. Next door is the Bazaar Backstage, which is a really cool costume shop with lots of cool stuff!! Very fun....Tell DeAnna and Bruce E. said hello!!

The Driskel is the nicest hotel downtown in my opinion, but very pricy!

J.,

I've never stayed there but have always wanted to spend the night/weekend at the Driskill Hotel in Austin. See their website and you'll see why I was impressed - www.driskillhotel.com. Last time we were in Austin, we were with our son to see Thomas the Train (and not wanting to "waste" a good hotel on a kid weekend!), and as we walked past the Driskill, we stepped inside the lovely lobby just to see what it looked like. It's pricey, but fabulous!

Be sure to make The Oasis on Lake Travis part of your weekend, as long as the weather is nice. It's on the outskirts of town, and it is a huge place where they mass produce the food - but the scenery (don't miss sunset!) is wonderful and if you can end up in a quiet enough table, it is VERY romantic. The night we were there they had a great band and the breeze was cool and it was just about as perfect as it gets for me - but my needs are pretty simple!

If you are even remotely interested, I'll recommend a trip to the state capitol. It is gorgeous. The grounds are also beautiful. I hadn't been there in several years and had forgotten what a spectacular building it is. You can do a quick stroll or delve more into the history of Texas and all the other historical stuff, but even if you just take a walk around the building and just take in the grandeur of the building and the grounds, I think you'll be glad you did. (Sorry...I think I must be a travel agent wannabe!)

Have a great trip - Austin is such a nice place.

J. M.

I saw a tv show with Rachel Ray called tasty travels or $40 a day. There was a great hotel right in the middle of Austin where you can walk to different places. I think it was San Juan Hotel, but you can get on Food Network webiste and look up both those shows. It was on last weekend or last week, I cant really remember. Good Luck. There were also different fun resturants and shops.
D.

I have heard nothing but cheers about Barton Creek resort. Golf, spa, lodging, food, pool, all excellent.

Hi J.-
I used to live in Round Rock--north of Austin. I worked in the Omni Hotel building which is downtown on 7th St. I've never stayed in a room but I'm sure it is nice since it is the Omni.

Also, my FAVORITE place to eat and have cocktails is Saba on 4th street. It's very trendy with fabulous food and interesting cocktails. And I don't know if Cedar Street and Malaga are still there but they are/were next door to Saba and they are nice places to have wine and listen to music. 4th Street is for the "older" crowd--not at all like 6ht street--unless it has changed since I lived there.

Have fun!