Austin bus tours
In Austin, Texas, there are several bus tours offering fantastic ways to explore the city’s vibrant culture, music scene, and outdoor attractions. Here are some of the best bus tours in Austin:
- Austin City Highlights Tour: This comprehensive bus tour covers major attractions such as the Texas State Capitol, South Congress Avenue, University of Texas campus, Barton Springs Pool, and Zilker Park. It provides informative commentary, offering insights into Austin’s history, culture, and landmarks.
- Live Music Crawl: Explore Austin’s renowned live music scene with a bus tour that visits iconic venues and music districts like Sixth Street, the Red River Cultural District, and East Austin. Enjoy live performances by local musicians and learn about Austin’s music history.
- Austin Food Truck Tour: Delight your taste buds with a bus tour that explores Austin’s eclectic food truck scene. Sample a variety of cuisines from gourmet food trucks parked throughout the city, and learn about Austin’s food culture and culinary trends.
- Brewery and Distillery Tour: Discover Austin’s craft beer and spirits scene with a bus tour that visits local breweries, distilleries, and tasting rooms. Enjoy tastings of craft beers, spirits, and cocktails while learning about the brewing and distilling process.
- Bat Watching Tour: Experience one of Austin’s most iconic natural attractions with a bus tour to Congress Avenue Bridge, home to the world’s largest urban bat colony. Watch as millions of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk.
- Austin Street Art Tour: Explore Austin’s vibrant street art scene with a bus tour that visits colorful murals, graffiti walls, and public art installations across the city. Learn about the artists and inspiration behind Austin’s street art culture.
- Hill Country Wine Tour: Escape the city with a bus tour to the Texas Hill Country, known for its picturesque vineyards and wineries. Enjoy wine tastings at award-winning wineries, scenic views of the countryside, and leisurely strolls through vineyard estates.
- Texas BBQ Tour: Savor the flavors of authentic Texas barbecue with a bus tour that visits renowned barbecue joints and smokehouses in and around Austin. Sample brisket, ribs, sausage, and other barbecue specialties while learning about Texas barbecue traditions.
These bus tours offer diverse experiences catering to different interests, whether it’s music, food, art, outdoor adventures, or exploring the Texas Hill Country. They provide convenient and informative ways to discover the unique charm of Austin, Texas.
Austin’s food truck scene is renowned for its diverse and delicious offerings, reflecting the city’s eclectic culinary culture. Here are some of the best food trucks in Austin:
- Veracruz All Natural: Veracruz All Natural is a beloved food truck serving authentic Mexican cuisine with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their menu includes tacos, quesadillas, and tortas filled with flavorful meats such as al pastor, carne asada, and barbacoa, as well as vegetarian options like portobello mushrooms and grilled veggies.
- Torchy’s Tacos: Torchy’s Tacos started as a humble food truck and has since grown into a Texas-wide phenomenon. Known for its inventive and creative taco combinations, Torchy’s offers a wide variety of tacos ranging from classic to unique, including the famous “Trailer Park” with fried chicken, green chiles, and queso.
- Chi’Lantro BBQ: Chi’Lantro BBQ combines Korean and Mexican flavors to create delicious fusion cuisine. Their menu features items like Korean BBQ tacos, kimchi fries, and bulgogi bowls, all made with fresh and flavorful ingredients. Chi’Lantro’s innovative dishes and bold flavors have made it a staple of the Austin food truck scene.
- East Side King: East Side King is a popular food truck known for its Asian-inspired street food creations. Founded by Chef Paul Qui, a James Beard Award winner, East Side King offers dishes like pork belly buns, fried chicken karaage, and beet home fries, all with a unique twist and bold flavors.
- Gourdough’s: Gourdough’s is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. This food truck specializes in over-the-top gourmet donuts, topped with decadent ingredients like bacon, caramel, and Nutella. Whether you’re craving a classic glazed donut or a fully loaded “Mother Clucker” with fried chicken and honey butter, Gourdough’s has something to satisfy every dessert craving.
- Micklethwait Craft Meats: Micklethwait Craft Meats is a top destination for barbecue lovers in Austin. This food truck serves up mouthwatering smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, and sausage, as well as homemade sides like jalapeno cheese grits and buttermilk potato salad. Micklethwait’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship has earned it a loyal following among barbecue aficionados.
These are just a few of the many fantastic food trucks that contribute to Austin’s vibrant culinary landscape. Whether you’re in the mood for tacos, barbecue, or gourmet donuts, Austin’s food truck scene offers something for every palate.
Austin is not typically known for its wineries, as it is located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, which is more renowned for its vineyards and wineries. However, there are several wineries and vineyards in the surrounding area that are worth exploring for wine enthusiasts. Here are a few notable ones:
- Hilmy Cellars: Located in nearby Fredericksburg, Hilmy Cellars is a family-owned winery specializing in handcrafted wines made from Texas-grown grapes. They offer a variety of wines, including reds, whites, and rosés, and visitors can enjoy tastings in their tasting room or outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards.
- Fall Creek Vineyards: Fall Creek Vineyards has a tasting room in Driftwood, Texas, which is about a 30-minute drive from Austin. They produce a range of award-winning wines, including Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and Merlot, sourced from their vineyards in the Texas Hill Country. Visitors can sample their wines and enjoy scenic views of the vineyards and surrounding countryside.
- Duchman Family Winery: Duchman Family Winery is located in Driftwood, Texas, and offers a selection of Italian-inspired wines made from Texas-grown grapes. They produce a variety of wines, including Sangiovese, Vermentino, and Dolcetto, and visitors can taste their wines in their tasting room or outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards.
- William Chris Vineyards: William Chris Vineyards is located in Hye, Texas, which is about an hour’s drive from Austin. They specialize in small-batch, handcrafted wines made from Texas-grown grapes, with a focus on sustainability and terroir-driven winemaking. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their tasting room or outdoor patio, as well as tours of the vineyards and winemaking facilities.
- Driftwood Estate Winery: Driftwood Estate Winery is located in Driftwood, Texas, and offers panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country from their hilltop tasting room. They produce a variety of wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, and Tempranillo, sourced from their estate vineyards. Visitors can sample their wines and enjoy the scenic surroundings.
While Austin itself may not have many wineries within city limits, the surrounding Texas Hill Country region offers a wealth of options for wine tasting and exploration. Visitors to Austin can easily take a day trip to nearby wineries to experience the unique flavors and terroir of Texas wines.
Austin is known for its thriving craft beer scene, with numerous breweries offering a diverse range of brews. Here are some of the top breweries to visit in Austin:
- Austin Beerworks: Austin Beerworks is a popular brewery located in North Austin. Known for its innovative and approachable beers, Austin Beerworks offers a variety of styles, including IPAs, pale ales, lagers, and seasonal releases. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their spacious taproom or outdoor beer garden.
- Jester King Brewery: Jester King Brewery is located just outside of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. Known for its farmhouse-style ales and mixed-culture fermentation, Jester King specializes in wild and sour beers made with locally sourced ingredients. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their rustic tasting room and explore the scenic surroundings of the brewery.
- Hops & Grain Brewing: Hops & Grain Brewing is an eco-friendly brewery located in East Austin. Committed to sustainability, Hops & Grain produces a variety of craft beers, including IPAs, lagers, and seasonal releases, using locally sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their taproom and learn about their sustainable brewing practices.
- Live Oak Brewing Company: Live Oak Brewing Company is an Austin institution known for its traditional German-style beers. Located in East Austin, Live Oak specializes in lagers and wheat beers, including their flagship Hefeweizen. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their beer garden or take a tour of the brewery to learn about their brewing process.
- Zilker Brewing Company: Zilker Brewing Company is a family-owned brewery located in the heart of downtown Austin. Known for its balanced and flavorful beers, Zilker offers a variety of styles, including IPAs, pale ales, stouts, and seasonal releases. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their cozy taproom or outdoor beer garden.
- Lazarus Brewing Company: Lazarus Brewing Company is a brewery and brewpub located in East Austin. In addition to brewing craft beers, Lazarus also serves coffee and house-made tacos, making it a popular destination for both beer and food enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy tastings in their laid-back taproom or outdoor patio.
These are just a few of the many fantastic breweries that contribute to Austin’s vibrant craft beer scene. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or just looking for a fun and unique experience, Austin’s breweries offer something for everyone to enjoy.
While Austin is well-known for its breweries, the city also boasts a growing craft distillery scene. Here are some notable distilleries in Austin:
- Revolution Spirits: Revolution Spirits is an artisanal distillery located in East Austin. They specialize in crafting small-batch, handcrafted spirits using traditional distillation methods and locally sourced ingredients. Their lineup includes award-winning spirits such as gin, rum, and amaro. Visitors can enjoy tours and tastings at their tasting room, where they can learn about the distillation process and sample their spirits.
- Still Austin Whiskey Co.: Still Austin Whiskey Co. is a grain-to-glass distillery located in South Austin. They are committed to producing high-quality whiskey using locally grown grains and sustainable practices. Their flagship product, The Musician, is a bourbon-style whiskey that embodies the spirit of Austin’s vibrant music scene. Visitors can take tours of the distillery and enjoy tastings of their whiskey in the tasting room.
- Deep Eddy Vodka: While not technically located in Austin, Deep Eddy Vodka is a Texas-based distillery with strong ties to the city. Their distillery in nearby Dripping Springs produces a variety of flavored vodkas using real, natural ingredients like fruit and botanicals. Deep Eddy Vodka has become a favorite among Austinites for its smooth and flavorful spirits, which can be found in bars and restaurants throughout the city.
- Austin Distillery: Austin Distillery is a boutique distillery located in Southwest Austin. They produce a range of spirits, including vodka, gin, and whiskey, using organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Their products are handcrafted in small batches, allowing for greater attention to detail and quality. Visitors can tour the distillery and sample their spirits in the tasting room.
- Garrison Brothers Distillery: Garrison Brothers Distillery is located in Hye, Texas, about an hour’s drive from Austin. While not in the city itself, Garrison Brothers is worth mentioning for its award-winning Texas bourbon whiskey. They produce small-batch, handcrafted bourbon using Texas-grown corn, wheat, and barley. Visitors can take tours of the distillery and enjoy tastings of their bourbon in the tasting room.
These are just a few of the distilleries that contribute to Austin’s growing craft spirits scene. Whether you’re a whiskey enthusiast, vodka lover, or gin connoisseur, Austin offers a variety of distilleries where you can learn about the distillation process and sample locally made spirits.
Austin is renowned for its barbecue scene, with numerous pitmasters serving up mouthwatering smoked meats and classic Texas barbecue flavors. Here are some of the best barbecue joints in Austin:
- Franklin Barbecue: Franklin Barbecue is arguably the most famous barbecue joint in Austin, if not the entire state of Texas. Known for its melt-in-your-mouth brisket, tender ribs, and flavorful sausage, Franklin Barbecue has earned a cult following and consistently long lines. Visitors can expect to wait several hours for a taste of their legendary barbecue, but the wait is well worth it.
- La Barbecue: La Barbecue is another top contender for the title of best barbecue in Austin. Located in East Austin, this food truck serves up some of the juiciest, most flavorful barbecue in town. Their brisket, ribs, and sausage are all smoked to perfection and packed with smoky goodness. Be sure to arrive early, as they often sell out before closing time.
- Micklethwait Craft Meats: Micklethwait Craft Meats is a beloved barbecue trailer located in East Austin. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, Micklethwait serves up mouthwatering smoked meats, including brisket, pork ribs, and house-made sausages. Their sides, like jalapeno cheese grits and buttermilk potato salad, are equally delicious.
- Leroy and Lewis Barbecue: Leroy and Lewis Barbecue is known for its inventive and creative approach to barbecue. Located in South Austin, this food truck offers a rotating menu of smoked meats and innovative sides, inspired by global flavors and seasonal ingredients. Their brisket, beef ribs, and smoked chicken are all standout dishes worth trying.
- Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ: Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ combines two beloved Texas culinary traditions: barbecue and Tex-Mex. Located in South Austin, Valentina’s serves up mouthwatering smoked meats, like brisket and pulled pork, alongside Tex-Mex favorites like breakfast tacos and smoked brisket quesadillas. Their signature “Real Deal Holyfield” sandwich, filled with brisket, sausage, and guacamole, is a must-try.
- Terry Black’s Barbecue: Terry Black’s Barbecue is a family-owned barbecue joint located near downtown Austin. Known for its traditional Texas barbecue flavors, Terry Black’s offers a variety of smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, and sausage, served with classic sides like coleslaw and potato salad. Their all-you-can-eat option is a popular choice for hungry barbecue enthusiasts.
These are just a few of the many fantastic barbecue joints in Austin. Whether you’re a barbecue aficionado or just looking for some delicious smoked meats, Austin offers a wealth of options to satisfy your cravings.