The City Limits of Austin, Texas
Music festivals, barbecue trays, and wines in the Hill Country: Welcome to Austin.
The slogan "Keep Austin Weird" began as an initiative to promote and preserve small businesses within the capital city of Texas, and it's really taken hold. Austin attracts the creatives, the innovators, and the go-getters that have transformed this city into the place it is today.
Whether it's the humble Sunday Farmer's Market at Mueller or the city-wide film, media, and music conference of South by Southwest, there's no shortage of ways to experience the "Keep Austin Weird" mentality.
The creative expression of Austin is laid bare at its two most famous festivals, both of which are returning in October 2021 and March 2022.
The first is Austin City Limits (or ACL) at the city's beloved Zilker Park, Barton Creek. Confirmed for October, this two-weekend event has been headlined by acts from music legends such as Guns N' Roses and Metallica to more recent stars like Billie Eilish and Travis Scott.
The second is South by Southwest (also known as SXSW). Taking place in March 2022, it's one part music festival, one part film conference, one part emerging technologies showcase. This convergence of art and technology helps to foster creative growth and attracts hundreds of thousands of guests looking to revel in it all.
You just can't take the Texas out of a Texan. That means that fantastic, local barbecue is always just a block or two away.
Between the brick-and-mortar shops and those that have integrated into Austin's food truck scene, you can't go wrong with any of the city's barbecue staples. Franklin's mouth-watering brisket, La Barbecue's otherworldly ribs, Micklethwait's daily smoked sausage selection, and Kerlin's authentic Texan BBQ kolaches are all amazing, and sure to start a lively conversation as to which establishment reigns supreme.
Where do the local Austinites go? It's not at all surprising that the citizens of Austin love to get out of the city and enjoy what the area has to offer, like:
→ Exploring the Greenbelt – featuring limestone cliffs, biking and hiking trails along the creek bed, and cool bodies of water to escape the summer heat
→ Getting out on kayaks and stand-up paddle boards along Lady Bird Lake
→ Visiting the amazing wineries out in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, like Signor Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, and Calais Winery
→ Listening to local Texan music at the famous venue of Luckenbach or two-step dancing at the Broken Spoke honky-tonk
Get in touch with our curators and they're put together an unforgettable Texan trip.
Christian Gibney
A Travel Creator on Origin's curator team, Christian is based in Austin, Texas. Coming from the biomedical engineering field, he brings a keen eye for detail and innovation to trip planning. Besides scouting out destinations for himself and his clients, he's often researching what cuisine to enjoy next – Cantonese, Caribbean, and American BBQ are a few of his favorites.
Images copyright of austintexas.org, SXSW, Joe Cavazos, Franklin BBQ, and Signor Vineyards