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Need Austin area advice

Posted on 11/28/23 at 11:39 am
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 11:39 am
We found out the date that UGA will play in Austin next year, and unfortunately some brainiacs decided to put it on the same weekend that a F1 race is expected to draw 300K people to town. As such, flights and hotels are absolutely outrageous or flat out non-existent. So it looks like I'll need to find somewhere to stay outside of town, which isn't really a big deal since I'll have a retnal car anyway. I am unfamiliar with the area so looking for advice.

What are some nice (not necessarily "ritzy" nice, just not the slums) places outside of town that would be easily manageable to drive in and out of the touristy parts of Austin? Looking at a map it looks like the areas just north of town are Pflugerville, Round Rock, Jullyville, Cedar Park, etc. Is there a specific direcdtion I hsould be looking? I don't know why I thoguht I heard north is the best bet. It looks like the airport is southeast, would that area (Garfield?) be better?
Posted by AbitaFan08
Boston, MA
Member since Apr 2008
26542 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 11:50 am to
San Antonio maybe?
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 11:58 am to
I think we may fly into San Anotnio on Thursday and spend a day there, but for Friday/Saturday we'll definitely want to be in/around Austin.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38666 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 12:07 pm to
The F1 track is southeast so I would want to avoid that area as traffic will be ridiculous. North in Round Rock, Phlugerville , Georgetown is good and even further north in Belton or Temple if you have to. Manor, east of Austin, wouldn't be bad either. West of Austin is a really nice area in the Texas Hill Country, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls , Blanco are all good.
This post was edited on 11/28/23 at 12:08 pm
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 3:29 pm to
Awesome thank you.

It'll be me, my wife, and another couple spending the weekend together. We're all in our mid/late 30s so not really interested in the college bar scene but don't want to just lay low and go to cracker barrel either. Would you recommend any of those areas over the others? Also I'm sure I'll do a ton of googling before next October, but are there any must-sees to do for first timers in Austin? We are very much tourists so touristy stuff doesn't bother us. I'm guessing we'll drive from wherever our hotel is into Austin on Friday and spend all day milling around doing stuff. Then Saturday will likely spend most of the day on/around campus.
Posted by achenator
Member since Oct 2014
2944 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 3:42 pm to
Round Rock around the Domain is nice. Good hotels, shopping, bars and restaurants.
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 3:50 pm to
Perfect. What/where exactly is the domain? Like if I'm on Priceline or something trying to stay there what specific city or address locale do I need to be in
Posted by Tiger n Austin
Austin, Tx
Member since Dec 2005
6682 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 4:06 pm to
The Domain is not really that close to Round Rock (roughly a 15 minute or so drive), but would be a cool place to stay provided that you can find someone to AirBnb their condo.

Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38666 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 6:16 pm to
quote:

Would you recommend any of those areas over the others?


For easy access to Austin Pflugerville is closest. Its just a boring suburb just like Round Rock and Georgetown although Georgetown has a nice Court House Square with bars and restaurants around it.

quote:

are there any must-sees to do for first timers in Austin?


There is stuff to see but nothing that is a "must see". Town Lake is in the center of Austin and is nice to take a stroll along. Congress Avenue bridge over the lake has thousands of mexican freetail bats that fly out at dusk. The State Capitol and LBJ library have tours you can take.

The Continental Club on south Congress and White Horse Saloon in east Austin are historic music venues and have live music including early shows at about 6pm. Austin has a ton a music at little places all around town. Then there is the barbecue and you should get some while you are there. Franklin's is the most well known but the lines are crazy long. Terry Blacks is probably a better place to go as its open til 10pm and not as crowded. There are several Austin threads on here so go find those and read through them.

Traffic and parking is Austin is terrible on a normal weekend so that weekend it will insane.
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6448 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 6:36 pm to
Sounds like Georgetown is up your alley. Stay downtown around the square. It's got plenty to eat and drink. Round Rock is ok, but Georgetown square is head and shoulders above RR's.

The Domain wasn't a bad suggestion but a bit more big city vibe than a fun Texas square.

As for where in Georgetown I'm talking about, find an Airbnb within walking distance of the Williamson County courthouse and you're good.
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6448 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 6:37 pm to
quote:

What/where exactly is the domain? Like if I'm on Priceline or something trying to stay there what specific city or address locale do I need to be in


The Westin at 11301 Domain Dr. would be a good place to start for the Domain.
Posted by New Money
Athens, GA
Member since Jun 2023
1193 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 8:15 pm to
I have flown in and out of both Austin and San Antonio. My sample size is once each. I stood in line much longer in San Antonio than I did in Austin.

Roundrock seemed nice to me, and it has a Salt Lick Barbecue. The Hill Country north of San Antonio is absolutely beautiful.

Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
75159 posts
Posted on 11/28/23 at 10:26 pm to
300k for an F1 race? Wow.
This post was edited on 11/28/23 at 10:28 pm
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 7:37 am to
all this stuff is great thanks.

quote:

Tiger n Austin


something tells me I'll be bumping this and asking you questions later on lol
Posted by Tiger n Austin
Austin, Tx
Member since Dec 2005
6682 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 9:03 am to
quote:

something tells me I'll be bumping this and asking you questions later on lol


Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86441 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 3:12 pm to
Update: hotels were insane so we booked a whole house Airbnb in the Domain for pretty cheap. I'm REALLY hoping the owner doesn't wise up like 9 months from now and cancel it when they realize they could probably get 4x what they listed it for. Oh well.

Now just gotta find flights and a place for 1 night in San Antonio that thursday.
Posted by TTownTiger
Austin
Member since Oct 2007
5301 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 4:32 pm to
F1 is a three day event starting on Friday. If you're planning to drive into Austin that Friday from SA, then you'll likely still have to plan around a lot of F1 traffic.

The Domain is a good spot for that weekend. A lot of shopping, restaurants & bars in that area if you don't want to go downtown the night before the game. It's about 20 mins or so away from UT/downtown.
Posted by MAROON
Houston
Member since Jul 2012
1773 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 4:37 pm to
honestly, I would consider getting in a few days early and heading out west. Maybe Fredericksburg/Luckenbach for a night or two then Horseshoe Bay for golf. Tons of things to do out in the part of the state.
Posted by New Money
Athens, GA
Member since Jun 2023
1193 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 4:38 pm to
quote:

Now just gotta find flights


Last summer, I had business in San Antonio, and I took a very early morning (Thursday) flight out of ATL on SW for a little over $100. I got a direct flight back on Sunday morning in the same price range.

I left San Antonio around 10:00 AM and drove to Lockhart in time to hit one of the legendary barbecue spots for lunch. I hit another one for supper, spent the night, and then hit a third for lunch before driving to Boerne.

The Salt Lick, mentioned in my first post, in Round Rock was better than any of the places I went in Lockhart.

Posted by LSUminati
Member since Jan 2017
3355 posts
Posted on 11/29/23 at 5:02 pm to
Dripping Springs / Wimberley general area might be right up your alley for a couples trip. Some pretty cool air bnb's / vrbo's in the hill country - a cool vibe out there. Some breweries, distilleries and wineries scattered throughout the area.
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