Austin
Austin City Limits and beyond . . . Round Top, Wimberley, and Hill Country.
Everyone seems to be moving to Austin. And for good reason. While it may not be weird anymore, it does have the ingredients for a great place to visit and live: food, music, indie shops, and outdoor living year round. Though it is safe to say, that Texas sun is hot, so maybe plan your trip around the height of the summer.
I’ve traveled to Austin three times in recent years, each with a different purpose. One solo, shopping for my store; one with my kids; and one driven by an adult itinerary. There was overlap—we caught the city and Wimberley on all three—but the pace and stops shifted based on who was in the passenger seat.
When I was in town previously, I stayed at Wimberley Inn and it was fine, but I wanted something a little more upscale to mark this trip so we stayed at Onera Wimberley. Online reviews were confusing—some said it was amazing, others commented on how overpriced it was. We opted for a greenhouse room, which was essentially a standalone cabin overlooking the hillside. Each room had its own private hot tub and the infinity pool, located on the top of the ridge, provided an excellent view of the surrounding area.
Our first day in town was spent in the town square. Breakfast at Howdy Neighbor, shopping at Joon, Ceremony, and Shelter, and early afternoon sips at Community Pizza. For such a small town, I’ve always been amazed at how curated it feels. Maybe it’s because of the young, creative talent fleeing the city to start a family. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t help but feel envious that my home base lacks even a degree of this charm.
When visiting with my kids, we spent a lazy afternoon at The Shady Llama. And if we have one more day, we would have definitely popped into the Blue Hole. From there you could easily make a day trip to New Braunfels or continue on to San Antonio, as I did with my kids. On that trip we stayed at JW Hill Country to give them space to breathe and I made the questionable decision of going down the plunge water slide where you stand on a platform until the floor drops out. One and done with that.
Third time in Austin, third time staying on South Congress. Look, in my opinion, this is the only place to stay if you want to be centrally located. It’s just over Lady Bird Lake from the busier downtown area and hosts the area’s shops, restaurants, and a smattering of small hotels. I loved my stay at the South Congress Hotel years ago, but since they were bought up by private equity and shut down, I had to pivot.
Long a fan of Bunkhouse Hotels and obsessed with founder, Liz Lambert (listen to this podcast for a primer on her founder journey), my options are naturally narrowed. Though her podcast episode is dated, I grabbed a few other solid food recommendations I had never heard of: Sammie's | Clark's Oyster Bar | Jeffrey's | Josephine House | Uchi Sushi | Uchiko.
The decision was only between Hotel San Jose and Hotel Magdalena. We chose the former. Was I worried about it being a hotbed for influencers? Absolutely. Turns out they were all at the Austin Motel pool with their floaties and live DJ—walking by the scene confirmed my worst case scenario.
I did it. I bought a pair of cowboy boots in Austin. Totally cliche. But hey, you walk into Tecovas, they offer you a drink, tell you you’re beautiful and if you have an inkling of desire to stomp around in some boots (and they have them in your size) you’re going to find yourself at the checkout counter. It’s okay. Don’t judge yourself too harshly.
Walking out in said boots, we stopped into June’s All Day, one of the only restaurants that stayed with me since my last visit. I’m a sucker for good branding and a checkerboard floor. It’s a great spot for an in-between meal or just drinks to cool off. We couldn’t get a dinner reservation at Aba, so we settled for brunch. Please do yourself a solid and get in here whatever time of day you can. Easily one of my best meals in recent history. And make room for a slice at Home Slice Pizza.
I followed my own advice and made room for new purchases to bring home. The boutiques lining the streets make it hard not to pick up something. I even made my husband try on dozens of clothes and we walked out with a bag full (a damn miracle for a guy that’s 6’7”) from STAG Provisions.
The rest of the trip was made for lounging poolside. We even pushed our flight back on Sunday to eek a bit more juice out of our adults-only long weekend. Only regret was not making time for the storied Continental Club. When you go, please tell me all about it.
Updated September 2026
My Top Five Tips
LINK UP WITH ROUND TOP SCHEDULE
If you’re into vintage, you’ve heard about Round Top. What used to be an industry secret, has turned into a vibey show that pops up a few times a year in the small town of Round Top, Texas. Just over an hour from Austin, it’s easy to make it a day trip. And day trip it will be unless you plan ahead. Low inventory and high demand makes finding accommodations nearby on show dates nearly impossible if you don’t book early.
GO TO A LIVE MUSIC OR COMEDY SHOW
Austin is known for BBQ, live music, and now, comedy. You could find an act every day of the week. We traveled out to Cap City Comedy Club, which was located in an outdoor suburban mall, but if you plan ahead you shouldn’t have any trouble finding entertainment in the city.
EXPLORE HILL COUNTRY
Texas is hot. That’s why there are pools, springs, and water parks everywhere. From Lake Travis to Barton Creek and even further south towards San Antonio, you’ll find resorts with on-site activities to fill your day. You can float down a river and hike. Just choose one—the trip out of the city is worth it.
SWIM BARTON SPRINGS
Our stay wasn’t long enough, but had it been we would have been to Barton Springs. This is a public swimming pool in Austin fed from underground springs. Because of that, the water is kept at a comfortable temperature year round. As you can imagine, it gets full during the summer, so avoid arriving midday unless you love crowds.
STAY ON SOCO
If you’re traveling for pleasure, South Congress, in my opinion, is the best place to stay. There’s no need for a car and full of entertainment right outside your hotel door. With that said, it is a busy street and can get loud during weekend nights, so if you need something calmer you might opt for somewhere a street or two off the main drag.
