Austin Guide for Visitors
Whether you are visiting Austin for a Yoga Yoga special event or for our Yoga Teacher Training program, you'll see that Austin is just simply not like the rest of Texas. From the quirky cast of characters that populate Congress Avenue to burnt orange-clad University of Texas students, bats to Longhorns, corporate CEOs to struggling musicians, Texas' capital city stands apart from the rest.
It's hip and trendy, yet in a vintage sort of way. It's high-tech and laid-back. It's politically charged and culturally rich. It's eclectic by nature and creative by design. Most of all, it's a place where people like to have a good time.
Austin has many eclectic and vegetarian friendly dining opportunities ranging from four-star restaurants to mom & pop Tex-Mex joints.
Yoga Yoga Staff Picks
- Casa De Luz (Macrobiotic Food) 1701 Toomey Rd., 512.476.2535
- Daily Juice Café (Raw/Living Food) 4500 Duval St., 512.380.9046
- Mr. Natural (Vegetarian Mexican) 2414 S. Lamar, 512.916.9223
- East Side Café (Organic and Local) 2113 Manor Rd., 512.899.4300
- Mother's Café (Classic Vegetarian) 4215 Duval, 512.451.3994
- Uchi (Designer Japanese Food) 801 South Lamar, 512.916.4808
- Enoteca/Vespaio (Italian Café and Deli) 1610 S Congress Ave, 512.441.7672
- Clay Pit (Contemporary Indian Cuisine) 1601 Gaudelupe, 512.322.5131
- Curra's Mexican Grill (Authentic Tex Mex) 614 E. Oltorf, 512.444.0012
- Central Market Café (same shopping center as Yoga Yoga Westgate) 4477 South Lamar, 512.899.4300
- Whole Foods Flagship Store 525 North Lamar, 512.476.1206
If you would like to read about other places to eat in Austin, please visit www.austin360.com.
Austin offers no shortage of fun things to see and do. We have taken the time to suggest a few of our favorite Austin destinations. For more on current local events and downtown happenings please pick up an Austin Chronicle while you are in town (a free local paper available at one of our location's neighboring Central Market or at most restaurants and cafes around town).
Bats! Each dusk between April and October, the world's largest urban colony of bats emerges from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge to feast on insects that fly above the city. The shear number of bats is an amazing sight - not to be missed! You can view the bats form Congress Bridge or from a grassy observation area near the Austin American-Statesman.
Mount Bonnell
3800 Mt Bonnell Dr
Mt. Bonnell is the highest point within Austin city limits at 785 feet. This is a wonderful place to picnic in the sun and enjoy views of Lady Bird Lake and the 360 Bridge as well as wonderful vistas of downtown. The area is a short hike from the road and there is no entrance fee.
Blanton Museum of Art
The University of Texas campus, MLK at Congress
The Blanton Museum has over 28,000 square feet reserved for display of its permanent collection of over 17,000 works of art. The Blanton's three major specialties are European paintings and prints, American art since 1900 and Latin American art.
Barton Springs/Zilker Park
2201 Barton Springs Rd.
Enjoy beautiful scenery, fresh air and a large shaded park to picnic or walk in. The park is built around Barton Springs, a large natural spring which is cold all year round and home to a large population of water birds and turtles. There are many walking, running and biking trails that begin at Barton Springs. During the summer and some of the fall months the springs are open to swimmers for a small entry fee. The park itself is free to all.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
605 Robert E. Lee Rd. 512-445-5582.
Located adjacent to Barton Springs/Zilker Park. This is a landscaped garden which provides the backdrop for the single large collection of sculptures (viewed both in the garden and inside the museum) done by the artist for which the gardens were named.
Admission fee is $3.50 for adults.
Alamo Drafthouse
(Several Austin locations)
Here you can grab a bite to eat while you catch a movie - an Austin favorite. This restaurant, bar and theater show independent and classic films.
Austin Lakes
Lake Austin runs through the city and creates an oasis-like environment. To the west of the city is Lake Travis - hosting numerous parks and preserves.
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail
All along Lady Bird Lake, people flock to the hike-and bike trails to walk, jog, bicycle, or otherwise enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River.
Rowing Dock is a Lady Bird Lake Austin Parks and Recreation concession that provides boat, kayak and canoe rentals.
Austin Lake Tours
Guided Tour of Austin's downtown and beautiful Lake Austin inside an Unsinkable Hydra Terra amphibious vehicle.
Live Music!
Austin has a strong musical tradition and is often hailed as the "Live Music Capital of the World!" On any night you can find live music of every conceivable type.
Here are a few places where you might catch some interesting shows:
Flipnotics Coffee House 1601 Barton Springs Rd.
Antones 213 West 5th Street
Cactus Cafe University of Texas campus
Austin's musical tradition culminates in two internationally renowned annual festivals:
South by Southwest Music Conference, each March throughout Austin
Austin City Limits Music Festival, every September
