Nothing better than hitting the road for a long weekend away, especially as the weather warms up. Ever since our move to Dallas last Summer, we’ve been wanting to get out and explore more of the great state of Texas. The first city we visited was Austin and we fell in love so hard that we haven’t visited anywhere else because we always just want to go back to ATX! Why fix something when it isn’t broken, ya?!
Over Memorial Day Weekend we made a little compromise: spend a day in our beloved Austin, and then spend a day driving through Hill Country (the wine country of Texas) for a little something new. Win-win.
We spent our time in Austin repeatedly making fools of ourselves jumping off the diving board at Barton Springs Pool, stand up paddleboarding along Lady Bird Lake, popping into boutiques along South Congress, and bar hopping around Rainey Street and Sixth Street. They say that Memorial Day is the unofficial start to Summer and our time in Austin sure felt that way; maybe it was the heat and humidity, but I’d argue it was more likely the lively energy of the city that you can almost touch.
The following day, we hit the road with nothing on our agenda other than finding a place to do some wine tasting. We decided on Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, where they had a seasonal flower field, live music, and a delightful tasting menu. We also stopped in Fredericksburg and strolled through the downtown area – sidenote: so many adorable clothing boutiques! – stopped for a beer in the infamous “town” of Luckenbach, and I may or may not have made Matt pull over a handful of times in random towns along the way because the antique store game was strong around those parts.
If you ever get a chance to roadtrip around Hill Country, I can’t recommend it enough. There are so many quaint small towns as well as hidden gems like Jacob’s Well and Enchanted Rock that you’ll find along the way. What blew my mind was the variety of terrain; at times we were driving through lush trees and greenery that felt like we were in a jungle, other times it was winery after winery that made me nostalgic for home, and still other times it was like a barren wasteland dotted with secluded ranch houses. The drive is an adventure in itself, so turn on the country music and hit the road, making sure to stop at Buc-ee’s along the way (but that goes without saying)!
^I was super proud of the MDW mani I gave myself!^
Where we went:
Austin and Texas Hill Country
When we went:
May 27 – 28 | Memorial Day Weekend
What the weather was like:
85 – 95 and humid | thankfully tons of sun and no rain
Where we stayed:
Courtyard by Marriott Austin Northwest/Arboretum
Highlights:
Stand up paddleboarding | Being out of the water in the shadow of downtown Austin’s skyline was surreal
Introducing my brother-in-law to the glory of Buc-ees | We had talked it up quite a bit and he still said it exceeded his expectations and proceeded to buy himself five bags of beaver nuggets (lolz)
Driving through hill country | Breathtaking scenery as described above
Knowledge notes:
Wear loose clothing | The humidity surprises me every single time we visit Austin. The city is 100% worth it though, so just be sure to pack loose and light pieces
Swim at Barton Springs Pool | Cost: $8 per person | Bring cash otherwise you have to wait in two different lines, one to pay by card at a machine and then one to enter
Rent stand up paddleboards | We rented from Live Love Paddle | Cost: $20 per hour per paddleboard | The views of downtown are unreal, highly recommend!
Check out the food trailers | There are food trailers all over town, usually parked in lots in groups of 4-8 trailers. The Austin food scene is fantastic and this is a great way to sample what the city has to offer.
Shop for antiques | You’ll find a multitude of antique shops down in hill country, all with truly incredible pieces. Even if you aren’t in the market to buy any new furniture or decor, it is fun to pop in and browse the inventory.
Songs of the trip:
Luckenbach Texas – Waylon Jennings
Galway Girl – Ed Sheeran
Reminding Me – Shawn Hook ft. Vanessa Hudgens
Dancing on my Own (Toby Green Remix) – Calum Scott
New Hometown – Mike Ryan
