If I drink, I don’t drive.
My guess is that the Sixth Street and South Congress areas combined would be a good general area to use as home base. It’s about two to three miles from one end or the other of Sixth Street to South Congress.
I’d be happy to check out the music scene downtown. Is there a funky hotel under $100 where I can stay but still walk around?
The Austin Motel is on South Congress. It’s about a mile from Sixth Street, the Continental Club is across the street, and there are a lot of shops and restaurants on South Congress.
Any chance to get in some kayaking? I’m trying to see how many states and provinces I can kayak in. Lake, river, irrigation ditch, I don’t care.
You have four or five choices:
Town Lake–You can rent sit on top kayaks in Zilker Park.
The San Marcos–spring fed, so the flow remains more constant than other rivers. The area from San Marcos to Martindale is flat with Class I to Class II rapids. TG Canoes rents for the calmer water from San Marcos to Martindale. Spencer Canoes rents for the entire distance.
The Upper Guadalupe–a lot of fun, but really dependent on water flow.
The Lower Guadalupe–they’re currently putting about 150CFS out of Canyon Lake. The Lower Guad is more fun when they’re putting out more.
And Barton Creek–I have never canoed it, but I have been told that Barton Creek has some of the best whitewater in Central Texas, IF it has rained in the past few days.
All Central Texas rivers tend to respond quickly to rain. Check the USGS flows before you leave.
Are the golf courses open? I’d like to play a round of golf in memory of a buddy who grew up the street from me in Montana, worked at a golf course in Austin and died this past year.
I can golf about as well as horses can fish, but the municipal courses appear to be open. I assume that these are decent courses; the few folks that I know who golf seem to enjoy the municipal courses as well as they like the private ones.
Recommendations of seafood or Mexican restaurants are also appreciated.
For Tex-Mex/Mexican/Interior, you could try Guero’s, Curra’s, Taqueria Arandas, El Mercado, La Fiera, El Mezon, El Azteca, Dos Hermanos, El Patio, El Jacalito, Las Manitas for breakfast, or Fonda San Miguel for Sunday Brunch.
IMHO, the best seafood place (and priced accordingly) would probably be Truluck’s.
Which breweries should I visit?
I don’t drink enough nowadays to know, but if you want to hit a movie, then you need to watch it at an Alamo Drafthouse.