# Going to Austin, Texas for a couple of days- what to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961 "2011-08-08T17:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/1 "2011-08-08T17:01:54Z")
Going to Austin Texas for a couple of days (18, 19 20th or so) with the teens 13 and 15. What should we do there. I’d like to go to Esther’s Follies. Maybe we could walk on the campus of UT or visit the Capitol building. Or swim (no skinny dipping). Or see the mammoth bones in Waco. any suggestions ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/2 "2011-08-08T18:44:01Z")
Go see the Town Lake bats. Swim in Barton Springs Pool. Hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Eat lots and lots of fantastic Tex-Mex (Chuys, La Margarita) and Barbecue (Salt Lick). ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/3 "2011-08-09T05:22:03Z")
[6th Street.](http://www.6street.com/) [sup]I think there was a recent thread on things to do in Austin.[/sup] . ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/4 "2011-08-09T06:16:11Z")
She’s probably not going to do 6th st with two teens in tow. I hear the bats are lovely this time of year, and a wonderful sight to see. Myself, I would stay inside and not come out until the weather dips below 100º ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/5 "2011-08-09T10:51:13Z")
I keep saying I’m not going outside again until fall. Unfortunately, this is the week I got off from work, so it will have to do. Thanks for the ideas! ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/6 "2011-08-10T04:23:04Z")
The Zilker botanical gardens are pretty cool. They have a “Bamboo Forest” and a section that looks like prehistoric plants. The capitol tour was really interesting, and probably my favorite thing we did there on vacation. I’m not sure if a 13 or 15 year old would enjoy it though. It tells a lot of the early history of Texas. The Oasis is a really cool restaurant. It’s HUGE! The food is similar to something you would get at Chile’s, but if you eat outside you have an amazing view of a big lake. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-austin-texas-for-a-couple-of-days-what-to-do/591961/7 "2011-08-10T04:39:05Z")
Just walk around. There’s lots of cool things to see downtown on Guadalupe Street and places like that. Lance Armstrong has a cool bike shop that’s also a museum if any of you are into that. Catch a movie at one of the Alamo Drafthouses too.