Austin is a thriving city in the heart of the Lone Star State, with the metropolitan population expanding tenfold since the 1960s. Many cutting-edge companies maintain a presence here, including manufacturers of computers, semiconductors and electric vehicles.
In the early 2000s a caller to a local radio show proclaimed that it was important to “keep Austin weird.” The phrase became a clarion call for the citizenry, and more than 400,000 “Keep Austin Weird” bumper stickers eventually flooded the city. “Austin weird” is but one reason that U.S. News ranks the capital of Texas among the top ten “Best Places to Live” in the United States.
Unique Austin Attractions
As actor and Austin resident Matthew McConaughey opines, “It’s a cool spot. Hopefully it stays that way.” One thing that makes Austin so special is its fascination with music. In fact, the city is known as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” with more than 250 entertainment venues to choose from. Every March, the iconic SXSW Music Festival showcases both established and emerging artists. Austin City Limits (ACL Live) at The Moody Theater hosts about 100 concerts every year. As of late 2024, ACL Live offers expanded tours of the state-of-the-art venue at 310 West Willie Nelson Boulevard.
The “Keep Austin Weird” movement spawned a Museum of the Weird (412 East 6th Street), aptly described as “a mix of sideshow carnival, wax museum, and odditorium.” The Minnesota Iceman, Fiji Mermaid, and a King Kong replica would undoubtedly please P.T. Barnum himself. Nearby, Esther’s Follies (525 East 6th Street) is purportedly the home of the most celebrated comedy troupe in Texas. Reserve a seat to take in comedy sketches, political satire, magic, and much more.
Assuage your appetite for more weirdness at the Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata (1808 Singleton Avenue). Take an exceedingly eclectic journey through the “history of collecting.” The proprietors offer one display dedicated to snow globes, another to sleep. The Celebrity Collection includes a strand of Willie Nelson’s hair and a cigarette smoked by Marilyn Monroe. The proprietors offer Saturday tours by appointment only, so plan ahead.
Party With an Animal
Austin’s ubiquitous bars and saloons embrace “Austin weird,” often with the help of myriad living creatures. Head to turtle races at Little Woodrow’s or the wiener dog races at their location in nearby Buda, south of Austin. Ever have coffee with a goat? Here’s your chance, at the Civil Goat (704 North Cuernavaca Drive). Think Green Acres, the 60s TV show, served up with a cup ‘o’ joe. Not the G.O.A.T. – just a goat.
On Sunday afternoons, a most entertaining form of bingo captivates patrons at the Little Longhorn Saloon (5434 Burnet Road). A chicken’s fresh “deposits” on an oversized bingo card determine the next number called. Two types of players get preferential treatment; kids and folks 91 and older. Have your ID ready!
Get Immersive
Head to the Eureka Room (3312 Randolph Road) to play “absurdist game-show-like games” and other activities in an immersive world of light and sound. Businesses even book it for one-of-a-kind team-building experiences. Afterward, walk to nearby Manor Road and select from an array of restaurants, food trucks, coffee shops, and bars. Consider Wonderspaces (1205 Sheldon Cove) for an immersive experience on a larger scale, where extraordinary art installations and signature cocktails combine in memorable fashion.
Or, immerse yourself in a cool pool on a scorching summer’s day. Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park is filled with the 68-degree water that rises up from the Edwards Aquifer. On select nights there is even a night swim from 9 to 10 p.m. Zilker Park also hosts the ABC Kite Festival every April. Recent entries in its Kite Showcase & Contest include a flying octopus and Mothra, of Godzilla v. Mothra movie fame.
Step Up to Bat
Those talking about bats around here might not be referencing the Round Rock Express, the local MLB minor league affiliate. That’s because there’s about a million free-tailed bats congregating under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Together, they comprise one of the largest urban bat colonies in North America. From May to October, crowds gather to see if they will take flight en masse at dusk.
A mile down Congress Avenue, you’ll find the “I Love You So Much” wall at Jo’s Coffee (1300 South Congress Avenue). The legendary bit of graffiti is the work of an artist who meant it to be temporary – but it was so beloved that it had to stay.
Golf With a T-Rex
Mini-golf layouts often entertain young players with the whimsical, but Peter Pan Mini Golf (1207 Barton Springs Road) supersized their whimsy. The 36-hole layout near Barton Springs features a giant green T-rex and a “Texas Totem Pole” that even made its way onto the Jimmy Kimmel Show. Recently, local artist Cheryl Latimer refreshed many of the fairy-tale figures at the course.
And More Weird, Wonderful Art
The Cathedral of Junk (4422 Lareina Drive) is an eclectic interplay of discards turned art, located in the backyard of the artist. The sculpture continues to evolve, with Vince the sculptor adding and removing items – sometimes even those donated by fans.
For an artistic afternoon picnic, Sparky Park (3701 Old Grooms Street) is an old electric-substation-turned-park with a grotto wall designed by local artist Berthold Haas and constructed with the help of neighbors. It includes everything from repurposed substation hardware to mirror balls and petrified wood.
Luxury apartment living in Austin
Whether you’re moving to Austin or simply wanting to change neighborhoods, consider the amenity-rich lifestyle at DK Riata. The 307-unit complex in the tech district is within walking distance of the Apple campus. Residents have access to a resort-style pool with cabanas, two large fitness centers, a two-grill outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit. Pet lovers enjoy the convenience of a pet spa and dog park.
Draper and Kramer is a full services real estate firm founded in 1893. Check out D&K’s other luxury apartment communities in Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Missouri, and Colorado.
