Guest Hook Travel Guides Austin Insider Guide | Page 5

5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS... 1 South Congress a.k.a SoCo... 2 Live Music Capitol of the World... 3 Zilker Park & Barton Springs... 4 Lady Bird Lake and Butler Trail... 5 Sunset at 360... Hands down, you must visit this wonderfully eclectic avenue filled with local shops and restaurants. Take your time and spend all day and night here. Mingle with locals and celebs at Jo’s coffee, find a perfectly quirky piece for your home in Uncommon Objects, enjoy free live music and margaritas at Guero’s Taco Bar [Tip: There's a secret daily paid parking lot a few blocks off SoCo on the corner of Academy & Ravine, close to the Continental Club and Amy's Ice Cream]. Head left for SoCo shops. Austin = live music! You'll find 25+ shows to choose from every day. Check out The Continental Club on SoCo for great acoustics and variety. The ACL Live on 2nd street brings larger acts to an intimate setting and the outdoor stage at Stubb's is often rockin'. Try the Saxon Pub on Mondays to see blues legends and our homegrown favorite, Bob Schneider. If you have no fixed plans don't worry, most places have musicians playing for tips every single night. [Photo: Vintage Trouble] Home of the Austin City Limits Festival and more, Zilker Park has 351 acres, including volleyball pits, playgrounds, and wide-open spaces. Hillside Theatre has great rocks to climb for the kid and the kid-at-heart. Bike over with a picnic for a perfect day and an amazing view of the city skyline. On Wednesdays in summer, enjoy Free Blues on the Green. When it's hot, dive into Barton Springs, a beautiful, natural spring-fed pool with 68F water year round. Cold! Park in the lot off Robert E. Lee. Some of the best days begin or end here. Austin has a fantastic trail downtown that circles around Lady Bird Lake. You can walk/run for miles while getting an amazing tour of downtown, the lake (actually a river), parks and more. Try this before your big night out and you’ll feel much better the next day. Park under the Mopac Bridge at the edge of Zilker Park and you can walk to stand up paddle, canoeing and rowing rental spots. Austin will deliver so many memorable photo opportunities. It's a little off the beaten path but you’ll never forget your sunset over the Pennybacker “360” Bridge. Pack a few snacks, a bottle of wine and a blanket. Then take a short 20 minute drive to Loop 360. Park on the side of the highway, north of the bridge and hike up the limestone cliffs. You’ll find a perfect perch after a 5 minute walk. Sit back, relax and enjoy the fantastic view!