AUSTIN

You can use Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) to fly right to the city, an excellent option if you plan to grab a cheap Southwest Airlines ticket. Austin generally has a good variety of cheap flights. If you’re in a pinch, San Antonio is also an option because you can make the drive from SAT to Austin in just over an hour. Austin is one of the best airports for getting from the terminal to downtown cheaply. After landing, I used Capital Metro’s 100-AirportFlyer bus to get downtown for less than $2. Austin’s list of great hotels seems to expand every day as the city grows. Archer Hotel Austin is a great pick if you want to be within walking distance of everywhere. During my visit, I chose this hotel because I was able to take advantage of the hotel’s free shuttle service to get to attractions that were within a three-mile radius of the hotel. I did almost book a stay at Hotel Ella after becoming enchanted with the grounds before deciding that the property was a little bit farther from downtown’s core than I wanted to be.

Great Things to See in Austin

I tend to gravitate toward “history buff” attractions first whenever I travel. Naturally, I hit the Texas State Capitol and LBJ Presidential Library first during my Austin tour. I was glad that a friend who had recently been to Austin recommended the Barton Springs Pool, a natural limestone formation that fills up via underground springs. Locals use it for everything from fishing to baptisms. I was impressed by such a fascinating natural oddity that feels so “at home” in Austin. Another distinctly Austin attraction that I have to recommend is the Congress Avenue Bridge. However, locals know it as the home of the “Austin bats.” This bridge is the home to roughly 1.5 million native bats that can be seen swooping in and out of their habitat if you stay long enough to catch a glance. Crowds gather near the water daily to try to see these famous Austin “residents.” The best time to go is around dusk. However, the vibrant murals and eclectic shops lining the street near the bridge will make you glad you came even if you don’t end up seeing the bats. I also recommend seeing the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center if you have the time. Located in a quiet portion of downtown, this stunning space exists for the sake of conserving native plants. It is truly an escape in the center of Austin that will make you think you’ve somehow landed in a Texas prairie in the blink of an eye! For a taste of artsy South Austin, I highly recommend focusing on South Congress Avenue. I enjoyed a great meal on the patio at Hotel San Jose’s during my jaunt through South Congress. I also fit in some time to pop into Tesoros Trading Company, Yard Dog Art Gallery, and a handful of other spots while browsing the wide-ranging galleries and shops of South Austin. I’ll probably make time to go on a guided brewery or dining tour if I make it back to Austin. However, I feel that I did pretty well just relying on suggestions from friendly locals when it was time to chow down. The prevalence of outdoor dining in Austin makes it pretty clear which restaurants are in high demand. I should add that I did shave about half of a day from my Austin trip to make an excursion to Mckinney Falls, a gorgeous state park just bordering Austin at the confluence of Onion Creek and Williamson Creek. The draw to going is that you can do some fantastic creek swimming just about 20 minutes from downtown.

Austin Never Disappoints

Nobody ever has a bad time in Austin. This is a very young, fresh city where you always feel like you’re on the verge of something big. I enjoyed being able to fit a quick getaway to a creek into my recent visit because it brought a genuine Texas vibe to the whole experience.

SALT LAKE city

SALT LAKE city

Salt Lake City always seemed a bit like a mystical, spun-in-a-dream spot enwrapped in ethereal, meringue-like white peaks to me before I got a chance to visit the city for myself. After spending a little time there, I can say that my assumptions were correct! Those gorgeous peaks that you always see in Salt Lake City’s background are skyline shots belonging to the Wasatch Mountains. Exploring this range in any part of the 160 miles that stretch to the Utah-Idaho border is its own vacation. A lot of people also like to bundle trips to Salt Lake City with Yellowstone vacations. The drive is just about four hours. If you’re looking for a shuttle that will let you enjoy views instead of focusing on driving, a company like Salt Lake Express offers daily shuttles. However, I’ll just be focusing on what there is to see in and around downtown in Salt Lake City!