“Love From Austin” Mural
Before even stepping foot in Austin, TX (or Texas in general) I was sold on the idea that I was moving there.
Everything I researched was exciting, new, and a huge change from where I have grown up my entire life.
I craved that change and a fresh start to really focus on my goals, find things I was truly passionate about, and build a career for myself.
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When the time came to plan a trip to Austin I could not have been more excited.
Everything I researched, perfectly described a place where I would ideally want to live after college; from the water sports, endless food options, and great job market…it was practically begging me to move.
BUT when it came closer to ACTUALLY making the trip down there I was getting doubtful.
Was I being naïve? Too excited, considering I have never been? Was I going to actually hate it when I arrived? Was it going to be the opposite of what I thought?
How it all started
My boyfriend and I were getting dropped off at the airport and we felt as if this trip would determine our fate.
If we liked it we would look at apartments, if we didn’t we would start from square one again.
We boarded our flight with no problems, we were off to the perfect start…
We landed pretty late that night and checked into our hotel, which was the Fairmont, Austin location (we got a really good deal so we decided to stay there and we are certainly glad we did! Our experience was immaculate!)
Right off the bat (no pun intended), we were in love!
Why I Fell in Love
I believe that the 3 (among many more) deciding factors for me included:
- how friendly and welcoming everyone was (and how safe I always felt)
- how great the food was and all the different options
- how outdoorsy the city as a whole was
The Welcoming People
Everyone knows what the “Southern Charm” is but actually experiencing it first hand was something new.
It seemed as if every person we talked to was being genuine and was happy to see us even though we had never met before.
Everyone’s kindness and positivity were so contagious and I wholeheartedly felt that the individuals we met during our trip had a huge impact on our experience as a whole.
GREAT Food
The food was point-blank amazing (and relatively inexpensive).
There were endless brisket and taco places to pick from, large selections of vegan, vegetarian, and Asian cuisine as well.
If you are in the mood for it Austin Texas has it and it is probably not too far away which is even better.
And if I am being honest I am not the biggest fan of steak, but the food here may have changed my mind.
With all the brisket and steak everywhere you looked you can’t help but want more, especially after you leave. It’s like all you can think about for the next few weeks.
AND not to mention there are food trucks galore!! Especially on Rainey St. which is where you can find some pretty cool bars!
Outdoorsy City
I think one of my initial main attractions to Austin was the number of outdoor activities and how many hikes and trails are all around it.
Running through the city there is Lady Bird “Lake” where there are ALWAYS people kayaking and
paddleboarding which I am a huge fan of and have a paddleboard myself.
There is also a very long walking trail that goes all around the lake with the most spectacular views of the city.
About 30 minutes outside the city there is Lake Travis which is a hot vacation spot and the ideal way to cool off in the summer.
There are also parks, golf courses, swimming holes, and trails wherever you look and most are easily accessible all year round.
