Austin Convention Center – Experiences

Getting to attend an event at the Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center is a wonderful opportunity for two reasons. One: it’s a world-class facility, equipped with amenities ranging from complimentary Wi-Fi to a kiosk where attendees can check in for their flight at nearby Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. You’ll find that most other convention centers pale in comparison to this one.

Two: there are plenty of one-of-a-kind experiences that can be had within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center. As the capital of the Lone Star State, Austin is home to fun attractions, historic landmarks, and can’t-miss restaurants. Though, with so much to see and do, trying to make the most of your stay can be a daunting endeavor, especially since you’ll probably be spending the majority of your time there at the convention center.

That’s precisely why we put together this itinerary consisting of a day’s worth of uniquely Austin experiences. Whether you’ve got a whole day all to yourself of just a couple hours in the morning, afternoon, or night, our recommendations can help you maximize your visit to one of the most colorful cities Texas has to offer.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

If you’re someone whose day can’t start until you’ve had a fresh, piping hot cup of joe, then make a beeline from your hotel to Caffé Medici. This chic establishment is one of Austin’s most renowned coffee shops for good reason. Getting there on foot should only take a little over five minutes if you’re staying at one of the many hotels near the Austin Convention Center.

The coffee they serve at Caffé Medici is truly top-notch. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, after all! Their daily house coffee is a delicious blend made by Wild Gift, a small batch coffee roasting company based in Austin. For their espressos they use a blend from renowned Minnesota-based Spyhouse Coffee Roasters.

Whatever kind of coffee you decide to order, be sure to pair it with one of their tasty pastries. The selection varies, but it almost always includes the usual coffee shop suspects like croissants, bagels, and muffins. If coffee’s not your thing, they also serve other beverages like hot and iced teas, chai and matcha lattes, and hot chocolate.

Austin Convention CenterAfter you’ve enjoyed a light breakfast at Caffé Medici, head just a few steps north down Congress Avenue to the Austin Toy Museum. There’s no need to rush though, since they’re located practically right next door and don’t open until 11 a.m., except for on Sundays when they open at noon.

In a city whose unofficial slogan is “Keep Austin Weird,” the Austin Toy Museum comes close to taking the cake in terms of weirdness. This fascinating museum features a collection of over 20,000 toys, making it the perfect place for nostalgic adults looking to go on a walk down memory lane.

The majority of the pieces in the Austin Toy Museum’s collection are from the ‘80s, but they’ve even got some dating back as far as the early 1900s. How cool is that? Their collection also contains many rare and unique items, such as prototypes of action figures acquired directly from people who used to work for some of the world’s most famous toy companies.

With exhibits ranging from action figures and comic books to console and arcade games there’s bound to be something at the Austin Toy Museum that excites the inner kid in you. Don’t be surprised if you start digging up some of your old toys once you get back home!

 

Noon

Next up on our itinerary is another stop that’s a blast from the past, The Driskill. This historic hotel dates all the way back to 1886, as indicated by its lavish, Romanesque-style appearance. So, if you’re worried about not being able to find it, don’t worry; it’s practically impossible to miss.

Austin Convention Center

If you’re a history buff, The Driskill is sure to suit your fancy. Many noteworthy moments have taken place here throughout the years, including Lyndon B. Johnson’s first date with his future wife, Claudia Alta Taylor, better known as Lady Bird Johnson. Other famous figures who have stepped foot in The Driskill include Bob Dylan and Bill Clinton.

There are a variety of experiences you can take part in at The Driskill, such as enjoying a stiff drink in the authentically Texan Driskill Bar or admiring the hotel’s collection of museum-quality artwork. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you take some time to appreciate the hotel’s stunning architecture; notably the stained-glass dome on the ceiling of the lobby.

If you find yourself starting to become hungry as you walk the hallowed halls of The Driskill, try to resist the temptation of having lunch at the award-winning Driskill Grill. As crazy as that may sound, one of the best burgers in Austin awaits you at a little-known spot next to the Austin Convention Center.

This “little-known spot” I’m referring to is Downtown Burgers, a bright red shack located in the shadow of the Austin Convention Center’s towering expanse. Getting there from The Driskill will require a little over a half-mile’s worth of backtracking, but trust us, you’ll be glad you made the trek once you catch a whiff of burgers being cooked to perfection on a flattop grill.

The menu at Downtown Burgers is fairly straightforward. Choose from a quarter-pound, half-pound, or veggie burger, and then top it with everything from pickles and lettuce to barbecue sauce and jalapenos. Cheese and bacon cost just a few cents extra.

You can also order a combo meal, which comes with a burger, fries, and a 12-ounce drink. Get a drink either way though, since they’ve only got outdoor seating and Texas isn’t exactly known for its temperate weather. They also serve ice cream in case it’s a real scorcher.

 

Night

One of the best places to go once the sun begins to set over Austin is Lady Bird Lake, which was named after Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife, Lady Bird, when she passed away in 2007. However, most locals just refer to it by its original name, Town Lake.

Although it’s called a lake and looks like a river, Lady Bird Lake is actually a reservoir on the Colorado River that runs through Texas. Walking there from Downtown Burgers or the Austin Convention Center will take about 10 minutes.

Once you make it to Lady Bird Lake, go for a stroll along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. This scenic trail traces the perimeter of the lake, offering picturesque views. It’s just over 10 miles long and mostly flat, so there’s no need to worry about having to trek up any steep inclines.

If you’re a music lover, keep an eye out for the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue that’s located on the southern bank of Lady Bird Lake. This late, great blues guitar legend was a resident of Austin and played a number of concerts near the lake at Auditorium Shores. The statue was erected in 1994, four years after Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a tragic helicopter crash. You’ll often find the base of the statue adorned with flowers, guitar picks, and other devotions left there by fans.

Another landmark located near Lady Bird Lake is the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. What makes this particular bridge so notable is that every summer it becomes home to the world’s largest urban bat colony. According to Bat Conservation International, the population of the colony can range from 750,000 to as many as 1.5 million bats.

The bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge are a species known as Mexican free-tailed bats. They are migratory, residing in Austin during the summer and Mexico during the winter. So, if you happen to be visiting the Austin Convention Center in the summertime, consider stopping by the Congress Avenue Bridge just before nightfall to watch the bats take flight. While not for the faint of heart, this is a unique experience that should not be passed up.

After the sun has set, start heading back in the direction of the Austin Convention Center. No trip to Texas is complete without sinking your teeth into some tender, smoky barbecue, so that’s precisely how you should wrap up your big day out in Austin.

Fortunately for you, one of the best places to get barbecue in the city is located just steps from the Austin Convention Center. No, I’m not talking about Franklin Barbecue, the famed lunch-only joint where people have to wait in line for hours to get their hands on some smoked meats and sides. I’m talking about Iron Works Barbecue, a less famous alternative to Franklin where the food is just as good and the wait is not nearly as long.

Austin Convention CenterThey’ve got all kinds of meats on the menu at Iron Works, including chopped beef, pulled pork, pork ribs, chicken, sausage, and turkey. It’s the beef ribs that steal the show though, which makes sense since they’re practically synonymous with Texas barbecue.

Anyone who knows a thing or two about barbecue knows that the sides are just as important as the main attraction, and Iron Works has got plenty of them. If you order one of their barbecue plates you’ll get potato salad and baked beans, along with sliced onions and pickles, bread, and barbecue sauce. Other sides include baked potatoes, which you can top with everything from cheese to chopped beef, and in the wintertime, chili.

If you’re an avid cook or just someone looking to add a Texas-sized kick to your own barbecue back home, Iron Works sells their own sauces, rubs, and seasonings. Consider picking some up on your way out as a souvenir to commemorate this culinary memory. Maybe get some more food to go too, because why not? Barbecue is a valid midnight snack when you’re in Texas.