Texas - Any Austin tips for a weekend visitor?

I'm going to come to Austin this weekend to ride around. I'm staying on I-35 very close to Highland Mall. I'm car free, so I can't drive out to anywhere, aside from places I can get on the bus/bike. I figure Friday I'll go to Sixth Street and have some fun. Then Saturday I was thinking I would go to Barton Creek...or would McKinney Falls or somewhere else be better? I drive a hybrid/commuter, so the trails can't get too crazy, but I'd definitely like to get off the streets. Sunday I'm not leaving til 5:30, so who knows what I'll do Sunday.

It sounds like a trip around the Town Lake (now Lady Bird Johnson Lake) Hike and Bike trail would be perfect for you (Link (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/tlake_kiosk.pdf)). You can hop on it from downtown and ride either direction for a nice 10 mile loop. The map shows quite a few "spurs" but the main loop is between Mopac to the West and Longhorn Dam to the East. Also...the section on the south side that shows as a dotted line is a little confusing. I used to ride it clockwise, and I would just cross back over the lake on the I-35 pedestrian bridge and continue my ride back towards town. If I wanted to get back on the south side, I'd cross over using the pedestrian bridge on Congress St.

The trail passes through Zilker Park, where you can hop on a trail that runs up Barton Creek, but when I did that several years ago, I found the trail much more difficult than I thought it would be, even on my hardtail MTB. I wouldn't recommend THAT portion of the trail on a hybrid/commuter. Not sure about McKinney as I've never ridden an MTB out there.

What's the deal with Austin buses? Not sure how many trips I might use.

Can I buy some kind of unlimited day pass or something? Anyone know if the racks work the same way as the Houston Metro racks (front of bus, pull handle down, place bike on rack, lift retracting lever over front wheel)? Anywhere good that I should eat?

I'm pretty sure that the bike racks on the buses are the same but, I'm not sure about the bus pass. You can check out there website: www.capmetro.org

I would definitely eat at Maria's Taco Xpress on South Lamar. The potato, egg, and cheese tacos and the migas tacos are the best in the world.

Can I buy some kind of unlimited day pass or something?

You just pay double when you get on the bus ($1.50) and they'll give you a day pass, which is good for a full 24 hours.


Anywhere good that I should eat?

If you are near Lady Bird Lake, most of the restaurants on Barton Springs Road are pretty good. Guerro's on South Congress is very good Mexican. Hype Park Grill on Duval and 43rd is good and not too far from where you'll be staying.

"Mother's" which is right next to Hyde Park Grill would be my vote for a place to eat. There are so many good places though.

Also I would recommend Cucarrachas which is the back of Jackalope. I think its the best bar on 6th. I have a friend that swears they have some of the best burgers.

Also I would recommend Cucarrachas which is the back of Jackalope. I think its the best bar on 6th. I have a friend that swears they have some of the best burgers.

+1 Jackalope FTW!!

HAHA Burninator!!

Cold front due to blow through Austin late Saturday. Probably won't freeze until Sunday night, though.

I had fun. Drank at Touche, Jackalope, Library, Maggie Mae's. Ate at Shady Grove, Opal Divine's, Curra's. I was struck by how bike-friendly Austin was, with plenty of bike lanes and nature-oriented trails right in the city (Shoal Creek was great, Town Lake trail was decent, Barton Creek Greenbelt much more challenging). Mopac's feeder had a huge improved shoulder. Even motorists seemed more cognizant of cyclists. Some kind of Trail of Lights nonsense created massive pedestrian walls in and around Zilker, but other than that it was some really nice riding.

Now back to the daily grind in Houston, also known as bicyclist hell. Sigh.

Glad you enjoyed your time here! :-)