June 18, 2025
When visitors come from far away to experience your city, it gives you a chance to explore it like a tourist too. In Austin that means leaning into our cowboy-meets-hippie-and-everyone-lives-happily-ever-after mythology. And why not? In an era of intractable division, we need good vibes and happily-ever-afters wherever we can find them.
So when Fling friends Andrea Whitely from Perth, Australia, and Noelle Johnson of Phoenix rolled into town last weekend, I dusted off my boots (OK, sandals) and took them to the most fun, touristy things I could think of: shopping on South Congress, eating brisket tacos at Guero’s, ducking into the courtyard bar at Hotel San Jose, and loitering on the bridge to bat-watch over Lady Bird Lake. Just like always, Austin seduced with its friendly, laid-back charm, where everyone’s invited to the party, and I remembered all over again how much I love this town.
South Congress Avenue boot shopping
South Congress Avenue has become a boot-shopping destination since my last visit. Perfect, since Andrea was on the hunt. We checked out Tecovas, where this young couple was getting a boot shine.
Behind the counter, a 25-foot-long mural of dyed cowhide evokes the romance and grandeur of West Texas. The creator is Landry McMeans, a local artist.
We also popped into Heritage Boot Co., welcomed by a skeleton cowboy in the window.
Of course we visited venerable Allens Boots, where Andrea tried on a pair with a colorful otomi design.
Farther down the street, Noelle got wings.
Hotel San Jose Bar
We peeked at the courtyard garden at Hotel San Jose, which you can do as you head to their gift shop and courtyard lounge.
Slipper plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) was in bloom in a board-formed concrete planter.
The red flowers at the tips of noodle-like stems are eye-catching. But it’s only hardy into the mid-20s F, so keep that in mind if you covet, my fellow Austinites.
Kendra Scott mural
Across the street, Kendra Scott‘s jewelry store has a cute new mural (with an agave) that proclaims, You’re the Yee to my Haw. Engagement pics, anyone?
Bat-watching on Congress Avenue Bridge
As the sun slipped behind the hills, we lined up on the Congress Avenue Bridge, shoulder to shoulder with other bat-curious tourists and locals.
Looking east, we watched as kayakers and paddleboarders congregated below the bridge. Waiting, waiting, waiting…
It was nearly dark, but I still had hope.
And then they appeared. Hundreds — no, thousands of bats began swirling below us as they emerged from crevices under the bridge. In a shape-shifting black ribbon, they streamed east in murmuration clouds.
It’s always amazing to witness. (For more good bat-watching, go see the even bigger bat colony at Bracken Cave.)
Bullock Texas State History Museum
On another day, I took my visitors farther up Congress Avenue, to the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
We admired the big star out front…
…and the Story of Texas floor mural inside, along with several floors of exhibits.
Petals at the Blanton Museum
Just across the street, the Petals at the Blanton Museum of Art beckoned, and we walked over for a look.
The Petals are perforated shade structures and sculptures, as fun to see during the day as at night, when they are illuminated.
All in all, a good time was had. Austin showed itself off to my visitors. And most important, boots were bought and taken home to Australia.
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