BBQ and Sunshine in Texas

Austin felt like a city growing in every direction with no end in sight.  We had visited the city about 6 years ago and remembered it as a quirky place with just a few tall buildings and some good barbeque joints hidden in food trucks. The visit this year seemed like we had stepped into an all new land of fancy hip hotels, electric scooters and gourmet food everywhere. There is still some quirky-ness, but it is all being shined up with faux hipster vibes and people that look super stylish.

We had just a few days on the ground in Austin for this work trip, but got out for a few walks around in the sun. We found some awesome barbeque at La Barbeque and the most luxurious soft serve ice cream at Lou’s. Even in January, you can enjoy the abundant outdoor spaces in Austin and this was a welcome break from our icy home of Chicago.

Austin feels very modern these days. The layout and style is different from the midwest. It feels a little more like… California? The city is somewhat spread out, and a car is helpful for sure, but you can still get around by foot. Maybe this is just because the city is not too big yet. You can tell things are starting to get more expensive in Austin, but along with the revolution has come some top notch food from a world of different cuisines.