We’re headed to SXSW this weekend and wanted to know where to eat and hang in Austin.  But we wanted to do it up like the locals so we hit up Indiegogo campaigners for the skinny.  Here it is!

I have 24 hours in Austin, what should I do and see?

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
Spend time outdoors (Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs, Mt. Bonnell) Get out of Downtown (walk S. Congress, hit the east side: E. 5th, E 6th,  E. 11th/12th, Manor Rd.)

Brian/in.gredients
East Side King, a food trailer behind The Liberty bar (East 6th Street between Comal and Chicon) started by one of Austin’s best Asian chefs. Use the inspiration you gain from the beet fries to hash out the rest of your stay!

Cheyenne/Terror Magazine
If it’s not too chilly, take a trip to Zilker Park for a dip in Barton Springs Pool. Sitting at a chilly 68 degrees year round, BSPl is a man-made pool filled with natural spring water. Beware – for those afraid of creepy crawlies, the bottom of the pool is natural grass and seaweed – home to the Barton Springs Salamander. If you can kick back and relax with the amphibians, your in for a truly Austin-experience.

Emily/My Sucky Teen Romance
Alamo Drafthouse, Book People, food trailers on South Congress, Zilker Park and/or town lake!

Ty/Veritas into the Valley
Go hang out on South Congress, cruise the strip, check out the threads at Stagg, cruise around Uncommon Objects and buy a vintage camera or two. You could also cruise over the Burnett Road and check out all the spots from the film “Dazed and Confused” and grab a Top Notch burger while you are at it!

Secret daytime hang out spot that not many folks know about

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
This is difficult it feels like the entire city gets inundated in March and there is not a quiet spot to be found. But I like Big/Little Stacy Park in South Austin (parks are connected by the Blunn Creek Greenbelt).

Brian/in.gredients
Airman’s Cave. It’s a cave you have to shimmy into – roughly 2′ tall and over a mile long – where a quarter mile in people take clay and mold it into civil war re-enactment scenes. Airman’s Cave’s in the Barton Creek Greenbelt – locals know the way in!

Emily/My Sucky Teen Romance
Barton Springs or Zilker Park is fun if the weather’s nice! Inside but close, there’s Flipnotics.

Ty/Veritas into the Valley
Once Over Coffee Bar, finest coffee bar you will ever visit.

What to do in Austin that you can’t do anywhere else

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
Surely there are other places that feature these things, but the combination of them all feels uniquely Austin: drink outside in March, eat like a king without ever entering a restaurant and a nearly 24 hour cultural scene.

Brian/in.gredients
Ride in a bicycle taxi to watch 10 million bats fly out from under a city bridge. That’s pretty unrivaled.

Cheyenne/Terror Magazine
Peter Pan Mini Golf is a BYOB bonanza. If you’re into creepy statues, adult beverages and putting over par at every hole – this is the spot for you. Should the planets align in your favor, you might spot a less-than-sober Austinite trying to climb to the top of Peter Pan’s big, blonde head.

Emily/My Sucky Teen Romance
Watch a glorious 35 mm print of one of your favorite movies with an audience while eating milk and cookies.

Ty/Veritas into the Valley
Eat local all day everyday.

It’s 4am and you’re hungry, so you hit up…

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
Magnolia Cafe. Its an Austin original and an institution. The food is good, but not the main reason to go. The reason to go is that in a city overwhelmed with the next and the new, its refreshing to return to a reliable old friend, especially at 4am. I have so much personal history there over 15 years, perhaps thats skewing my recommendation, but its worth checking out.

Brian/in.gredients
Gourdough’s – gourmet donuts the size of your face: chicken and waffle donuts, peach cobbler donuts and chocolate bacon donuts. They close at 3AM though, so get there “early.” 

Emily/My Sucky Teen Romance
24 Diner, lots of good/healthy food that you won’t feel bad about eating late at night…but they still have chicken & waffles/wonderful milkshakes 

Top 5 taco spots

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
Torchy’s, El Chilito, Taco Deli, Maria’s Taco Express, Takoba

Brian/in.gredients
In this order – Pueblo Viejo (trailer, 6th and San Marcos), Torchy’s (29th and Guadalupe), TacoMex (Manor and Startford), Takoba (7th and Onion) & Taco Shack (4th and Brazos)

Cheyenne/Terror Magazine
Maudie’s on South Lamar is my go-to taco spot – try their Tacos Al Pastor and the Diablo Sol Food.  Order the house margaritas on the rocks for a meal that will literally prompt you to live in Austin. They say this city is all about the music, but let’s be real – it’s all about the tacos.  Bonus! If you find yourself at Maudie’s, Peter Pan Mini Golf is only a stone’s throw away. Nothing chases margaritas quite like gold debauchery. 

Ty/Veritas into the Valley
Torchies, Taco Diner, Juan in a Million, La Mexicana, Polvos

Hmm I don’t like tacos, tell me more

Brad/Fusebox/ Haircuts by Children
Franklin BBQ, East Side Show Room, Gourmands, Contigo, Luke’s Inside Out

Brian/in.gredients
If you come to Austin not liking tacos, you don’t eat. Sorry!

Emily/My Sucky Teen Romance
Lots of other good restaurants if you’re not into Tex-Mex! P. Terry’s, Sandy’s, Jo’s, Man Bites Dog, Shady Grove

Ty/Veritas into the Valley
Home Slice for Pizza and Blue Dahlia best little French cafe in town!

Image courtesy of Miracle Maker