Austin, TX

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome food truck with plenty of outdoor seating. Get there early to line up, because there will be a line, but it is definitely worth the wait. Brisket is to die for!

Jennifer Ruiz: Upscale diner with ALL-DAY breakfast. Chicken and waffles make an excellent midnight meal

Jennifer Ruiz: Everything is delicious, but save your appetite & make a reservation for Sunday brunch. They offer a huge buffet and bring you fresh, made to order eggs, silver dollar pancakes and biscuits & gravy.

Jennifer Ruiz: Go for the Son in Law or Tiger Cry! It's communal style seating, so be prepared to make friends if you're in a small party :)

Jennifer Ruiz: Upscale restaurant with an awesome happy hour daily from 4:30-7pm. Half price apps, cocktails and wine - such a great deal!

Jennifer Ruiz: Multiple locations with amazing tacos, but do not skip the queso

Jennifer Ruiz: There can often be a wait (worth it), but if you want to grab a quick slice, go next door and just order at the window!

Jennifer Ruiz: Portions are huge and definitely shareable! Sunday Brunch is amazing, but try to go early since there is usually a long wait.

Jennifer Ruiz: Quite possibly the best chicken in Austin - perfect amount of spice to give it a kick!

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome seafood restaurant on South Congress. Sit on the patio if it's a nice day for some excellent people watching. Ordering the oysters is a must.

Jennifer Ruiz: Be sure to start with the Bob Armstrong Queso!

Jennifer Ruiz: All the burgers are delicious, but if you like a little bit of heat, the Llano Poblano is perfect. FYI that you have to order at the counter first, and then they bring the food to your table.

Jennifer Ruiz: Amazing food, but you definitely need to make a reservation first

Jennifer Ruiz: Funky little restaurant that was converted from an old laundromat

Jennifer Ruiz: Tapas style, so multiple plates is a must. The stuffed pretzel is especially delicious

Jennifer Ruiz: Some of the best pizza in Austin! Stone oven in the middle of the dining area, so it always smells delicious. Very small place, so going at odd hours is your best bet.

Jennifer Ruiz: Great bar/happy hour spot with a huge patio that wraps from the front to the back. Be sure to check out their Biscuits and Booze brunch on Sundays!

Jennifer Ruiz: Breakfast ALL DAY and run by an amazing group of women. What could be better?

Jennifer Ruiz: Delicious restaurant right on 6th Street. You can't go wrong with any of the oyster dishes.

Jennifer Ruiz: I know it's a steakhouse, but the Pork Chop is to die for.

Jennifer Ruiz: Cute restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio. Perfect for a date night.

Jennifer Ruiz: Excellent brunch spot!! You can't go wrong with any dish, but my absolute favorite is the Crab Cake Benedict.

Jennifer Ruiz: For breakfast, be sure to add the cinnamon swirl to your pancakes. And you must start with the Kerbey Queso - it's basically guacamole smothered in cheese!

Jennifer Ruiz: Any bar that puts rubber duckies in their drinks has to be fun . Expect to sing your heart out as they're sure to play your favorite song!

Jennifer Ruiz: Low key bar right on 6th street that will handcraft a cocktail specifically for you - just tell them what you do or do not like! Make a reservation, and they'll tell you about the secret buzzer.

Jennifer Ruiz: Quintessential stop for live music!

Jennifer Ruiz: Crazy creative cocktails that are almost too pretty to drink. My faves are anything under the Tiki list

Jennifer Ruiz: Check out their music calendar, but you can't go wrong any night of the week. Small, intimate venue.

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome country bar! If you need to brush up on your two-step, they offer free lessons Wed-Sat!

Jennifer Ruiz: Fun jazz bar - great place to spend a whole evening or just to kick back and relax before hitting up 6th street.

Jennifer Ruiz: Head out back for a separate bar that is purely Mezcals!

Jennifer Ruiz: Fun bar with lawn games and an awesome happy hour

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome cocktails on a street known more for beer. Pick a liquor and the bartender will make a custom cocktail just for you!

Jennifer Ruiz: Slide the bookcase open to get into the secret lounge

Jennifer Ruiz: Very cool atmosphere and they're always having a special event of some. Very supportive of the local scene.

Jennifer Ruiz: Hilarious theater comedy show. If you've been before, go again, because it's never the same but always a laugh.

Jennifer Ruiz: Kitschy East Austin bar with a huge patio. Check out the Tarot Readings on Wednesdays!

Jennifer Ruiz: Cool bar with a ton of cocktail options, but you definitely need to try something with Absinthe

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome place for BBQ. Try to check out their Gospel Brunch on Sundays!

Jennifer Ruiz: Crazy popular with really long lines for a reason. Post up with chairs, mimosas and cards and enjoy the morning wait.

Jennifer Ruiz: Delicious food, an entire wall of craft beer and a huge outdoor area with some amazing music. However, you must try the MAN-mosa, a stein of your favorite brunch drink!

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome Mexican joint on Congress - enjoy live music and a frozen drink!

Jennifer Ruiz: Gorgeous spot to watch the sunset with a margarita in hand! But get there at least an hour or two early - it gets VERY busy

Jennifer Ruiz: Huge outdoor patio with tons of beers on tap. Don't skip the pretzel with beer cheese!

Jennifer Ruiz: Craft cocktails in East Austin with a really pretty garden patio area with huge trees. Perfect for sitting outside

Jennifer Ruiz: Stunning architecture - go for the self-guided tour if possible. Tons of interesting tidbits. Free parking in the garage next door.

Jennifer Ruiz: Long, scenic trail along Lady Bird Lake - great for an outdoor run or walk

Jennifer Ruiz: HUGE park where you can just kick back and relax, bring a picnic or join a Frisbee or Soccer game. They also have a mini-train, a pool, playgrounds, gardens and more!

Jennifer Ruiz: Great for families. Be sure to check their website for rotating exhibits and special events - these are usually pretty fun

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome children's museum & extremely interactive! I had a blast as a full grown adult

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome indie bookstore with a café and funky little gifts. The people who work there give the best recommendations.

Jennifer Ruiz: Man-made wave park, so not the real thing but still completely fun. They also have a restaurant and bar - great for people watching.

Jennifer Ruiz: Iconic graffiti wall and the perfect place for a selfie ;)

Jennifer Ruiz: This spring-fed pool is always about 65 degrees so layout, get some sun, and then enjoy the cold dip!

Jennifer Ruiz: A little more off the beaten path than some other murals, but definitely the perfect "postcard" pic!

Jennifer Ruiz: Huge collection right on the UT campus. Free every 3rd Thursday

Jennifer Ruiz: Several blocks of shopping, restaurants and bar. Great place to kick back or walk around

Jennifer Ruiz: Have you really been to Austin if you don't snap a pic with the Willie Statue?

Jennifer Ruiz: The oldest swimming pool in Texas. Water is cold since it's spring-fed but it's perfect on crazy hot days

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome independent music store near downtown. Check out their calendar because they do tons of free in-store performaces

Jennifer Ruiz: Funky shop with both Austin-related and various music-related items. Perfect for an eclectic gift or souvenir

Jennifer Ruiz: Really cool tour company that does everything from brew tours to city tours to music tours. Peruse their catalogue - you can't go wrong with anything

Jennifer Ruiz: Super fun tour that goes from land to water! Try to get on the pirate ship if you can.

Jennifer Ruiz: Really easy hike to get to the top. Amazing views but go at sunrise or sunset for something even more beautiful. Best of all - free!

Jennifer Ruiz: Take a walk over this bridge to get gorgeous views of the lake, and if you're here in the summer, you can see the bats fly out at dusk - amazing to see.

Jennifer Ruiz: Fun shopping district with lots of boutique and local stores and cafes. Perfect for unique Austin souvenirs/gifts

Jennifer Ruiz: Take a boat tour of Lady Bird Lake or rent canoes and kayaks, but the real fun is the Swan pedal boats. So cute!

Jennifer Ruiz: Hiking, swimming, biking, climbing - you can literally do anything in the greenbelt!

Jennifer Ruiz: If you want to know what makes Austin "weird", this is definitely it :) It's in someone's backyard so call ahead first, but the guy is super nice and accommodating

Jennifer Ruiz: Gorgeous garden with sculptures scattered throughout it. Cool, serene place to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin

Jennifer Ruiz: Canoe, kayak and paddle board rentals. Try to go during a full moon or bat season!

Jennifer Ruiz: Yummy Tex-Mex Place. Hit up their Happy Hour for a free nacho bar!

Jennifer Ruiz: Food truck that serves tacos but in a cone making it so easy to eat! Simple yet brilliant. The chicken and avocado is to die for.

Jennifer Ruiz: Everything's bigger in Texas, including your meal. The burgers are delicious!

Jennifer Ruiz: All the way in Driftwood but worth the drive. The ribs and brisket are mouth watering, and bonus, the place is BYOB

Jennifer Ruiz: Hidden bar that's literally inside a parking garage. Very creative cocktails - the Indian Paintbrush and Maybe Tomorrow are my favorites

Jennifer Ruiz: No stop in Austin is complete without at least perusing the huge assortment of Cowboy Boots in their original store on South Congress

Jennifer Ruiz: Several blocks of bars and restaurants/food trucks. More laid back vibe than 6th Street and great for having a drink and people watching!

Jennifer Ruiz: Great place to take your kids or if you're just a big kid. Very different than a typical putt-putt with a vintage vibe. It's also BYOB!

Jennifer Ruiz: This food truck is amazing and pretty inexpensive. The Thai-Kun Fried Chicken is a must first time meal.

Jennifer Ruiz: Insanely creative cocktails - you can't go wrong with anything. Sit at the bar for good chats with the bartender and to see them make these drinks.

Jennifer Ruiz: Very unique Thai restaurant that takes spice levels very seriously so be careful when you order on a scale of 1-10. The beef panang curry is delicious!

Jennifer Ruiz: Huge outdoor mall with tons of stores and restaurants. Check their calendar - on weekends, they usually have an event or free concerts.

Jennifer Ruiz: Great shopping strip with plenty of outdoor patios to hang out and relax. Be sure to check out Amy's Ice Cream while you're there!

Jennifer Ruiz: The Trash Fries and Grilled Cheese Fingers w/Tomato Bisque are my go to orders, but it's all delicious. Amazing happy hour deals.

Jennifer Ruiz: Very cool Asian-fusion style restaurant. The pork belly buns are a must as an appetizer! They also have a very unique Sunday brunch.

Jennifer Ruiz: They also have cookies, brownies and more but the real "wow" is the Cupcake ATM!!! Amazing and delicious.

Jennifer Ruiz: Awesome local coffee shop. Perfect place to catch up with friends or just enjoy some alone time. They serve sandwiches, local pizza and lots of pastries as well.

Jennifer Ruiz: Fun place, even if you're not a golf pro! They have little challenges besides seeing how far you can drive the ball. Of course, try to get an upper deck!

Jennifer Ruiz: Fun little water park for the family and super affordable!

Jennifer Ruiz: When you can't make it all the way to the original in Driftwood, TX, this location is just as good. The brisket is to die for.

Jennifer Ruiz: Great outdoor outlet mall with plenty of stores and a food court in the center. Great place for deals!

Jennifer Ruiz: Delicious, locally sourced restaurant - great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. No matter the meal, always get the beignets!

Jennifer Ruiz: Amazing Cajun restaurant with huge portions! It gets really packed, so try to go at off hours if possible.

Jennifer Ruiz: These donuts will melt in your mouth! They also have a "Texas-sized" donut, and you know everything's bigger in Texas!

Jennifer Ruiz: I am a huge fan of the Ozark Turtle, but seriously, any combination will be delicious. Super friendly staff as well

Jennifer Ruiz: For breakfast, the migas tacos will blow your mind. Then come back for lunch for the al pastor tacos!

Jennifer Ruiz: Fresh & delicious seafood! Always check the daily specials, but the oysters are always a good bet.