A trip down memory lane in Austin, Texas
By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Content Agency
Taking the Kids
Sometimes bad weather can turn out to be a good thing. That was the case when unseasonably cold, rainy weather in Austin, Texas, recently made us rethink our plans to visit the huge (three acre) Barton Springs Pool that is fed from underground springs.
My husband, Andy Yemma, who grew up in Austin and went to college there at the University of Texas, had fond memories of Barton Springs, including taking our kids when we would visit his parents and siblings there in the 1980s and 1990s.
When Andy lived here in the 1960s and early ’70s, there were fewer than 250,000 people; today the population is nearly 10 times that, with more than 2.3 million people. Besides being the capital of Texas, and home to the University of Texas, with 55,000 students, Austin is famous for its music scene and festivals (Austin City Limits, among them) and cutting-edge culinary options, from hotel restaurants to food trucks.
We were back for a weekend because Andy was getting inducted into the Daily Texan Hall of Fame. He was editor of the newspaper from 1970 to 1971, a tumultuous year on campus. He always says it was the best job he ever had.
Another night we went to the Fairmont Austin in the heart of downtown to dine at Garrison Grill, with its open kitchen and live fire recommended in the Michelin Guide. It’s also a Forbes Travel Guide award winner. It didn’t disappoint, though we didn’t opt for the grilled Nilgai Loin (antelope) but instead enjoyed Texas Wagyu, house- made sourdough, locally grown greens and a unique apple fig compote for dessert. We took the chance for a ride home in a driverless Waymo car.
We opted to stay at The Otis Hotel Austin, just a block from the campus. We loved that the hotel showcases the city’s love of music with vinyl record players in each room and a library of albums in the library, complete with a record concierge. We also were impressed by the hotel restaurant, Acre 41, inspired by the original “Forty Acres” of the University of Texas. It is popular for weekend brunches, as well as a dinner menu with locally sourced meats – everything from a petit filet to a 36-ounce Tomahawk ribeye for $250. The bar also proved busy but relaxed. And had the weather been better, we might have hit the rooftop pool. A review of the Otis.
Our visit included a stroll through the UT campus – much expanded since Andy was a student – and a visit to the University Co-op, which instead of textbooks now sells every variety of university and Longhorns gear possible (perhaps something for your pooch?) One thing is the same: The students who work at The Daily Texan, one of the largest college newspapers in the country, still labor at their work 24/7.
We went to brunch at the popular Guero’s Taco Bar, family owned and celebrating its 40 th anniversary. (Come for the tacos, the music in the garden and the margaritas). South Congress Avenue, where Guero’s is located and known as SoCo, couldn’t be more different than when my husband was a student here, he said. Don’t miss the famous “I love you so much” mural.
Perhaps the only thing that’s the same is the view of the state Capitol and its location, adjacent to Lady Bird Lake and surrounding park, including the Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail along the shore.
Even on a blustery Saturday, it was packed with locals checking out street vendors selling jewelry, vintage clothing, leather goods and browsing boutiques for cowboy boots. At Tecovas, you can get a drink while you shop or take a selfie with the giant boot outside Allens Boots. Also visit Paper Work, featuring the work of Texas-based artists, an Austin souvenir at Prima Dora, mugs, magnets and more. Or try on a bespoke hat at Maufrais Hats. On First Thursdays, there are more pop-up markets and live street music.
There are plenty of options for craft cocktails on restaurant patios (everything from Tex-Mex to sushi to pizza and burgers.) Locals love Amy’s Ice Creams with 350 rotating flavors. Their Mexican vanilla is a classic but where else could you sample Jalapeno Popper or Hot Churro Summer?
And this being Austin, there are iconic spots for music, including the historic Continental Club and C-Boy’s Heart & Soul. The upstairs Jade Room is inspired by the 1950s GI Bars of Japan. Come for First Thursdays, a free monthly block party with live local music and DJs, held at the South Congress Hotel.
So, instead of having a lazy afternoon at Barton Springs, we decided to spend our time museum-hopping. Austin has some 40 museums, including the LBJ Library, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Mexic-Arte Museum focusing on Mexican and Latin American art, the Texas Music Museum and Pioneer Farms with five themed and restored historic areas.
We opted for two that were nearby and across the street from each other – The Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art, both with frequently changing exhibits.
The Bullock museum has three stories with hundreds of artifacts, including the 300-year-old shipwreck La Belle. It is the central artifact in the Becoming Texas exhibit and plenty of immersive multimedia that please kids and adults alike. New artifacts are added each week, making visits unique, from its first indigenous inhabitants 16,000 years ago to Mexican independence in 1821, to ranching, the oil and gas industry, and clips from the 40 years of the famous Austin City Limits PBS series. A special exhibit this summer will focus on 27 iconic Texas festivals. (Young kids will love the food truck- themed play area.)
At the Blanton Museum, we – along with other visitors – were mesmerized by Run the Code: Data-Driven Art Decoded by Thomas Foundation X. Contemporary artists used algorithms and AI models to create works exploring everything from nature to internet culture and human behavior. Some are interactive, responding to movement, touch or even presence. Others change as you stand in front of them. There is also a major exhibition on American Modernism from the noted private collection of philanthropist Charles Butt, and new works from multidisciplinary artist Tammy Nguyen.
An excellent afternoon, we agreed, glad that the weather led us to places we might otherwise have missed.
(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)
©2026 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.