Tips for Visiting My City - Austin for Families

I am joining with Kendra Thornton, a travel expert in Chicago, to share what I love about my home town and share what she loves about Chi-Town. Check out hers below mine!Tips for Visiting My City – AustinAustin may be the capitol of Texas but most residents would tell you that it is a world of its own. Known for its music and bar-b-q, Austin has embraced its unofficial slogan of “Keep Austin Weird”. A unique blend of technology and green living, old and new; you are as likely to find an electric car plug-in as a cowboy boot. Set in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, this modern city offers stellar views as well as easy access to many outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and climbing.Austin has a bustling downtown with many beautiful buildings. Just North of Downtown is the Capitol building with its lush architecture and lawn. Nearby is the famous University of Texas Central Campus. The Guadalupe strip fiilled with restaurants and stores is especially friendly to foot traffic.While Austin is known for a great music and collegiate scene, it is actually quite family-friendly.  My best advice for visiting my city is come ready to explore. Austin celebrates and nurtures our local businesses and events. I hope that you will, too!The ParksAustin has dozens of parks. Zilker Park is the most famous and offers multiple activities for all ages. Its playground has multiple levels of play with a smaller toddler friendly area. Most notable is the Zilker Zephyr train ride; a must-do tradition! But be aware – it is cash only! But Zilker offers so much more. Barton Springs pool provides a beautiful, if cold, fresh water swim. Across the way is a large green where pickup games of football and Frisbee can be seen regularly, as well as sunbathers and families enjoying picnics. And a visit to Zilker would not be complete without seeing the beautiful Botanical Gardens.Another option for swimming is the Deep Eddy pool. Originally a swimming hole, it is now the oldest man-made pool in Texas. Still fed from a fresh spring well, the water is cold but available year round. In the summer, it offers Movie Nights where attendees can float on the pool while enjoying the film from an inflatable movie screen.If you are more in mind for a hike, Allen Park is a hidden treasure. Just off of MoPac (Loop 1), it provides an invigorating hike through a large wooded area and then breaks out into a rugged open filled with indigenous plant and wildlife. While close to town, it is easy to forget the city as the terrain is dense and diverse.Finally, I love climbing Mount Bonnell. To my mind, it offers one of the best views in Austin. It provides an overlook of the lake and some of the most beautiful homes in the city while surrounded in wildlife; another example of the dichotomy that makes Austin so special. The FoodFood is another distinct Austin offering.  It is varied and too long to list here but here are a few highlights.P. Terrys Burgers and Fries – This is an Austin must do! Good burgers and FABULOUS fries! They have several locations – we especially love the one at Barton Springs with its outdoor dining and sandbox. Great follow-up to Zilker Park down the street.Torchy’s Tacos – An Austin original and staple!Amy’s Ice Cream – Another Austin original, Amy’s Ice Cream is a yummy cooling treat for hot Austin afternoons. There are many locations but the Burnet location is our favorite as it shares a large playground with Phil’s Ice House, which offers gourmet burgers and hot dogs.John Mueller Meat Co. on 6^th Street – Come early and plan on standing in line but amazing meat!A Foodie visit to Austin must include our famous food trailers. Check out Trailer Food Tuesday for a gathering of some of the best. Many are very family friendly. https://twitter.com/TrailerFoodTues Austin also has terrific seasonal events. Below are just a few:Zilker Kite Festival – annually in MarchSXSW - South by Southwest Music and Film Festivals – annually in MarchAustin City Limits Music Festival – annually in OctoberTexas Book Festival – annually in OctoberZilker Park Trail of Lights – annually in DecemberSo that's what I do in Austin. I hope you'll come check out my home city and tell me your favorite spot!Now I visited Chicago in 1996 and thought it was a fabulous town but after reading Kendra's tips, I am ready to head back!************************************************************************************Tips for Visiting My City While Chicago still carries the moniker "Second City" for some, it actually offers a distinct look at urban life in the United States. While Chicago remains built up with downtown skyscrapers to rival those in New York City, it also contains a different mixture of neighborhoods and people that give it a unique flavor. With so much to choose from, check out some of the following spots to get some deeper insight into the city. 1. Right Downtown For most visitors, Michigan Avenue, right across from Lake Michigan, is one of the first stops. Here, visitors can really experience the big-city feel that many imagine, especially in the summer when people go out in their droves to the many festivals or just for a walk or ride downtown. Here, the Michigan Avenue Bridge holds everything together. This takes pedestrians and vehicles over the Chicago River downtown and is chock full of sculptures and other landmarks. Learning more about the hustle and bustle of this vibrant area is one of my favorite activities. 2. Getting Some Air in the City Another favorite for locals and tourists alike is Millennium Park, not far from the heart of downtown. Over the years, this area of the city had become rundown. However, in the late 90s, Mayor Daley began a project to re-purpose the area as a public space for cultural exhibits, innovative architecture and other outdoor activities. Families, couples or singles will all find something to do here on a free day. And, the best part is that these attractions are free of charge. 3. Accommodation with Character Even more than some other large American cities, where visitors stay in Chicago can drastically change their experience there. Some prefer some of the posh, sleek hotels downtown. Others hunt down the landmark hotels that have accommodated some of the city’s more famous (and infamous) characters over the years. Increasingly, many visitors like to get more acquainted with one of the newer, fashionable neighborhoods in town just outside of downtown. In any case, a great site for locating the right type of accommodation according to a visitor’s interests is gogobot, which provides feedback from previous customers. 4. Food Done Right No one should overlook the food available during a visit to Chicago. High-end options definitely exist, but some of Chicago's real gems serve up very tasty food to hungry locals who won’t settle for less, even when not in a fine dining atmosphere. Chicago boasts a thriving diner culture and visitors could not do much better than the South Water Kitchen, regardless of the time of day. This locally run diner gets going at six in the morning and serves delicious meals at reasonable prices. Families, in particular, will enjoy the variety of dishes available, even for more finicky children. From one-of-a-kind culinary experiences to art, architecture or just roaming the urban outdoors, Chicago can and does entertain visitors and residents for a long time. With a little research and a sense of curiosity, visitors can find truly novel things to do and see in and around town. Give some of these tips a try to get a taste of a local's view of the city. Thanks again to Kendra for including me!