Jen Russum

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Austin {your unofficial city guide}

This past weekend I ventured to Austin, Texas for the first time in years. This trip was a long time in the making. My sister, Katie, moved from Seattle to Austin this past August and ever since then we’ve been trying to plan a sisters’ trip to visit her. You see, my sister’s childhood best friend {Whitney} is conveniently married to the brother of my childhood best friend {Sarah}, so they are sisters-in-law. If you made a map of everyone who is related either by blood or by marriage in my hometown it would look very confusing and possibly illegal, but I promise no cousins are married that I know of. Anyway, since the fall we have been hoping to do a “sisters’ trip” to Austin to visit Katie, but it kept getting postponed. Finally, like three weeks ago, we all got the go-ahead from husbands, bosses, etc. and booked our trip for this past weekend. Very last minute, but very fun.
But in some ways, this trip to Austin has been in the making for even longer than this past summer. I haven’t been to Austin since I moved away from Texas in 2007. Every time I go back to Texas, I obviously visit Fort Worth where all my best friends live. But a couple years ago I started wondering “Will I ever get to visit the fabulous city that is Austin, Texas ever again?” Because when I fly into Fort Worth for a whirlwind weekend with besties, it’s never really convenient to travel three hours down the freeway to another one of Texas’ amazing cities. But then sister became an adventurer, moved to Austin on a whim, and solved my problem of missing the Lone Star capital.
So I got to spend this weekend in a city I love with girlfriends I adore. Our schedule was packed with visiting some of my favorite places {Kerbey Lane, Amy’s Ice Cream, Mozart’s, Zilker Park, Salt Lick, Tyler’s} and exploring new places as well {Rainey Street, Mount Bonnell, The Driskill Hotel, South Congress}. Follow the links if you are planning your own trip to Austin!

Another highlight of the weekend was finally getting to hug two of my long-time blog friends, Meredith and Ruthie. Meredith met us for dinner at Hula Hut, and we were having so much fun that we convinced her to stay up late and go to Gourdough’s for donuts with us, even though she had a 6am flight the next morning. {You’ve probably figured out by now that all I do in Austin is EAT.} Ruthie met us for brunch on Sunday morning at Kerbey Lane which satisfied two desires for me: to devour Kerbey Queso and to touch her bump. Mission accomplished.  I seriously wish all the new friends I made when I moved to Arizona and started blogging two and half years ago lived in my city, so we could see each other all the time. But, instead, they live all over the country and I’m thankful to see them when I can, even if it is not often enough! The awesome thing is that my sister has become friends with both Meredith and Ruthie since moving to ATX, so at least she gets to hang out with them regularly!

 
Kerbey Lane

 
 
Salt Lick BBQ
 
 
Hula Hut

  
HEB… heaven on earth!

 
 
Mount Bonnell

 
 
Zilker Park and Barton Springs
I’ll be back next week with a couple more updates. I sadly forgot my big camera {which I realized when I noticed how easy it was to go through security at the airport… no huge camera bag to deal with}, but I have plenty more iPhone pics to share. I love Texas. The end.

Comments

  2. Since moving to Texas in 2004, and venturing around different parts of the Lone Star State, I can confidently say Austin is my FAVORITE city of them all. I've lived in Houston and Beaumont (yuck), East Texas (okay), Fort Worth (yay), but Austin is the only city that I have found in Texas that reminds me of my homestate: Kentucky. The rolling hills, the trees, waterfront, the wonderful people, and definitely the food. OHMYGOODNESS, Kerbey Lane Cafe. There are no words to describe the first time I ate there and I discovered vegan queso. With my severe dairy allergy (cow's milk), the realization that I could have chips and queso made me think I had died and gone to heaven!!!! I also discovered Sugar Mama's Bakeshop. They specialize in cupcakes and also have non-dairy and vegan varieties. Again, the manna from Heaven keeps appearing in Austin. I've been in Jerusalem (very recently, actually!) and I'm starting to think Austin is another Holy Land.

    p.s. I was in your old stomping grounds last night near TCU and I always think of you when I'm near campus or along University Drive. A friend and blogger is taking the Texas Bar Exam this week and we met for dinner and drinks at Blue Mesa Grill. Yum! Yum!

    Blessings and hugs,
    Nicole @ Three 31
    http://nicoleandkevin.wordpress.com/

  3. Wasnt Mt Bonnell so romantic?!?!? Loved finally getting to see you in person….don't be sad but me mere and Katie hung out last night…we wish you were with us!!!!!!!!!

  5. I loooved seeing your austin pics on ig. Definitely the best city in Texas by far. And sadly, even though I am 3 hrs away, I hardly make it there. Really should change that!

  6. Love! So glad you got to visit again. Austin really has my heart- there are just so many cool things to do and see. I went over Valentine's Day weekend which was also Austin Marathon weekend and everything was packed. But hopefully I'll get to go again soon. I've been wanting to check out the Rainey St scene- any recommendations?