Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
DREAMSCAPES FALL 2016 28 SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY SISTER MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TELLING ME HOW GREAT IT WAS. S he raved about the weather: long hot summers fading into warm fall days. I heard about the amazing range of outdoor activities available right in the middle of town: dragon boat racing, kayaking in sight of the State Capitol and more than 300 kilometres of cycling paths. She went on and on about the food and the very happening live music scene. I was hooked. Austin has plenty of memorable places to stay, both upscale (the beautiful Driskill Hotel, a cattle baron's 1886 bid at immor- tality) and "funky" (The Austin Motel, beloved for its landmark red neon sign and its retro Route 66 ambiance). I had my heart set on staying in the South Congress Avenue (SoCo) area, within walking distance of sev- eral legendary bars and stages. I found an elegantly restored and well-appointed 1920s bungalow right in the heart of SoCo, complete with a backyard hammock, local maps and recommendations. A VIBRANT MUSIC SCENE Austin's live music reputation is legitimate. At the airport (the airport!), six permanent stages in the terminal feature local bands every afternoon. My sister picked me up curbside and we headed to Threadgill's, an establishment that started out as a filling station in 1933 and evolved into the quintes- sential beer joint that flourished well into the '60s. Saved from the wrecking ball in 1980, it reopened on New Year's Eve 1981 and has since become legendary for its Southern cooking—chicken-fried steak, fried okra and collard greens. Hip and funky AUSTIN TOP: Allens Boots sells an array of western gear. Kenny Braun/Texas Tourism BY LAURIE BRYANT DAGHIGH