July 5, 2023

Exploring Austin

I have been completely swamped with family issues and work for the past couple of months, resulting in my neglecting this blog. Here you finally have my last Texas post.

On Tuesday morning we started the day with breakfast at 1886 Café & Bakery at the historic Driskill Hotel. I was craving avocado toast and their version was perfect. Hubby indulged in a delicious Eggs Benedict. Fortified by breakfast we set out to explore the city.

Texas Capitol and Saint Mary’s Cathedral

First, we headed to the Texas State Capitol. Designed in 1881 and constructed from 1882 to 1888. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The Texas State Capitol is 302.64 feet (92.24 m) tall, making it the sixth-tallest state capitol. There was a lot of action on the grounds as the Governor of Texas was sworn into office later that same morning. This meant there was no chance of getting any pictures of the Texas Governor’s Mansion as security was high. After strolling around the Capitol grounds we visited St. Mary’s Cathedral. St. Mary’s was constructed in 1874 and dedicated in 1884. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Beautiful stained glass window inside the cathedral

Gus’s fried chicken and SoCo

For Tuesday lunch we simply had to try Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. I found it while researching Austin and a foodie friend that lives in Texas also recommended it so we had no other option. It definitely did not disappoint. The chicken was tender, juicy, and filled with flavor. We shared a 3 piece white plate with slaw and baked beans. After lunch, we picked up our car and headed to South Congress Avenue or SoCo to check out the area and hunt for murals. We strolled around and popped into some shops and stopped by the famous Greetings from Austin mural on 1st St.

The Oasis at Lake Travis and final dinner

Then we hopped in the car and headed to Lake Travis and the Oasis. This was a spot our Uber driver recommended. It was worth a visit but would have been far more impressive (and packed) at sunset. We enjoyed a drink at the restaurant and took in the view. We also explored the area for a while but as it was Tuesday and off-season most places were closed. For our final night, I had reserved a table at Corrinne at Marriot Downtown. Once we got back to our hotel we got cleaned up and headed to dinner. We started with cocktails at the lobby bar and then moved to the restaurant. Hubby started with the Spicy Tuna Bruschetta and had the Bistro Steak Frites for his main. I settled for two starters: Crab Croquettes and Burrata Cheese. The food was tasty and we enjoyed ourselves.