Things To Do in Central Texas
Georgetown
Food & Dining
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An American Southwestern Bar & Grill located the Court House Square. It won Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice 2022 award. Currently one of the highest rated restaurants in Georgetown.
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Grape Creek Vineyards was established in 1983 and currently the oldest vineyard on Highway 290. They boast a 40,000 sq ft production facility. They have several restaurants and patios on site.
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An affordable and casual greek cafe located on Interstate 35. Great for anyone looking for more informal and reasonably priced options. Also has vegetarian options.
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Monument Cafe is well known for their delicious breakfast and brunch items, such as gingerbread pancakes and chicken friend steak. They also have a bakery which offers different types of pies and cakes.
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The number 1 highest rated Italian/American restaurant in Georgetown as of January 2023 on Trip Advisor. Aside from great food they are also known for their exceptional service.
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Sights & Recreation
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Inner Space Cavern (Also known as Laubach Cave) is a karst cave located in Georgetown, Texas. The cavern was formed by water passing through Edwards limestone. The cavern is estimated to be around 20-25 million years old but were only open to the surface since the late Pleistocene period 14,000–45,000 years ago. - Wikipedia
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Creative Playscape is a newly renovated and creatively designed playground that offers fun activities for the whole family.
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The Blue Hole of Santa Rosa, or simply the Blue Hole, is a circular, bell-shaped pool or small lake located along Route 66 east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico that is a tourist attraction and swimming venue, and one of the most popular dive destinations in the US for scuba diving and training. The Blue Hole is an artesian well and cenote that was once used as a fish hatchery. - Wikipedia
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Scenic park offering 64 fully equipped camping sites, plus a dump station & hot showers.
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San Gabriel Park is a park in Georgetown, Texas, United States. In 2012, the park was designated a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation & Parks Society.
- Wikipedia
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Events, Shows & Culture
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The Palace Theatre is an historic theatre in Georgetown, Texas, United States. It is part of the Williamson County Courthouse Historic District.
The theatre was ranked the best live entertainment venue in the Austin American-Statesman's 2017 "Best of Georgetown" list.
- Wikipedia
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Grape Creek Vineyards was established in 1983 and currently the oldest vineyard on Highway 290. They boast a 40,000 sq ft production facility and offer tour packages on their website.
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The Annual Red Poppy Festival is held on the last full weekend of April on The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas! The 2023 festival will be held on April 28-30.
The Red Poppy Festival has hosted a who’s who of artists and bands throughout the last few decades and this year promises to be better than ever. With live performances, all three stages will be heating up and turning out the good time vibes. The fun starts blooming on Friday evening when artisans set up their wares, fresh smells waft from food vendors and live music starting at 7 p.m.
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The Blazin’ Beer Crawl is a self-paced walking event featuring craft beer tastings inside our Downtown retail stores and restaurants. Ticket holders will receive a map of all of the participating locations and can choose which order to sample and visit merchants. Hot and spicy snacks will be available at various participating merchant locations. Restaurants will have event day specials. Food trucks will be set up for additional food options during the event.
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Enjoy an entertaining tour while learning some of the rich Williamson County and Georgetown history! The Williamson Museum provides free guided tours of the beautiful historic Williamson County Courthouse. Tours are Fridays beginning at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Plan to arrive at the museum a few minutes early and you may want to call ahead to confirm tours as they are subject to change, 512-943-1670.
Shopping
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A mall with a large selection of antiques of different prices and sizes. Located in downtown 8th Street. Known for its friendly staff and very organized catalog of products.
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A big sprawling shopping complex located in University Avenue. Has a huge number of groceries, shops and restaurants for you to choose from! Ideal for buying your everyday needs, walking around or just window shopping.
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A gallery that features paintings, ceramics, antiques, jewelry and many other forms of art on sale. Known for its knowledgeable and helpful staff. A must visit for art lovers!
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“ The economy had gone bust. Many people in Georgetown were laid off and were having trouble paying their rent and utility bills. Many were hungry and unable to afford groceries for their families or buy clothing for the children. So it’s today? No, it’s 1985 in Georgetown, Texas. Back then, families went from church to church and to the County seeking financial assistance, clothing and food. Today, people from all over Georgetown and northern Williamson County can go to one place – The Caring Place – for assistance with basic human needs. ”
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Ever get tired of commercially mass produced products? Come visit Wilco Farmer’s Market for all your farm fresh produce and meats. They also offer fresh more niche produce such as raw honey, pecans, coffee syrups & beans and magnesium. Food trucks are also available within the area.
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San Antonio
Food & Dining
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Welcome to a thrilling culinary eperience. We offer a delicious assortment of high quality meats, which are carved tableside by our swift-moving gauchos (trained Brazilian chefs), from a large skewer, right onto your plate.
Since 2008, we’ve created a dining experience featuring the hospitality and tradition of Southern Brazil right here in the United States. -
Brothers José and David Cáceres opened bakery-cafe La Panadería in 2014 to share their Mexican heritage and love for baking with the people of their adopted hometown of San Antonio, Texas. The Cáceres’ passion for baking began when they were young boys selling loaves of their mother, Doña Josefina’s fresh baked bread on the streets of Mexico City. Eventually José and David took over their mother’s homegrown business and started baking on a large scale, supplying bread and pan dulce for businesses throughout Mexico. After finding financial success in Mexico, the brothers realized they wanted to get back to the basics, and they decided to bring their passion for bread cultura to Texas.
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“ Celebrate
OVERLOOKING THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK
Special occasions in downtown San Antonio are brought to life at Domingo. From office parties to birthday dinners and engagement celebrations, our restaurant offers the perfect venue for memorable events by the river. “
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“ Pollos Asados Los Norteños started in 2006 with the purpose of raising funds for a church in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila.
The whole family got involved, sons, brothers, sisters-in-law and cousins. We started in a small trailer on Rigsby Avenue in San Antonio and thanks to our values, our family recipe, and the help of the community, today we have two restaurants ready to serve you. “
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One of the highest rated mainly vegetarian restaurant in the Austin area as of Jan. 2023. It is also rated number 12 on Tripadvisor’s Best San Antonio restaurants as of Jan. 2023.
Sights & Recreation
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SeaWorld San Antonio is a 250-acre marine mammal park, oceanarium and animal theme park in the Westover Hills District of San Antonio, Texas, on the city's west side. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and one of the world's largest marine-life theme parks focused on conservation, education and animal rescue. It is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). - Wikipedia
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Six Flags Fiesta Texas, formerly known simply as Fiesta Texas, is a theme park located in Northwest San Antonio. It opened on March 14, 1992, in the La Cantera master-planned development and district as the first business in that development. Spanning 200 acres the park was originally built to become a destination musical show park with its focus on the musical culture of the state of Texas. The park was purchased by Time Warner in 1995, and branded as a Six Flags park for the 1996 season.
The park's landmark is the Scream drop tower ride which stands 205 feet tall and can be seen from all around the park as well as outside the property. The vibrant colors of the ride along with the Fiesta Texas signage make it visible to guests approaching from the intersection of Loop 1604 and Interstate 10. A good portion of the park is hidden within the quarry, however, several other attractions, including portions of most of the park's roller coasters are visible from outside the park.
- Wikipedia
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DescriptioCanyon Lake is a center for recreation in the area. The Corps of Engineers built and maintains eight park areas around the lake for camping, swimming, boating and picnicking. Bank fishing is available in all park areas, and a fishing dock can be found in Cranes Mill Park on the south side of the lake. Comal County provides several public boat ramps for access to the lake. Hike, bike and equestrian trails are available, as is limited hunting (archery only) and professional fishing guide services. - Wikipedia
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The Japanese Tea Garden reopened in March 2008, with fanfare that included a serenade of Japanese songs by Tafoyalla Middle School Japanese students, keyboard by Carol Gulley, calligraphy and origami demonstrations, and an enormous Koi-shaped cake. The garden had been closed while the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and the San Antonio Parks Foundation completed infrastructure rehabilitation to the facility, to include walkways, piping, filtration, wall repairs, and pond sealing. The restored garden features a lush year-round garden and a floral display with shaded walkways, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall and ponds filled with Koi. The project cost $1,587,470 funded from public and private sources including the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Parks Foundation, and Friends of the Parks.
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The San Antonio Zoo is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo in Midtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. It is located in the city's Brackenridge Park. San Antonio Zoo is a 50+ acre zoo home to over 750 species, some of which are endangered or extinct in the wild, and an annual attendance of more than 1 million. It also runs non-animal attractions, such as the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge San Antonio Zoo Eagle train ride, which first opened in 1956 and utilizes three Chance Rides C.P. Huntington locomotives. - Wikipedia
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Events, Shows & Culture
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Walk in the footsteps of heroes with our one hour guided tour - The Alamo: A Story Bigger Than Texas. An experienced Alamo history interpreter will walk you through Alamo Plaza, revealing the story of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and taking you to key battlefield locations that are today hidden under San Antonio's streets.
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Randolph Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located at Universal City, Texas (14.8 miles (23.8 km) east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio).
Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the United States Army Air Forces, and the Air Force during its entire existence.
On 1 October 2010, Randolph AFB merged with Lackland Air Force Base and the US Army's Fort Sam Houston to form Joint Base San Antonio.
-Wikipedia
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The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is an art museum in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. The museum spans 5,000 years of global culture. The museum is housed in the historic former Lone Star Brewery (1886) on the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Walk. Following a $7.2 million renovation, it opened to the public in March 1981. - Wikipedia
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San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a National Historical Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives. These missions formed part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. - Wikipedia
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The Majestic Theatre is San Antonio's oldest and largest atmospheric theatre. The theatre seats 2,264 people and was designed by architect John Eberson, for Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres in 1929.
In 1975, the theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1991 and a National Historic Landmark April 19, 1993. The theatre was home to the San Antonio Symphony from 1989 to 2014. For many years, it remained the largest theatre in Texas and the second largest movie theatre in the United States. It was also the first theatre in the state to be totally air-conditioned. - Wikipedia
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Shopping
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The San Antonio River Walk is a city park and special-case pedestrian street in San Antonio, Texas, one level down from the automobile street. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting the major tourist draws such as the Shops at Rivercenter, the Arneson River Theatre, Marriage Island, La Villita, HemisFair Park, the Tower Life Building, the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Pearl, and the city's five Spanish colonial missions, which have been named a World Heritage Site, which includes the Alamo. During the annual springtime Fiesta San Antonio, the River Parade features flowery floats that float down the river. - Wikipedia
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Market Square is a three-block outdoor plaza lined with shops, and restaurants in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Market Square is the largest Mexican market in the United States. The "El Mercado" section has 32 specialty shops and the "Farmer's Market Plaza" section has 80. "Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia" and "La Margarita Mexican Restaurant & Oyster Bar" are the major eateries, but snack and specialty foods are available at other shops. Market Square is the site of Cinco de Mayo in central San Antonio and many other fiestas throughout the year. - Wikipedia
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“ A commitment to craft, quality, and hard work.
Since its origins, Pearl has been committed to craft: stone masons, barrel builders (coopers), and brewers brought the site to life; together they embodied a commitment to quality and respect for the beauty of a job well done.
Today, our chef-led restaurants, locally owned storefronts, cultural partners, and Market vendors deliver exemplary offerings—either made or sourced—with their shared commitment of craft. “
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The Shops at La Cantera is an award winning shopping center and one of the most popular in the San Antonio area. They offer a wide range of not just stores but restaurants, spas and other facilities for your enjoyment.
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North Star Mall is a shopping mall in San Antonio, Texas, USA with anchor tenants Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Forever 21. The mall also has over 200 specialty stores, some exclusive to the San Antonio market, including Armani Exchange, The Cheesecake Factory, Build-A-Bear Workshop, MAC Cosmetics, and Oakley. The mall, which opened in 1960, is located at the intersection of Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue in the city's Uptown District. It is a well-known city landmark for its Texas-sized cowboy boots, created by Texas artist Bob "Daddy-O" Wade, that are located along its Loop 410 frontage. - Wikipedia
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Austin
Food & Dining
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Austin’s coffee scene is no joke. The number of excellent coffee shops in the 512 may initially seem overwhelming and impossible to choose from. Still, locals and tourists can agree on the need to get a cup of joe at one iconic location – Jo’s Coffee. Jo’s is a must-have on your things to do in Austin list.
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It's not uncommon for BBQ fans, some of whom have traveled from across the country, to wait in line a long time (three to four hours) to get a taste of Aaron Franklin's brisket.
"It is the best. It is the finest brisket I've ever had. I can't imagine anyone could surpass this. It's unearthly in its moistness, in its perfect balance."
- Anthony Bourdain
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It’s hard to pick the best breakfast taco in Austin, but if you have to try JUST ONE, here it is… the Real Deal Holyfield from Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ.
Valentina’s does everything right: they make the best (BEST!) flour tortillas in Austin. They’re thick and warm and dusted with little bits of flour, and you could probably fill up on 5 of these tortillas without any fillings and leave satisfied.
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At Suerte, hospitality prevails, homemade masa reigns, and every day is an occasion to celebrate!
Founded in Austin, Texas, the restaurant combines its obsession with house-made masa and refined cooking techniques with ingredients from local farmers to present an inspirational and unexpected journey in Mexican dining.
From the open dining room adorned with art and textiles to a patio that overlooks East 6th Street, Suerte offers a vibrant environment for any fiesta.
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It’s a tried-and-true Austin story: this Southern meets Asian food truck became so popular that owner Eric Silverstein opened a slightly more upscale restaurant space in Allandale. That’s where he and the team dish out an expanded comfort food menu that pulls from his upbringing in Tokyo and Atlanta, raised by his Chinese-American mother and Jewish-American father.
Their Asian Fusion Brunch is to die for. We love the crab cake Benedict, rice cakes with Sichuan pork, and the Korean steak and eggs bowl. Pro tip: Mix the rice from the steak and eggs bowl with the sauce from the Sichuan pork, and it’s a party!
Sights & Recreation
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Lady Bird Lake (formerly, and still colloquially referred to as Town Lake) is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas, United States. The City of Austin created the reservoir in 1960 as a cooling pond for a new city power plant. The lake, which has a surface area of 416 acres (168 ha), is now used primarily for recreation and flood control. The reservoir is named in honor of former First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson. - Wikipedia
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Zilker Metropolitan Park is a 351 acre recreational park in Austin, Texas. Locals often consider it "Austin's most-loved park". Among the sites you can visit within park grounds are; Zilker Botanical Garden and Barton Springs Pool. They also have bike/canoe rentals, a golf course, a large playground plus a the Zilker Zepyr Train.
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The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (formerly known simply as the Congress Avenue Bridge) crosses over Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Before construction of the Longhorn Dam was completed in 1960, the bridge crossed the Colorado River from which Lady Bird Lake is impounded. The bridge was known as the Congress Avenue Bridge from the construction of the first span across the Colorado River at that location in the late 19th century until November 16, 2006, when the Austin City Council renamed the current bridge in honor of Ann W. Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas and a long-term resident of Austin. The bridge is a concrete arch bridge with three southbound and three northbound vehicle lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the bridge.
The bridge is currently home to the world's largest urban bat colony. It is a maternity colony, meaning it is a place where pregnant females come to roost in the spring and raise their pups from mid summer to fall. Until the pups are born, male bats are not under the bridge. - Wikipedia
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Mount Bonnell, also known as Covert Park, is a prominent Austin TX mountain alongside the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. It has been a popular tourist destination since the 1850s.
The mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills.
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“ Set on 1,500 acres in the rolling hills just outside downtown Austin, Circuit of The Americas has hosted the biggest names in racing, action sports, and music since 2012.
Drive, soar, ride and race. Exhilaration happens here. Make unforgettable memories with these incredible experiences. Only at Circuit of The Americas. “
-Taken from their website
Events, Shows & Culture
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The Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on two consecutive three-day weekends. Inspired by the KLRU/PBS music series of the same name, the festival is produced by Austin-based company C3 Presents, which also produces Chicago's Lollapalooza.[3]
The ACL Music Festival has eight stages where musical groups from genres including rock, indie, country, folk, electronic, and hip hop perform for fans. The concerts continue from 10 AM to 10 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the festival with various stages spread out in the park. Approximately 450,000 people attend the festival each year.[4] In addition to the music performances, there are food and drinks, an art market, a kids area for families, and other activities for attendees.
- Wikipedia
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“ H-E-B Center at Cedar Park is a multi-purpose venue with various seating configurations for variety of events. The capacity for Texas Stars Hockey games is 6,800 and the capacity for entertainment events can range from 2,500 for theatre style events up to 8,700 guests for concerts. The spacious arena floor can accommodate seminars, banquets, and exhibition/trade shows and there are spaces throughout H-E-B Center which can accommodate business meetings and parties. “
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The Texas Capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
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The Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art (often referred to as the Blanton or the BMA) at the University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest university art museums in the U.S. with 189,340 square feet devoted to temporary exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, storage, administrative offices, classrooms, a print study room, an auditorium, shop, and cafe. The Blanton's permanent collection consists of more than 21,000 works, with significant holdings of modern and contemporary art, Latin American art, Old Master paintings, and prints and drawings from Europe, the United States, and Latin America.
- Wikipedia
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“ Sixth Street is distinctly Austin. With its colorful and bustling array of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, it’s a sure bet for experiencing local characters and the vibrancy of the city. “
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Shopping
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Austin's largest selection of antique and vintage furniture, jewelry, clothing, china, crystal, toys, sports & military memorabilia and every conceivable collection known to mankind. Over 100 dealers and 30,000 sq. ft. Open 7 days a week.
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“ Situated in a beautiful park-like setting, The Domain features 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores and restaurants, almost half of which are exclusive within the market. A sampling of retailers includes high-end boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, David Yurman, Golden Goose, Tiffany & Co. and Austin's only Neiman Marcus, as well as more traditional retailers like Zara, H&M, Aritiza, American Eagle Outfitters and more. Restaurants include favorites like True Food Kitchen, Gloria's Latin Cuisine, Plank Seafood Provisions, North Italia and many more. “
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“ Explore the offbeat boutiques of pedestrian-friendly South Congress Avenue. Stop for coffee, cocktails and culinary delights during your walk, and catch live music seven days a week. “
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Marketplace Austin is a huge indoor market complex known for its affordable prices. The place sells a variety of goods including clothes, electronics/gadgets, jewelry and homeware. It also sells food such as fresh veggies and fruits.
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“ SFC Farmers’ Markets connect you with the best local farmers, ranchers, food producers and artisans in Central Texas, every week!
Visit us every Saturday from 9am – 1pm and shop with confidence in the quality of your purchase.
We personally verify everything sold at our markets is 100% local! We visit every farm and ranch and ensure all goods and artisan crafts are locally made. “
- Taken from their website