What's the worst thing about living in Austin? (San Antonio, West: how much, new home)

[Danbo1957]

Pollen on a car (severe example, but you're breathing it):

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Austin97

I was thinking more about this. The one thing I dont like about austin is that it doesnt have touristy things for our visitors to do. Austin is a great city to live in, but maybe not the best city to visit.

I've seen tourists in Whole Foods downtown, just walking around marveling at everything.

If I was a tourist, I'd want to sit in on a Austin City Council meeting. Better than an episode of Portlandia. Especially after midnight when they all get "punch drunk" tired.

Up on Mount Bonnell a few weeks ago, my wife and I observed massive numbers of tourists. I counted over two dozen license plates from out of state when we were walking past the cars when leaving.

The Capital, Bob Bullock Museum, 6th Street, Broken Spoke, Salt lick, Oasis, Austin City Limits studio, UT, SoCo all make great tourist destinations. Not to mention the countless daytrip destinations such as Wimberley, Fredericksburg, even San Antonio.

The great thing about these kind of tourist destinations is you get to mix in with locals, because we don't think of ourselves as tourists when there.

Steve

[atxcio]

Don't forget that little race track and amphitheater in Elroy (er, Austin -- I guess it's annexed now). That's probably increased Austin's "touristy" factor by 50%.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Austin97

I was thinking more about this. The one thing I dont like about austin is that it doesnt have touristy things for our visitors to do. Austin is a great city to live in, but maybe not the best city to visit.

Zilker Botanical Gardens, State Capitol, French Legation, watching the bats take off, Cathedral of Junk, SoCo, eighty-leven festivals (throw a rock and you'll hit one), the Oasis for happy hour and the view, the Broken Spoke, Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, Barton Springs Pool, Segway Nation, LBJ Library, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Mount Bonnell, Texas State Cemetery, lots of live music, lots of places to eat out from trailers to Chez Nous and Fonda San Miguel and everything in between, several places to go trail riding, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Westcave Preserve, McKinney Falls or Pedernales or Bastrop State Parks, O'Henry Museum, Laguna Gloria, Hill Country Flyer, Barton Creek Greenbelt, Pioneer Farms, Emma Long Park, Governor's Mansion, Highland Lakes/Lake Travis, more golf courses than you can shake a stick at, and on and on and on.

Just what did you have in mind in the way of touristy things to do?

[MtnLion512]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Zilker Botanical Gardens, State Capitol, French Legation, watching the bats take off, Cathedral of Junk, SoCo, eighty-leven festivals (throw a rock and you'll hit one), the Oasis for happy hour and the view, the Broken Spoke, Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, Barton Springs Pool, Segway Nation, LBJ Library, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Mount Bonnell, Texas State Cemetery, lots of live music, lots of places to eat out from trailers to Chez Nous and Fonda San Miguel and everything in between, several places to go trail riding, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Westcave Preserve, McKinney Falls or Pedernales or Bastrop State Parks, O'Henry Museum, Laguna Gloria, Hill Country Flyer, Barton Creek Greenbelt, Pioneer Farms, Emma Long Park, Governor's Mansion, Highland Lakes/Lake Travis, more golf courses than you can shake a stick at, and on and on and on.

Just what did you have in mind in the way of touristy things to do?

Many of those things might not be as appealing to the "average" tourist, although WE know that they are awesome and worth visiting. I would personally think the typical tourist and fam would want to visit theme parks, family-friendly and easily recognizable restaurants that cater to out-of-towners, and fun but gimmicky destinations (lookin' at you, Riverwalk) that hold comparatively little value to local residents. For example San Antonio has the riverwalk for its novelty and boat tours and glass mall, and the Alamo...Houston has museums and cultural elements that the Blanton or Bob Bullock just can't match up to. I agree that Austin has tons of things for the tourist to enjoy but they are less known and accessible.

Where I disagree with Austin97 though is the notion that this is one of the "worst things about Austin". IMO, it's one of the best - I love that more things here cater to everyday residents than out of town visitors. Better place to live than visit, and as a resident I'm fine with it!!

[capcat]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

If I was a tourist, I'd want to sit in on a Austin City Council meeting. Better than an episode of Portlandia.

Steve

. Too funny.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

If I was a tourist, I'd want to sit in on a Austin City Council meeting. Better than an episode of Portlandia.

Originally Posted by capcat

. Too funny.

My job frequently forced me to attend many, many council meetings. They are rarely funny or entertaining, they are most often very, very boring. Nothing as good as Portlandia.

I'm sure glad I got paid for wasting my life there.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

My job frequently forced me to attend many, many council meetings. They are rarely funny or entertaining, they are most often very, very boring. Nothing as good as Portlandia.

I'm sure glad I got paid for wasting my life there.

Funny suggestion for a tourist destination. That's all. But, I stand corrected on whatever.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

My job frequently forced me to attend many, many council meetings. They are rarely funny or entertaining, they are most often very, very boring. Nothing as good as Portlandia.

I'm sure glad I got paid for wasting my life there.

You have to be fan or irony, appreciative of living stereotypes, and somewhat knowledgeable about at least some of the specific topics.

Mayor Leffingwell is also a fountain of funny wry quips sometimes, if you're listening.

Steve

[centralaustinite]

Reminds me of the time that I was flipping through the channels and found a public hearing on urban chickens and the issue of roosters! I immediately sat down and started watching! OMG! best entertainment ever!! The chicken people, the annoyed neighbors . . .

I love channel 6.

I have been to my share of council meetings (once one that went past 2 am) and it does get a little dizzy . . . and it is never funny when it is your neighborhood or your issue . . . but when it isn't in your backyard and you can watch the personalities go at it or see a favorite villain (like Richard Suttle) go head to head with a jam-packed Council chambers full of neighborhood activists . . . GOLD!