Trip to Austin for 4 days (New Braunfels, Lockhart: to rent, houses, college)

[Kmanshouse]

4 of us guys are heading to Austin for 4 days in early November.

We are in our 40s. Longtime friends that haven't all been together in a few years (moving away and such).

I'd be curious to hear some recommendations for places to go. Things we like:

• Drinking (mix of American swill, craft beers, general cocktails, nothing highbrow)
• Games in bars (pool, ping pong, Golden Tee, darts, random other stuff)
• Beautiful people. We are married, and not strip joint people, but we enjoy having beautiful people around for the ambience.
• Sports (already going to the UT game that weekend, but awesome sports bars are a plus)
• Poker - seems there is seriously no gambling anywhere. Is that right?
• Exploring - any areas outside the main center of the city worth seeing for 1/2 a day nearby?
• Food - very tasty, but not super expensive.
• Meeting locals - people who'd be receptive/friendly to 4 middle aged guys from the north. We are a social bunch, and on prior trips some of the best times we've had were goofing around with locals wherever we were.

We will not have a car, but if something extremely cool came up that needed a ride, we might be open to renting one for a day. We are staying in the Clarksville area of town.

Thanks!!

[hound 109]

A few random thoughts:

- Take a car to Lockhart/Luling for an afternoon of BBQ at Three different holy grail stops.

- A mid to late morning hike up "The Rock" & an Afternoon of Wine Tasting driving back from F'burg.

- If the first weekend in Nov, might want to head down to New Braunfels/Gruene for a day. Wurstfest on a Friday night or all day on Sunday (& then some CFS at the Gristmill or a band at the Gruene Hall).

On all 3 of these day trips, it would probably be smart to have a designated driver, fwiw.


Here's a couple of links from guys who posted similar ISOs last year:

//www.city-data.com/forum/texas...l#post49340045

//www.city-data.com/forum/texas...l#post45080056


Have fun !!

[Kmanshouse]

The Lockhart option sounds pretty awesome. Wonder what an Uber would cost to go 30 miles each way. LOL.

What about right in town? Recommended places to go that fit my bullet points?

[metalmancpa]

I've visited Austin twice this year (first time for me). Was with my daughter both times. We basically walked and didn't drive anywhere.

For the drinking, bar games, etc - 6th Street, period (at least my opinion). Beer pong in bars, and one has basketball sized beer pong. Lots of choices, including sports bars. Towards the business end of 6th St in the Lamar St direction, bars a tad more upscale. Also some good eats. I enjoyed ALC (Austin Land & Cattle) if you like steak houses.

I run, and enjoyed the bike trail along the Colorado River.

[clarksvillemom]

Kung Fu Saloon
people watching at the outside bars at the JW Marriott, W

Had to laugh at the beautiful people comment. You mean so you can flirt with the ladies? Not judging - just struck me funny And anyway, it's Texas! Like the song says, Texas women is Texas gold.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by clarksvillemom

Kung Fu Saloon
people watching at the outside bars at the JW Marriott, W

Had to laugh at the beautiful people comment. You mean so you can flirt with the ladies? Not judging - just struck me funny And anyway, it's Texas! Like the song says, Texas women is Texas gold.

Until they get here and see how young the nightlife here skews and how all the young ladies are skeeved out by the grandpas trying to flirt with them.

[Kmanshouse]

Ha, well, not flirt, necessarily. Gawk maybe? Also, we're in our 40s, not 50/60. Frankly would be more comfortable in bars that aren't totally stuffed with 20-somethings.

Would love a mixed crowd, or at least some places where people are 30s, not 20s.

I did run across the Kung Fu Saloon in my searches and it looked pretty interesting.

Parlor and Yard looked really cool (for the daytime).

[clarksvillemom]

well A-Tex, there's lots of 30s and 40s obnoxious, skeezy types hanging out at the bars on West 6th heading towards Mopac. Fave bar right now is Roosevelt Room. OP, check the music calendar for Cedar Street, Guero's, C-Boys, Stubbs

[Aquitaine]

For bars, forget 6th street. Rainey Street - good mix of age groups. You shouldn't feel like you're crashing a college party but you will definitely not be the most attractive people there. Don't try to park there (take an Uber in and out) but it's a good time.

[ashbeeigh]

Also look into the Domain or Mueller. Rock Rose is fun and an older crowd. Mueller has some good spots and is a bit more family friendly, but has some hipsters around to look at. A friend and I went to Stella Public House last Friday and were pretty gross from a work-out but were surrounded by a mixed crowd. The food and drinks were great. Mueller is more central and the Domain is more north. The domain has Punch Bowl Social which would have a lot of those games and bar atmosphere you're looking for. I'm pretty sure it's a chain, so it's not unique to Austin, but the area is very nice. I'll also throw out Manor Road east of 35 as a nice spot with some chill bars. Check out Haymaker and cross the street to get some great pasta.