Visiting Austin in late July? (Houston, The Woodlands: extended stay, nightlife, vacation)

[littletraveller]

Will it be worth it?

How is the city looking now? Any nightlife?

[ashbeeigh]

Read our COVID discussion.

[Need4Camaro]

Minimal nightlife at best. State may be opening to 75% but most are still too afraid to congregate in large groups. Also Austin proper extended stay-at-home orders thru August. In short, save your money... Its going to be a long time before Austin's nightlife recovers from this, if it ever does.

[cBach]

It'll be dead.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by cBach

It'll be dead.

And the most miserably hot time of year.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

And the most miserably hot time of year.

......that extends through Labor Day

[VAF84]

These days, if you want to have a good time you have to go to the rural areas or adjacent counties. I hear Fredericksburg is still good, but obviously not a nightlife hub like Austin. Some peripheral towns have things to do as well, but I'm sure you can do that wherever you are now. Short answer though, is don't bother wasting your money. Try Arizona, maybe Scottsdale area as a place with less restrictions; it was one of the places I looked at to vacation that seemed somewhat normal during the peak of the COVID news frenzy, but the situation is fluid. Florida is potentially the other option, but haven't done my research there recently.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by VAF84

These days, if you want to have a good time you have to go to the rural areas or adjacent counties. I hear Fredericksburg is still good, but obviously not a nightlife hub like Austin. Some peripheral towns have things to do as well, but I'm sure you can do that wherever you are now. Short answer though, is don't bother wasting your money. Try Arizona, maybe Scottsdale area as a place with less restrictions; it was one of the places I looked at to vacation that seemed somewhat normal during the peak of the COVID news frenzy, but the situation is fluid. Florida is potentially the other option, but haven't done my research there recently.

May want to reconsider Arizona - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/22/coro...and-texas.html

[VAF84]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

May want to reconsider Arizona - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/22/coro...and-texas.html

True, haven't had much time to research recently since no vacation plans at the moment. I did read something about Arizona's Gov. taking the same approach as Abbot on the WSJ today, but couldn't recall if it was just Phoenix or surrounding areas. Just trying to think of areas I can suggest to the OP that have a population (maybe younger?) that is still going out, and has places they can go and let loose a bit. Seems those places are no longer in the city. For example, if I wanted to go out in Houston, I'd probably go to The Woodlands for a better atmosphere, and more relaxed clientele. If I was going to go on vacation in the US and wanted some kind of night life while COVID is still front page on the MSM, I'd probably do Arizona or Florida, maybe Vegas as it's reopening.

Ultimately, those looking to travel for nightlife are out of luck. Resorts and outdoors are about the best bet. If you're not in the high risk factor group for COVID mortality, and you have the money; I'd take a trip to Europe and see some of the sites before the crowds return. I've been eyeballing Italy for a fall trip myself.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

And the most miserably hot time of year.

At least there is air conditioning about everywhere you go, so unless you're working outdoors, it can't be that miserable. If you choose to spend your free time outdoors, it's really not all that hard to beat the heat.

Now if you are talking about hundred degree heat and no AC and no fan, that would qualify as miserable. There's a reason the Sunbelt didn't start to really boom until after the invention of indoor air conditioning.