Austin: Why this is now the best city to visit in the USA

Forget New York or the bright lights of Los Angeles - because this quirky city where anything ‘weird goes' has become the new hotspot.

“Keep Austin Weird.”

It’s not a conventional slogan of choice to promote one of the USA’s most aspirational cities. Or perhaps it’s perfectly on brand and exactly how the locals want to be known?

Welcome to Austin, Texas, where being weird isn’t enough, it’s a downright compliment y’all.

The slogan was adopted by a local business alliance nearly 20 years ago in the interests of thwarting big corporations seizing Austin’s quirky, indie identity, and to help protect the small business community.

Why Austin has become the city to visit on your next US trip.

And keeping things “weird” is paying dividends.

For the third year running Austin earned the number one spot on U.S News and World Report’s, Best Places to Live in the U.S.

It’s estimated as many as 150 people daily are picking up sticks and relocating to the Texan capital.

Austin’s population has rocketed in recent years, outstripping average national growth at a rate of five to one, and laying claim to the fastest growing city in the U.S.

And it’s easy to see why.

Surrounded by bars and live music, Austin has emerged as one of the most popular cities in the US.

The capital of The Lone Star State is home to arguably the best craft beer scene in the country, an enviable number of BBQ restaurants, breakfast tacos that will redefine your morning eating habits, an international film festival, Formula 1, and the host of two gargantuan music festivals: South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. 

And it is the thriving music scene that really sets Austin apart from the rest of Texas.

When you touchdown at the international airport there are no less than six music stages set aside for artists.

Street corners are peppered with a mix of musicians of all persuasions that give the city a permanent musical soundscape. Country music demigod Willie Nelson even has his own bronze statue.

“Austin City Limits” or “ACL” as it’s fondly known, is staged in Zilker Park in the city’s centre and routinely attracts world music’s iconic names.

In 2018, Paul McCartney, Metallica and Arctic Monkeys headlined the 3-day music festival. The festival feel is trusting and upbeat.

It’s estimated as many as 150 people daily are picking up sticks and relocating to the Texan capital.

Southern hospitality knows no limits here and it’s no surprise to see kids of all ages traipsing the festival grounds unaccompanied. Such is the peaceful vibe that ACL gives off.

There’s even a dedicated family section called “Austin Kiddie Limits”.

And that’s the city’s headline acts.

Dare we delve into the lesser known and weirder traditions of chicken s**t bingo at The Little Longhorn Saloon, turtle races at Little Woodrow’s or swimming at Hippie Hollow, the state’s only ‘clothing-optional’ beach.

If you’re really lucky, you can join the locals in the last weekend in April and celebrate the birthday of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

A tradition dating back since 1963.

No surprise then that you’ll often hear Austinites proudly claim that “Austin isn’t really Texas”.

For many of the locals the only real drawback about this progressively strident city is that it’s surrounded by Texans.

The social and political paradox between the capital and its outposts couldn’t be more Apparent.

Austin is a lone liberal voice in the state’s conservative choir. 

Austin is a lone liberal voice in the state’s conservative choir.

Let’s not kid ourselves, the way the world has generally viewed Texans is through a well-worn, often misguided and stereotypical lens: desert dwelling, cattle-roping, republican voting, gun-totin’, god-fearing citizens in the deep south of the good ‘ole US of A, where everything is a darn lot bigger than y’alls.

Well, the last part I write without a word of lie.

Everything is impossibly bigger.

Take ‘Buc-ee’s’ convenience store franchise for example, which boasts a staggering 120 petrol pumps! Or the 1.4 kg cinnamon bun from Lulu’s bakery!

There is no contest in the whopping stakes. Texas has the globe covered, and Austin can supersize like the best of them.

But it’s offset with a quirky yet restrained balance that other cities in Texas can’t, nor would necessarily want to emulate.  

Austin wants to be the weirdest city in the US.

It’s a place where BBQ steak houses sit comfortably alongside vegan food trucks.

Fancy visiting ‘Bangers’ bar that offers free tattoos whilst you choose from the 200+ tap beers on offer?

Or perhaps grab a spray can and provide your own personal touch to the many public spaces where street graffiti is freely encouraged?

Freedom of expression is a right here, not a notion. Got an idea? Go forth and conquer. Austin is a blank canvas for the nation’s creative wannabees. 

Adding to the buoyancy and youthfulness of this city is the acclaimed University of Texas (UT), largely thanks to the stature of their college football team.

Attend any ‘Longhorns’ football match at UT and you’ll find a sprawling tailgate session across 100 acres of car park dedicated to pre-match revelry.

Austin is a blank canvas for the nation’s creative wannabees.

You’ll find people from all walks of life, chugging back Shiner beers, grilling brisket and beef ribs, whilst parading their famous ‘burnt-orange’ team colours.

The Longhorns were the 2005 national college football champions and boast Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey as their “Minister of Culture” — I kid you not!

And they bring in enough commercial dollars annually to subsidise the university proper. 

In 2018 the football program turned over $300million (AUD) in operating revenue, and their stadium has a capacity of 100,000 spectators which they routinely fill.

So yep, they’re a big deal.

Football reigns supreme in these parts. As the veteran coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry aptly said, “Football is to Texas what religion is to a priest.”

When it comes to sport in Austin, footbal reigns supreme.

The vibrant streets of Rainey and Sixth street on the weekends are strewn with locals and visitors pursuing nothing but a good time.

The former is strewn with renovated houses turned into chic bungalow bars. It’s the ultimate neighbourhood bar-hopping scene.

Underscoring the charm of this city are uber cool folk who revel in being different.

They effortlessly combine creativity, sophistication and a sassiness that affords them ‘real deal’ status.

Austinites don’t have careers, they have “day jobs”.

So where to next?

Austin’s social diversity and innovative skew has attracted the attentions of tech giants Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook, who have all recently set up operations here.

Talk has it these newly installed neighbours could transform the city into a technology hub that resembles San Francisco and Seattle.

Will this proliferation of big business erode the weirdness that Austin holds so dear? Not if the locals have anything to say about it. Keep weird Austin.

It suits you.