Keeping it Weird

Our next Spring Break destination was Austin, Texas.  We decided our first stop would be the University of Texas.  We were surprised to see that it was located right off of I-35.  It is situated downtown and traffic was backed up on a weekday.  I can not imagine what it must be like when the Longhorns are playing.  It took some navigating to find a spot to park on campus but we managed to get a spot near the football stadium.  A lady at the team store told us the best gate to go to, to get a view of the field.  We headed that direction and were able to see most of the stadium.  It was definitely large! We then began our search for the basketball arena.  I must say from the outside we were less than impressed.  It was a very unassuming and ugly brown building.  We opted to not even take a picture.  

After our visit to campus we drove by the state capitol which is nearby.  Our hotel was right downtown so we went there to make our next plan.  We stayed in a Hampton Inn and Suites.  We had a great room with views of both the football stadium and the capitol.  It was definitely the funkiest Hampton we have ever stayed in but we loved it.  It lived up to the Keep Austin Weird slogan with it's graffiti wall in the lobby, trendy light fixtures and rotating guitar.  

We were all getting hungry for supper so we decided to head toward the food truck area of town.  Christy had recommended a doughnut food truck and we knew we wanted to stop there.  The traffic was crazy but we finally made it to the food trucks.  We stopped for a picture with the Austin mural and began deciding what to eat.  There was a food truck called Torchy's Tacos that looked like something we would all like.  The food was delicious.  All the salsas we had in Austin and San Antonio put the kind we get at restaurants here in Missouri to shame.  After some tacos we headed to try the doughnuts. They were huge and really could have been a meal in themselves.  Ella and I shared one with fresh strawberries and cream cheese frosting that was delicious.  John had a cinnamon and sugar doughnut and Sam had one with maple syrup icing and slices of bacon.  He loved it! 

With our bellies full we headed back to the hotel.  The traffic was much better on the return trip and we spent the rest of the evening playing a family game of Uno.  It lasted forever but was full of many laughs and a great way to wind down after our long day. 

The next morning we had a few things we wanted to do before leaving Austin.  Our first stop was a local graffiti park.  Anyone is welcome to paint on the walls there.  We had been told they sold paint there unfortunately they weren't selling it when we arrived.  We managed to find a few cans with some paint left but couldn't really paint too much.  It was neat to see though.  John wanted to see Lake Travis so we drove there next and saw the golf course where we had watched the PGA players play the weekend before on television.  Our last stop in Austin was Lupe Tortilla.  Lauren highly recommended we go there and after eating it we understand why.  Their fajitas were delicious!   With our stomachs full once again we headed further south to San Antonio. 

Sam outside Texas Stadium

Ella painting at the graffiti park. 

Getting their picture with the Austin mural. 

There was a little building near the food truck park where you could eat your dinner. 

Ella with her Gourdoughs doughnut.