March | 2016 | Trip Like I Do

“You’re going to want to move here.”

I was asking my cousin for recommendations on things to do during my upcoming trip to Austin, Texas. My cousin, who was born and raised in Massachusetts, had moved to the Texas capital about two years prior. According to her, Austin was like an adult playground; it’s where the Peter Pans of modern America went to never grow up. Plus Austin had been getting a lot of press at this time for its affordability and job opportunities. Apparently, millennials were flocking to this town, and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.

I visited this quirky city in May 2015, and it lives by its motto: Keep Austin Weird. Austin IS weird, but great. Since this trip was almost a year ago, I feel incapable of describing the city as vividly as it deserves. Therefore, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves:

Graffiti is painted on random walls throughout the city…

…including this one: the famous “i love you so much” graffiti on South Congress St. And while we’re on the topic of graffiti…

Graffiti Park at Castle Hills in Austin offers an example of the city’s eccentric vibe. Pick up a can of spray paint and get to work!

Food trucks are a staple in Austin, and there are some excellent ones. Torchy’s Tacos (above), la Barbecue, and:

Gourdough’s. This is a DOUGHNUT food truck. I was fortunate enough to have the above cinnamon sugar godly creation grace my taste buds. With the honey butter dip poured on top, it is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Meanwhile, on South Congress St (you may hear it referred to as Soco if you visit).

At least Austin has a sense of humor!

If you’ve ever wanted to learn the Texas two-step, I highly recommend White House Tavern. They hold lessons, and afterward you get to show off your moves to the tune of a live band! My fellow women, expect men to politely ask you to dance–no strings attached. This isn’t the usual bump and grind.

We did get a little bit of culture and history while in Austin. This is the Texas Senate.

You don’t know how badly I wanted to join those kayakers.

Downtown.

These pictures don’t do the city justice or adequately represent what the city has to offer. I encourage you to do some research and check out Austin for yourself. It is surely one of a kind, and it is beautifully weird.

This morning, when my phone buzzed and a silhouette of a small bird appeared on the screen, I assumed Twitter was notifying me of another follower or suggesting content I should follow. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had been nominated for a Liebster Award by Lisa Medeiros. Thank you, Lisa!

I’m a blogging newbie, so after Googling what a Liebster Award is, I found out that it is a way for bloggers to recognize the work of other new up and coming bloggers. The nominee then answers the questions assigned to them and nominates other bloggers whose work they enjoy. Cool! I’ll play along.

1) Tell us about the target audience of your blog?

My target audience is anyone with an interest in traveling regularly, in traveling topics and trends, and in discovering new places to visit. I realize that’s pretty broad, and I will likely narrow my focus as I continue to develop this blog.

2) Which one was your personal favorite blog and why?

My favorite so far is probably my post from February 15 about my trip to Sarasota. I shared some personal details about what happened leading up to that trip, but also included a description about Siesta Beach that would be helpful for people who are thinking of visiting. The post had a narrative flow to it.

3) What type of vacation would you say is your favorite and why?

A beach vacation on an island or other tropical land will always be my favorite. It’s just so relaxing. love sitting back and admiring the beauty, with a drink in my hand and the breeze blowing through my hair.

4) Why did you decide to start blogging?

I wanted to get back to my writing roots and create something that would be uniquely my own but not be as personal as a journal. It had to be something that I could share with the world. I chose to write a travel blog because I’ve become passionate about traveling over the past couple of years, and there’s plenty of material to write about!

5) Who do you usually travel with?

A friend or a group of friends.

6) How long have you been blogging?

I created Trip Like I Do a month ago. So, not very long!

7) What is the one thing you’d like to improve upon in regards to your blog?

I’d like to add more detail about the places I’ve visited and paint a more vivid picture for readers. I went to some of the places I’m describing about a year ago, so my memory is not as clear (and I also wasn’t planning to blog about them months later!).

8) What is the one (non-tech) item you can’t live without on vacation?

This has more to do with the traveling part of the vacation, but if I’m on a plane, I need a neck pillow. It’s essential on early flights so I can fall asleep!

9) Where are you traveling to next?

Nashville, TN, in June.

10) Describe yourself in one sentence.

I’m inquisitive, sensitive, and one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet.

My Nominees:

http://www.debbietravelasia.blogspot.com/

http://ciaomary.com/

http://www.baybreezin.com/

https://girlastray.wordpress.com/

https://dlistdiaries.wordpress.com/

https://samanthafaloon.wordpress.com/