Attn: meh employees/Texans
6@sohmageek @stitch and family are going to Texas. Not till next year. Austin area, but will have a car… looking for things to do with a 3yr old and looking for good food. Please let me know. And let me know about visiting meh hq? 
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Road Trip!
If you like outdoors try different areas of the greenbelt. There are natural springs like Barton Creek (weekday only on that), creeks to walk in and woods to explore. There are even outdoor guides who can help you maximize the fun but I don’t think they’re necessary. The aquarium is cool, you can feed and pet Stingrays, really interactive experience for kids.
@sohmageek
Beware, traffic can be pretty bad.
For starters, you used to be able to swim in Barton Springs year round. Think you still can? Around 60F water, spring-fed, municipal swimming pool in Zilker Park.
The Hoffbrau (the original one) on W 6th does not have the worst steaks in the world.
There are protected bat caves along Town Lake. You can watch the bats at certain times each day (kind of an Austin ritual). Also Town Lake is a nice place to walk.
All the parks are pretty nice.
The UT campus is enormous and interesting, but possibly way too large for that age child.
The state capital is an interesting building. Has got a lot of 18th century carved wood, lovely marble. Vintage state documents used to be on display. Exterior of pink granite.
Nice extensive grounds.
Since this building is in Texas, it’s taller than the one in Washington DC. Of course.
Guadalupe St N of 19th Street for about 10 blicks is known as “The Drag”. The East side is UT campus. The West side is student shopping, bookstores, student life. Interesting walk.
McKinley Falls State Park is more or less within the city. And it’s just lovely, with a gorgeous waterfall. You won’t even know you’re in a city, inside the park.
So many excellent Tex-Mex and Mexican places. In general, some of the best food in Texas is here. If you have friends it hosts, let them guide you.
Texas Monthly magazine prob has a section for Austin restaurants.
Are you there for only a day, or a few days? Staying in Austin, or including the surrounding area?
If you are doing the countryside, the area to the west of Austin in the Hill Country is lovely, and has insane BBQ.
I’ll try to come up with more later.
@f00l
If you are coming in from the north, the bad city traffic congestion starts around Georgetown.
If you have local hosts or friends, ask them about traffic, and, if possible, alt routes.
@sohmageek I’m not an Austin resident but I’ve visited pretty often. The Salt Lick is my favorite Austin area restaurant. I also like the Habana Restaurant.
@moondrake I’ve heard that is amazing. It’s one of the places that is already on the list.
If you drive 3.5 hours north you can see our HQ2. It’s no Amazon HQ but we have recreated 6 suns that your three year old might enjoy. We might have some cat shirts around by then.
@snapster You know @narfcake is going to squee all over this thread neow.
@snapster Follow-up question: How many minor celebrity giant Styrofoam heads do you have?
@therealjrn may I answer that with a question?
@snapster Why, yes, yes of course sir.
@snapster I’ll take that as a personal invite. I’ll see depening on time if I can make it. (I’d love to but it is a long trip for a 3yr old) will you guys be in meh hq 2 by then? It’s looking like may next year we’ll be traveling.
@therealjrn Yeah, but @snapster only said “might”.
@snapster
Thank you! A true virtue!
Happy holidays!
@therealjrn He just did. He’s so clever.
@ACraigL
/giphy "a question?"
@ACraigL doh! lol
I keep thinking it’s winter why would I think about water. But then I remember. Texas.
@sohmageek
Parts of Texas have a winter much like that of Kansas or Nebraska.
Parts of Texas have a winter resembling that of Miami.
The rest is in-between and variable, depending on altitude, distance from the Gulf, etc.
In and around Austin, your odds are pretty good for lovely weather. The Gulf weather wins a lot there.
There’s Travis Lake NW of Austin. Natural Bridge Caverns and the Braken bat flight which are about an hour south of Austin. Don’t confine yourself to TX-Mex. Austin has great food. Try the bratwurst, catfish, and barbeque.
Austin is not like the rest of Texas
@durus123
Is and isn’t. Enough “isn’t” is visible on the surface there to make it a great spot for visitors.
And it’s lovely: when the traffic isn’t bad, anyway.
It’s hilly. (Not by mountainous standards). If you expect to do a lot of walking, be warned that newcomers and their legs have to get used to it.
@durus123 Hippie Hollow!
@phendrick
They have a three year old with them.
They sell a book about what you can do in Austin with children - I am sorry I don’t remember the name of the book. There is a website called kidsoutandabout.com
[here’s something a little different to consider:]
Austin Sightseeing Tour Segway Tour
1108 Lavaca Street Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78701
Step onto a modern Segway and roll into the heart of Austin to spend a day exploring the city’s can’t-miss attractions. Let your experienced local guide lead the way as you glide by historic buildings and hear intriguing stories about the area’s past.
Dive into downtown after getting a brief tutorial on how to operate your easy-to-maneuver ride. Coast up to the impressive features of the Texas Capitol Building and check out the Trail of Trees. Each of the 27 species dotting the grounds has its own significant relationship to The Lone Star State.
Branch off to cruise down Congress Avenue by its colorful mixture of shops and restaurants. Along the way, pass over Lady Bird Lake and stop for a quick photo with the city skyline as a beautiful backdrop.
Swing by the renowned Driskill Hotel, built in the late 19th century as a lavish retreat for wealthy cattle ranchers. Finish your tour with a bit of speedy window shopping in the Warehouse and 2nd Street Districts, where a bourgeoning group of hip hotels and quirky boutiques are housed in renovated industrial buildings.
https://www.expedia.com/things-to-do/austin-sightseeing-tour-segway-tour.a260567.activity-details