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Budget Austin

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A weekend getaway to the capital of the Lone Star State doesn't have to cost a fortune. This outdoor city has a ton of free or low-cost spots to experience, and we've got them all lined up for you.

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Author: Tara

Day 1 - Austin

Kick off your thrifty weekend in the capital city with a reservation at this historic former motor inn. This local favorite is the epitome of the city catchphrase "Keep Austin Weird" with the variety of wallpaper landscapes available. Wake up among tulips or a waterfall, then head to Jo's a few doors down for a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a pastry. Spend the morning on Lady Bird Lake--walk the trail and stop by the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue or rent a canoe or kayak for a ride along the water. Once you've worked up an appetite, head to the Airstream trailer-turned-eatery deemed Flip Happy Crepes for a sweet or savory French favorite. Take a short drive west to Mount Bonnell for a little exercise (just over 100 stone steps to climb) and a breathtaking view of the lakeside city. Cap off the night with a diner-style burger and fries at Hut's Hamburgers, a downtown joint that feels more like a small-town neighborhood haunt.

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Austin Motel

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1220 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704

Phone:

+1 512 441 1157

Jo's

Location:

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1300 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704

Phone:

+1 512 444 3800

Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue

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Riverside Drive & South First Street
Auditorium Shores
Austin, TX 78746

Phone:

+1 512 327 1838

Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail

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S First Street between MoPac Blvd and Pleasant Valley Road
Austin, TX 78701

Phone:

+1 512 477 7273

Flip Happy Crêpes

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400 Jessie Street
Austin, TX 78704

Phone:

+1 512 552 9034

Mount Bonnell

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3800 Mount Bonnell Road
Austin, TX 78702

Phone:

512-974-6700

Hut's Hamburgers

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807 West 6th Street
Austin, TX 78703

Phone:

+1 512 472 0693

Day 2 - Austin

Make your way north to the Hyde Park neighborhood for a morning traipse through the former studio of sculptress Elizabeth Ney. This free museum features a number of regal and otherwise influential busts and larger works dating back to the 1800s. Fuel up for the rest of your day at Zen Japanese Food Fast near 35th and Guadalupe. This healthy, locally-owned chain serves up fresh sushi, teriyaki bowls and the like for bargain prices. A lazy afternoon at Zilker Park is in order--the perfect spot to lay in the sun with a good book, kick a soccer ball or fly a kite. Don't laze around too long though, because you don't want to miss the bats' emergence from the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. From November through March, more than a million Mexican freetail bats call Austin home and provide an awesome (and 100% free) visual display just before sunset. Finally, get cozy at Doc's Motorworks on South Congress Avenue. Get your hands dirty eating tasty, spicy wings and draft beer that's almost always on special.

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