Host City: Austin
Our 17th Annual Travois Conference will be in Austin, Texas — the Live Music Capital of the World! It’s also known for unforgettable cuisine and exciting nightlife venues!
Read on for Austin attractions you can experience following conference sessions! For each attraction, we’ve listed the distance from our host hotel, the Westin Austin Downtown.
Things to taste
Austin is known for its diners, dives and barbecue. We’ve complied a list of some must see – well, taste – spots for you!
Eddie V’s
- 1 minute walk/across the street from hotel
- A polished fine-dining chain with a great selection of seafood and steak, plus a lively cocktail lounge featuring live jazz!
Old Pecan Street Café
- 1 minute walk/down the street from hotel
- This café boasts a charming, relaxed atmosphere while you dine on Creole-influenced American entrees, pastries and crêpes.
Parkside
- 2 minute walk/1.5 blocks away
- Known for its small plates and vast drink options, it’s a place that’s a little more upscale for 6th Street.
Chez Nous
- 3 minute walk/2 blocks away
- Indulge in traditional French cuisine while in a “Paris-like” atmosphere and pick from a wide variety of wine and beer.
Carmelo’s
- 3 minute walk/2 blocks away
- Traditional Italian cuisine with an old-world ambiance in a landmark downtown building.
Old School
- 3 minute walk/ 1 block away
- Enjoy Southern comfort food and craft beer in a charming historic building with great patio seating!
Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant
- 4 minute walk/1 block away
- Find delicious Mexican meals and a lively happy hour. The venue is three levels and has a rooftop patio.
Easy Tiger
- 7 minute walk/4 blocks away
- A bakery/cafe with an enjoyable outdoor beer garden serving simple snacks and cheeses.
Stubbs BBQ
- 8 minute walk/3 minute drive/6 blocks away
- Stubb’s Restaurant is filled with great music, good people and plenty of barbecue
Lambert’s
- 12 minute walk/7 minute drive/8 blocks away
- Tasty BBQ and other dishes in a rehabilitated general store with a second-floor bar featuring live music.
Things to do
We love hosting our conferences in fun cities. And Austin is definitely fun! Explore our “things to do” list and go home with some good selfies and better stories.
Parish
- 2 minute walk/1 block away
- This lively club features live hip-hop, rock, reggae, funk, Latin and more!
HandleBar
- 2 minute walk/1 block away
- This rooftop bar offers a great atmosphere for craft drinks, games and beautiful city views.
Maggie Mae’s
- 3 minute walk/1 block away/a street behind the hotel
- Since 1978, this locally owned institution has hosted live music and performances and also features a rooftop deck bar.
Elephant Room
- 6 minute walk/3 blocks away
- An underground jazz bar with live music, more than 20 draft beers and wine by the glass.
Cedar Street Courtyard
- 7 minute walk/4 blocks away
- Features a great outdoor stage with nightly live music and also four inside bars!
The Continental Club
- 9 minute car ride
- One of the city’s most famous spots, some of the greatest country and swing bands in Austin. The venue also features a gallery on the second-floor for a more relaxed experience.
Things to see
If sightseeing is on your list – we’ve got you covered. Check out our suggestions below. You can experience everything from beautiful gardens to Austin’s famous bats at the Congress bridge.
The Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
- 11 minute walk/7 blocks away
- 5 million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats emerge from underneath the Congress Bridge at dusk. View the amazing site for free along the sidewalk of the bridge or from the Austin-American Statesman Park, click here to see a map of available viewing areas.
- Lone Star Riverboat Bat Cruise is another way to experience the phenomenon with tickets starting at $10 for adults, $8 for ages 65+. Reservations are recommended.
- Click here to read about the bat conservation efforts.
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden
- 12 minute drive
- The garden, with waterfalls and streams muffling the sounds of the city, gives visitors a peaceful place to enjoy nature and art. Sculpture pieces created by noted 20th century American sculptor, Charles Umlauf, line the garden’s path and create an intriguing experience for visitors.
- Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for ages 60+.
- Hours: Monday: Closed, Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday – Noon – 4 p.m.
The Peafowl at Mayfield Park
- 18 minute drive
- Around a dozen peafowl (a.k.a. peacocks) live in Mayfield park. Visitors can view the beautiful free-range birds while walking by the gardens and ponds lining the park trail.
- Free
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
We’ve created a customized map for all of our suggestions.
Check out the Austin Visitor Center website for more ideas and suggestions to make your stay in Austin extra fun.