{"id":45479,"date":"2019-03-29T16:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T23:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=45479"},"modified":"2020-04-29T14:15:03","modified_gmt":"2020-04-29T21:15:03","slug":"exploring-a-new-city-for-best-results-ditch-the-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/exploring-a-new-city-for-best-results-ditch-the-car","title":{"rendered":"48 Hours in Austin: Ditch the Car, Embrace the Unknown"},"content":{"rendered":"

The drone of traffic faded as soon as I dropped into the sanctuary of Blunn Creek, replaced by the whistles of birds carried across rippling water. Just a 38-acre green space situated near Interstate 35 and surrounded by urban sprawl in Austin, Texas, but within the\u00a0<\/span>Blunn Creek Nature Preserve<\/span><\/a>, it was as if I had been carried away to the backcountry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blossoming bluebonnets guided me along a rocky path until I returned to a sidewalk snaking through a neighborhood, reminding me that I was in the middle of Texas\u2019 capital city during one of the busiest times of the year\u2014early March, the season of South by Southwest. <\/span><\/p>\n

After walking 3 miles north to rent a bike, I rolled a pair of dice onto the pollen-dusted asphalt just outside the doors. I got a six, which meant my next stop was Zilker Metropolitan Park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me back up.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been to Austin before, and have hiked, biked and climbed around the area\u2019s assortment of green spaces. But I\u2019ve always had a car, zooming past neighborhoods and over the unique, hilly terrain without stopping to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the city. <\/span><\/p>\n

Having a vehicle at my disposal had always tempted me to trek to places outside the city, when in reality there are ample outdoor opportunities within Austin. I had never before truly experienced the city on an intimate level, so on this trip, I wanted to slow down to soak in every bit of my travel experience\u2014not just the destinations, but the journeys along the way, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

The setup: I would spend 48 hours exploring Austin, getting around solely by foot or bicycle\u2014no automobiles. To infuse a bit of serendipity into the trip, I would allow a list of pre-selected activities and a handy dice to dictate my itinerary. The list and corresponding dice numbers included:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Anne and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail\/Lady Bird Lake<\/li>\n
  2. Crux Climbing Center<\/li>\n
  3. Barton Creek Greenbelt (Gus Fruh)<\/li>\n
  4. Rowing Dock ATX<\/li>\n
  5. Mayfield Nature Preserve<\/li>\n
  6. Zilker Metropolitan Park<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With chance as my guide and a trusty bicycle as my transportation, I would get to know the city I already knew and loved in a whole new way. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Day One: Rolling the Dice<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Before heading out for my first day, I stuffed my backpack full of (potential) essentials: climbing shoes and chalk, hammock, water and food, tire pump and phone charger. <\/span><\/p>\n

    At 10:30am I rolled the dice for the first time, which sent me toward\u00a0<\/span>Zilker Metropolitan Park<\/span><\/a>, about 2 miles away from the cycling shop. <\/span><\/p>\n

    As I waited to cross the street at a red light, I wondered if this experiment would truly get me closer to the city. I watched cars pass by, almost envious of everyone\u2019s ease at getting around. <\/span><\/p>\n

    But, as I took off again on my bike and felt the cool, morning air against my skin, I was happy to be outside, using my body, and filled with anticipation about what I might discover during the day. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Zilker Park<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Upon arriving, I found that there is plenty to do in the 351-acre park along Lady Bird Lake. I got a magnificent view of downtown, my first of the trip, from a high point atop the\u00a0<\/span>Zilker Park Clubhouse<\/span><\/a>. Next up, I walked the Austin Nature and Science Center\u2019s hiking trails, slowly making my way through dense canopy in the\u00a0<\/span>Zilker Park Nature Preserve<\/span><\/a> to a sprawling green space. Here, I set up my hammock for a break and a snack, while other folks lounged in the sun. <\/span><\/p>\n

    My next roll of the dice took me less than a mile around Zilker Park, where I got more views of downtown, to\u00a0<\/span>Rowing Dock ATX<\/span><\/a> on\u00a0<\/span>Lady Bird Lake<\/span><\/a>. I appreciated the separate bike lanes on the way there, which were also well-swept and devoid of any obstructions like rocks or trash. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Lady Bird Lake<\/span><\/h3>\n

    At Rowing Dock, I rented a kayak for an hour. The lake is actually a reservoir on the\u00a0<\/span>Colorado River<\/span><\/a> (not to be confused with the larger Colorado in the Southwest). Likely due to the wind and highs in the 50s that day, I only had to share the crystal-clear lake with groups of ring-necked ducks and one territorial swan that chased me out of a cove. In the summer, Lady Bird Lake is a great place for stand up paddle boarding and fishing, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

    My next move was cycling 4 miles north of downtown. Earlier, I had noticed my bike seat was too far back and without any tools to adjust it, I was having to stretch my body all day. I really started to feel it on the undulating hills through the Tarrytown neighborhood. But taking everything in around me helped dismiss the discomfort\u2014a stroll on a pedestrian bridge across Lady Bird Lake and more fields of wildflowers. <\/span><\/p>\n

    I noticed a thriving community garden adjacent to the lake and stopped to chat about local food with a gardener who was pulling some weeds. In a car, I likely wouldn\u2019t have even passed by the garden, which is tucked away near the bridge, as my maps app would\u2019ve directed me to busier streets. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Mayfield Park<\/span><\/h3>\n

    When I reached\u00a0<\/span>Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve<\/span><\/a>, I expected only hiking trails, but was surprised to find a flower garden complete with peacocks ambling about. On the trail, I picked out native vegetation thanks to informative signs, and even crossed a few small creeks and climbed a bluff. For the third time in a day, the dense, forested hills whisked me off to another place far from Austin metro.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That night I was staying with friends, Landon and Michelle, and my ride back to their apartment was 8.3 miles\u2014needless to say, farther than I had anticipated. I walked my bike up most of the hills on the way south and, by the time I had gotten downtown, I stopped for a well-deserved burrito, which inadvertently threatened to put me in a food coma. I walked it off for the rest of the 1.8 miles back and got to enjoy a well-earned sunset. I watched as the sun slowly hung lower until it dipped below the trees, casting an amber glow on the few clouds in the sky. Later that night, I stayed in to catch up (lounge on the couch) with my friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Day Two:\u00a0<\/span>Slowing Down<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Nursing a case of saddle soreness on the morning of my second day, I looked at my bike with a wince. <\/span><\/p>\n

    I had just rolled a three, which meant I was headed for the\u00a0<\/span>Barton Creek Greenbelt<\/span><\/a>. The Greenbelt is an Austin staple, a protected park following Barton Creek that\u2019s full of hiking trails, crags and swimming holes. I set my GPS for Gus Fruh, a spot on the Greenbelt, and set off. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The Greenbelt<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Starting my ride, I pedaled through a hilly neighborhood leading to the trailhead, stopping for coffee along the way. After grabbing some joe, I walked for most of the remainder of my trip, which was complemented by a retinue of barking dogs, an orange cat perched in a window, squirrels shaking branches, cyclists cruising down the well-maintained bike path\u2014and oh yeah: A bird pooped on my arm. <\/span><\/p>\n

    I took a quick jaunt, boulder hopping along Barton Creek for a half-mile or so before backtracking. In the summer, Gus Fruh is one of the go-to swimming holes in the area. Nearby, there\u2019s also\u00a0<\/span>plenty of sport climbing<\/span>, along with some technical bouldering ranging from V6 to V9.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As soon as I mounted my bike, my butt again let me know it wasn\u2019t happy. I decided that slowing down and walking was best for the rest of the day, and I\u2019m glad I did. With the warmer temperatures and light wind, I could smell pollen swirling through the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As I strolled along the sidewalk, walking my bike near my side with a coffee cup in one hand, a man hanging out in his driveway said, \u201cYou should get a cup holder for that coffee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThey should make these cups hands free,\u201d I replied with a smile, then waved as I continued on. <\/span><\/p>\n

    It was just a quick, passing exchange with a stranger, but the pleasant interaction was starting to convince me that automobiles, indeed, take something away from a travel experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Before starting my trip, I had suspected that perhaps we sacrifice these sort of interpersonal connections in favor of convenience to get around a city. This random moment\u2014seemingly such a little thing\u2014along with other chance encounters I shared with folks along the way, confirmed my suspicions. And, are cars <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> that convenient when factoring in parking, flat tires, traffic and gas money?<\/span><\/p>\n

    My body decimated by saddle soreness, I pedaled 3 miles south and returned my bike, resolving to cover the rest of my Austin challenge on foot. Afterward, I crossed my fingers that my next roll wouldn\u2019t be far. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The Crux<\/span><\/h3>\n

    As fate would have it,\u00a0 the dice called for a run along the nearby\u00a0<\/span>Anne and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail<\/span><\/a>. This 10-mile path traces Lady Bird Lake, and the boardwalk section is 1.1 miles, which extends over the lake, offering an unobstructed view of downtown.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The path connected me to South Congress Street, a busy thoroughfare in south Austin full of restaurants and packed sidewalks, where I met a friend for lunch. Now, like some strange ritual, I rolled the dice on our dining table\u2014a two.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWant a lift,\u201d Landon asked. \u201cYou can cheat once, can\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    I considered it\u00a0but opted to stay strong, walking the mile and a half to\u00a0<\/span>Crux Climbing Center<\/span><\/a>. Once I got away from the bustle of South Congress Street, the businesses waned and I began passing homes, many of them decorated with cacti garden beds, blooming flowers growing ravenously in a few lawns. And, what seemed a constant of my trip so far, the subtle calls of at least a half-dozen different types of birds chirped from above.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Crux Climbing Center boasts a 30-foot rope-climbing area complete with a few auto-belays and a bouldering cave, where I was free to flail about as I remembered how to climb after an extended hiatus. As a plus, any day pass gets you a free same-day yoga class. <\/span><\/p>\n

    However, after pulling on some holds, instead of chasing my bliss, I opted to chase my thirst, electing to grab a drink next door with Landon at Cosmic, a beer garden and coffee bar. He and I talked as the sun set, then finished off the night at another watering hole down the street.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As we flirted with midnight, Landon prepared to catch a ride from a friend. I looked at my phone\u2014it was a half-hour walk to the apartment. I swallowed my pride and hopped in the car.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That sort of serendipity, I think, the kind that fills out the details and daily quirks of a place, we could all use more of when exploring.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    On the short drive back, I recognized the route we took as I had just walked it earlier in the day. I remembered stopping to look at flowers alongside the road, a collection of bluebonnets that sprawled over the hill. Farther down, near a creek bottom,\u00a0<\/span>great-tailed grackles<\/span><\/a> squawked at me. <\/span><\/p>\n

    As the wind had blown, I could smell spring in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In the backseat of the car, of course, none of that was apparent. I could only hear the drum of the tires, the soft sound of the radio. I peered out the window, struggling to see through the dark. <\/span><\/p>\n

    As I reflected on what I had done over the last two days, it hit me that I had never experienced Austin like this, uncovering a part of the city that only emerges when you slow down, hop out of the car and start exploring. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The next morning\u2014my experiment complete\u2014I prepared to spend a day working at a coffee shop. I looked at my phone\u2014a five-minute drive\u00a0or a 25-minute walk? <\/span><\/p>\n

    I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door, electing to continue my wanderings on foot through the city. <\/span><\/p>\n

    I left the dice, but I certainly brought along my curiosity for what I might encounter on the way. That sort of serendipity, I think, the kind that fills out the details and daily quirks of a place, we could all use more of when exploring.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The drone of traffic faded as soon as I dropped into the sanctuary of Blunn Creek, replaced by the whistles of birds carried across rippling water. Just a 38-acre green space situated near Interstate 35 and surrounded by urban sprawl in Austin, Texas, but within the\u00a0Blunn Creek Nature Preserve, it was as if I had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":45488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[388],"tags":[1800,1715,734,707,1542,239,66,12,613],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-45479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-austin","tag-biking","tag-climbing","tag-hiking","tag-south","tag-texas","tag-tips","tag-travel","tag-travel-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/travel\/exploring-a-new-city-for-best-results-ditch-the-car","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"48 Hours in Austin: Ditch the Car, Embrace the Unknown","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/exploring-a-new-city-for-best-results-ditch-the-car","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/exploring-a-new-city-for-best-results-ditch-the-car"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/smaller-1-e1553626509655.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/smaller-1-e1553626509655.jpg?fit=2500%2C1107"},"articleSection":"Travel","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Beckindale"}],"creator":["Beckindale"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["austin","biking","climbing","hiking","south","texas","tips","travel","travel tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-03-29T23:00:47Z","datePublished":"2019-03-29T23:00:47Z","dateModified":"2020-04-29T21:15:03Z"},"rendered":"