48 Hours in Austin During the Quaratine

Travel won’t look the same for the remainder of the year, but I didn’t want the virus to completely change who I was either. Travel is a part of me- it’s something I define myself by. Instead, I wanted to find a new way to travel safely. Flying on planes where it is basically impossible to social distance isn’t currently where I want to be so I started to brainstorm potential road trips I could take. I decided to start small and drive somewhere that was familiar to me and wasn’t too far so I wouldn’t have to stop and use public restrooms. After 3 months of self isolation in Houston, I decided to take a quick weekend trip up to Austin to spend time with a friend who lived alone. However, crowds still aren’t my thing so most of my Austin weekend trip was spent Netflixing on the couch, working out, and choosing takeout food from my favorite restaurants.

What I Did

Discovering Netflix Shows - I watched the entire first season of the Mindy Kaling produced show, Never Have I Ever, and have seriously never laughed harder in my life. The show revolves around an Indian American high school girl who is navigating friendship, first love, popularity, grief, and family issues. On top of being hilarious, it is so relatable and really took me back to my high school years. The cast is one of the most diverse casts I’ve seen- there will be someone on the show who you identify with. I definitely recommend it!

Orangetheory - Ever since my Orangetheory Fitness membership was put on pause due to Covid-19, I’ve really struggled to stay in shape and exercise. I’m one of those people who needs a trainer and other individuals there to stay motivated so working out at home when I can basically quit anytime with no shame really doesn’t help. So when Orangetheory finally reopened, I booked 2 classes for the South Austin location to take with my friend. I was nervous at first on what measures the gym was taking to keep clients safe, but South Austin actually put out Youtube video showing all their precautionary measures, which really reassured me. Classes were capped at 12 people so that we could be spread apart and our temperatures were taken before we were allowed to enter the facilities. I chose to take the earliest class of the day so I would be the first to use the equipment and wiped everything down before using it. It was so good to get back into the gym!

What I Ate

Terry Black’s BBQ - I’ve been craving good bbq for months now and was really looking forward to Terry Black’s. It didn’t disappoint! The brisket was so tender and the jalapeno cheddar sausage so delicious. But the one thing that really made it stand out to me was the amazing sides- we went for mac and cheese and creamy corn. They really topped off the meal!

Maudie Too’s - Not the best tex mex I’ve had, but still a solid choice. My shrimp quesadilla was flavorful and the queso and chips quenched my constant thirst for queso. We went to the Maudie Too’s location on South Lamar (it is just around the corner from Terry Black’s actually) and they do curbside pickup as well as 50% capacity dining.

Teal’s Coffee - The cutest little coffee and breakfast truck in South Austin! Teal’s is located in a parking lot (it is easy to miss so keep your eyes pealed for a little red truck). They have the classic caffeinated drinks, but sometimes also brings in seasonal flavors as well. I ordered the blackberry honey latte and loved the fruity taste of the drink. Their freshly made kolaches was also the perfect way to start my day!

Gus’ Fried Chicken - I’ve been waiting to try the fried chicken at Gus for months now because I’ve heard so much about it. There are so many Gus fans out there! Well, 4 pieces of crispy spicy fried chicken and a bowl of mac and cheese later, I have to say I know what all the type is about now. I went to the downtown Austin location, but for those of you who live in Houston, there is a location in Montrose as well!

Sprinkles Cupcakes - I’ve missed Sprinkles a lot ever since moving back from New York. I actually use to live within walking distance of a Sprinkles cupcake shop and would stop by all the time to get a sweet treat. The Sprinkles location in Houston is about a 30 minute drive from me and is located in a crowded shopping plaza so I don’t make it out there quite as often anymore. So when I stopped by the Domain for coffee (see below), I couldn’t pass by the opportunity for cupcakes. Luckily, my favorite flavor, Strawberry Shortcake, was in stock! I recommend that flavor- it is life changing.

Coffee & Crisp - I saw a picture of the lattes here on Instagram and made my friend take me here for our second coffee of the day. The space is so adorable and aesthetically pleasing and the oat milk latte I drank was so refreshing!

It definitely wasn’t my usual Austin weekend, but it was nice to just get away for a few days, support some local restaurants, exercise in a safe environment, and hang out with my friend. Vacationing won’t be the same for a while, my that doesn’t mean travel is dead. It’s just going to be in your surroundings!