Elite Traveler May-June 2018

EXPLORE AUSTIN

Clockwise from top: See Austin from above; the line for Franklin Barbecue’s famous brisket; paddleboaring at Lake Austin; the Texas Wine Trail; one of Formula One’s fastest tracks, Circuit of the Americas

ACT LIKE A LOCAL

Eat chili at Texas Chili Parlor , where meaty, mouth-burning bowls are graded X to XXX for hotness. txchiliparlor.com Stand in line at Franklin Barbecue for its world-famous brisket. franklinbbq.com Learn to dance the Cotton-Eye Joe at Broken Spoke . brokenspokeaustintx.net Take advantage of Austin’s incredible climate and abundant nature — dive into the 68°F Barton Springs all year round, or waterski and stand-up paddleboard on Lake Austin . Stand on the Ann WRichards Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk and watch 1.5 million bats emerge. batsinaustin.com Slurp salsa, eat breakfast tacos and dip chips in queso at Tex-Mex favorites such as Gueros and Maudies . gueros.com, maudies.com

TEXAN PURSUITS

Made for walking Urban broncos from Yoko Ono to Arnold

each day. Leave the driving to someone else with Access ATX’s VIP winelands tour. The custom outing includes perks such as private tippling in a wine cave and sommelier-paired Texas sips and bites, making this daylong jaunt an oenophile’s winner. accessatx.com Tune time Austin proudly bears the moniker Live Music Capital of the World. Find out why with a behind-the-scenes tour of Moody Theater, home to ACL Live , PBS’s long-running music series. Tucked into the vibrant Second Street District, the intimate concert space is a favorite venue for accomplished musicians and their fans. Hear some of the music world’s best stories from ACL ’s famed photographer, Scott Newton, who leads an Austin Detours adventure through the theater and to other acclaimed music spots. austindetours.com Bird’s-eye view With a tantalizing skyline, a bevy of lakes and rivers, and abundant green hills, Austin is a jaw-dropping sight from above. Cruise over it on a helicopter tour with Helo Austin, which also offers wine or barbecue flights. Or, choose a romantic, old-fashioned bright red biplane as your aircraft. Rides by Austin Biplane even include barrel-roll options. heloaustin.com, austinbiplane.com

Schwarzenegger have found their two-step-worthy cowboy boots at Allens Boots in SoCo, one of Austin’s trendiest districts. With an unequaled inventory listing more than 4,000 pairs of boots, it carries the best brands, from Old Gringo to Justin’s. An exclusive partnership with Lucchese also allows shoppers to create top-of-the-line custom boots. In addition, Allens provides private (store closed) shopping opportunities for groups of 12 or more. allensboots.com Go speed racer Austin boasts one of Formula One’s fastest racetracks, Circuit of the Americas. Test your mettle behind the wheel of the all-new 2018 Audi RS 3 in a program that will exhilarate thrill seekers and amateur automobile enthusiasts alike. Learn proper competitive driving techniques while satisfying your inner speed demon as you tear around the track. circuitoftheamericas.com/drive Wine not? The Texas Wine Trail unfurls just a short drive from the heart of Austin. Undulating past scrub oaks, wildflower-dotted fields, peach orchards, vineyards, antique stores and picturesque hamlets, the marked road leads to 52 Texas wineries — with more opening

Take in a 3:30 happy-hour show at Austin’s original honky-tonk,

The Continental Club . continentalclub.com

Run or bike the 4.4-mile Lady Bird Lake Trail .

Climb to the highest point in Austin, Mt Bonnell — ideal for sunset.