Out and About - Georgetown/Austin, Texas

Assignment #4: Central Texas

Contract assignment #3 we were in Northeast Texas for the beginning of summer and we decided to travel south into the “hill country” of Central Texas for assignment #4. Central Texas landscape is truly different from the rest of Texas with more trees, greenery, and rolling hills that made our stay even more enjoyable. Our home #7 was located in Georgetown - Alyssa worked in Northern Georgetown and Andrew worked in Round Rock. Georgetown is a young, family oriented town that people move to in order to get away from “city” living, but only a 45 minute drive to Austin.

This contract assignment was amazing and fun filled! Alyssa even would say this was her favorite contract and location thus far. Andrew agrees, but still enjoys their first contract and location in Norfolk/Hampton, Virginia.

We did so many different things and activities during our 13 week assignment from August 6, 2024 - November 1, 2024. Our very first weekend, we traveled back to Dallas, Texas to stay at a resort to attend a concert of our favorite artist, Mike. We even got to see him strolling by the pool while we were chilling poolside after an intense game of pickleball. The next weekend, we welcomed Alyssa’s sister in town, followed by her mother, then Andrew’s mom on the weekend afterwards. The other weekends we adventured off to New Braunfels to tube down the Comal River, hiked in hill country at Doeskin Ranch, swam in the Colorado River, pumpkin patches and pumpkin patches and pumpkin carving, hung out with friends/co-workers, market days at “The Square” in Georgetown, explored the different parts of Austin such as Congress Avenue, Mount Bonnel, and others. We also went back to Gainesville for the first time since graduating to attend a UF football game…Go Gators! And lastly, Andrew finally bought a brand new truck after his jeep was shutting off while driving down the highway. The last straw is when it broke down on a Monday morning, at the ordering screen of a Starbucks, on Alyssa’s birthday.

Georgetown

This is where we called home #7 for our contract assignment. We lived in a furnished finder townhouse on a quiet street, in a large housing complex filled with duplexes and homes. We lived in the open spaces with grassy fields surrounding us. Only a 5 minute drive to downtown Georgetown that was filled with restaurants, wineries, and shops. We lived in southern Georgetown and spent many weekend nights and days at “The Square” for dinner and drinks, birthday dinners, and market days. The northern limits are less populated and more on the outskirts of hill country.

Georgetown is an area with many new and young families, people trying to escape the city for country living, and a more quiet area. It is roughly a 45 minute drive to Austin and the airport. Georgetown has the square, a Costco and HEB nearby, many fitness gyms, and a strip mall area named Wolf Ranch. There are places nearby to walk, head to “blue hole” swimming hole, and convenient drives to nearby areas.

• Golden Rule

  • This was our favorite place to eat and it has the best cocktails. Great seasonal rotating menu with high quality food. The elk smash burgers were the best, but also everything else. Located on “The Square.”

• Gold Burger Diner

  • This was the first restaurant that we ate at in Georgetown. We actually went to its grand opening weekend. It's a great take on a 50's style dinner with pancakes to burgers. We only had a portion of the menu to order since it was the opening weekend. Located on “The Square.”

• City Post Chophouse

  • We went here to celebrate Alyssa’s birthday. A classic top of the line steakhouse and boy… It did not disappoint. Great experience with excellent service. Would definitely recommend it when heading to Georgetown for any special occasion. Inside is rustic due to it being a retired historic post-office back in the day. It also has its own oyster and cocktail bar. Located on “The Square.”

• The Baked Bear

  • As we were strolling around the square, dessert always caught Alyssa’s eye. This place specialized in homemade cookies to make ice cream sandwiches! Located on “The Square.”

• 309 Coffee

  • This was the first coffee place we went to in Georgetown and our stay in the Austin area. This place is where we felt the Austin energy and the serenity of peacefulness. Coffee was near the top of coffee shops in the area. A nice shaded outdoor seating under some trees. 

• Lamppost Coffee

  • I would say this was our favorite coffee place and with good prices. Open space but it seems it can be loud. Located on “The Square.”

• Pan Tostado Cafe

  • A hispanic style coffee cafe. It was busy when we arrived, different types of coffee from what we were used to, and a large variety of baked goods that pair up well with your coffee. Right on main street before you get to “The Square.”

• Lark and Owl

  • A cool concept with a bookstore and a coffee shop in one. When we went, we had bad service, many options were “sold out,” and the book store was ehh okay. It could have potential, just weird. 

• Just Love Coffee Cafe

  • We believe this is a chain. Solid coffee and we stopped here mostly to grab a quick bite to eat. It seemed pricey to us and was located in Wolf Ranch.

• El Monumento

  • Watch out! Because those margaritas are strong and great for a happy hour. We went here with Alyssa’s sister and Alyssa also went here with her co-workers for a happy hour. Alyssa always begged to go back here, but we never did. 

• Mesquite Creek Outfitters

  • A brewery and clothing store in one! Nice large open space inside decorated with taxidermy, western wear, while drinking craft beer inside or even outside on the sidewalk. Oh yes, Georgetown allows open containers. Located on “The Square.”

• Saddle Shop Saloon and Hydrate.

  • Hydrate is a juice bar that also serves cocktails downstairs during the day. However, at night you can venture up the stairs to a bar and live country music in a speakeasy. We went there about 4x and it was one of our favorites. Located on “The Square.”

• Sweet Lemon Kitchen

  • A perfect place for light brunch or lunch. Located in an old style house turned into a restaurant.

• Barrel & Amps

  • We wandered into this place on a late Saturday night due to hearing loud music near Halloween. Large club style bar. It also has an entrance from one of the local stores on “The Square.” We were entertained by the DJ and the DJ assistant dressed as ghouls.

• August Beverage Co

  • Alyssa saw this coffee shop on her commute every morning to work. A coffee shop with only a drive through window. Coffee is good and for a good cause. Located near Wolf Ranch.

• Mikey Vs

  • The best fresh tacos in the area! Located on The Square, at the back of a hot sauce shop. I will rate all my tacos off of this gold standard from now on. Located on “The Square.”

• Barking Armadillo Brewery

  • This was a part of our Oktoberfest brewery hop with Alyssa’s coworkers. Beers are good and we ate some schnitzel from a food truck. Located more in the northern area of Georgetown.

• Rentsch Brewery

  • Brewery #2 on our Oktoberfest brewery hop. A noisey indoor area with a large outdoor, back-porch sitting vibe. 

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• Southfork Fun Food and Brew

  • We went here after walking around a pumpkin patch with Andrew’s mom. A large outdoor area with picnic tables and 4-6 different types of food trucks. Also a food truck that serves beer and cocktails. They do have an outdoor stage where local bands can play. 

• Lulu Pie Shoppe

  • A few people said this is the best pie in the country. Pumpkin pie was spot on! They served pie by the slice, but I am sure you can purchase a full pie. Located on “The Square.”

• Laurie’s Cafe

  • Just a home cookin style restaurant with food you would eat at your grandma’s house in the summer. They even sell full size casserole dishes. A good place for brunch to a late lunch, home cookin style. Located on “The Square.”

East Austin

We are just going to split Austin into East and West. 13 weeks is definitely not enough time to explore all the regions of Austin and the surrounding areas. East Austin has a more hipster, art district vibe, and college town feels. We went to East Austin (East of I-35) a few times, once after our Arizona law exam, and another for the UT vs Michigan game. On this side, just keep your heads up due to some wandering folks around those parts. 

• Cafe Corazon

  • We went here to get a coffee flight with a cookie pairing, which is what they are known for. Sadly, they were sold out of their allocated amount (30 flights) when we arrived around 11am on a Saturday. It even sucked because the couple in front of us ordered the last one. Also, this was the first time Andrew drove his new truck in the city.

• Chalmers

  • A place on East Cesar Chavez street and a must go experience on a UT gameday. That’s if you want to experience the college atmosphere of a gameday tailgate. An outdoor patio with plenty of fans and benches to watch the games on multiple TVs.

• De Nada

  • Alyssa went to this place with her mother after picking her up from the airport and enjoying some margaritas via their pink cups.

• Kinda Tropical

  • Hipster vibes of a gas station turned restaurant about 5 minutes from the airport. Great place for lunch or even some food before getting stuck with airport food or too hungry to make it back to your place.

• Phoebe’s Diner

  • We ate at this place on Alyssa’s birthday for brunch before we did some shopping. It is a 50’s style diner with a modern twist to their food. It was voted a top 10 breakfast place in the U.S in the past. Definitely a spot you need on your list.

• La Barbeque

  • Texas BBQ is hands down the best food Andrew says he has had. We waited in this line for 2 hours after taking our Arizona Law exam at a prometric center. Unfortunately, most items were sold out but we got some mac and cheese, pulled pork, and steak. Of course, it was amazing. There are multiple BBQ places throughout Austin, but you have to get there early, wait in line, and grub out. It is about a half a day affair for sure…but worth it!

West Austin

The more upscale side of Austin that is more established than the East. We really only went to this side 1 or 2 times to eat and to drive around the area some. It is closer to some of the known lakes in the region such as Lake Travis and Lake Austin. We did not get a chance to head to Lake Travis.

• Hula Hut

  • This place reminded us of Florida with its Floridian tropical vibe. Located right on Lake Austin for a great lunch with a view.

Austin: South Congress

When people think of Austin, they think of South Congress. Where you have drag queens and cowboys walking side by side, and a donkey! Filled with shops, food, music, and tourists down the streets. You can even snap a beautiful picture of the city skyline at the top of South Congress. Definitely a place that you need to cross off your bucket list if visiting Austin.

• Home Slice Pizza

  • Classic pizza of Austin. Order a whole pie. Sit down. Eat it all. Inside is a dark lit and crowded atmosphere with everyone enjoying their favorite za.

• Aba

  • Most of the people who we treated always told us to head to Aba with friends or with family. We only went to the first come, first serve bar to order drinks and some appetizers with Alyssa’s mom. The apps were great and would be a great place for date night.

• Garage Cocktail Bar

  • A speakeasy in Austin that is located in a parking garage. We RSVP but I believe you can walk in if there is room. Funky drinks. Austin is known for their speakeasy places, and they are all over the place.

Round Rock

Andrew worked in Round Rock. Round Rock is more industrial with apartment complexes nearby with other neighborhoods on the outskirts. Round Rock is home to many warehouses and a small downtown area that has bars and restaurants. We did not eat at any of the restaurants downtown, but heard good things. We ventured out to Kalahari resorts to a piano bar one night with Alyssa’s mom.

• Round Rock Donuts

  • Good donuts, but ultimately we still love and miss Halo Potato from our UF days. Nothing can compete with those doughnuts, but the locals and tourists love these doughnuts. This place has been around since 1926!

• Backporch Social

  • An outside bar where Alyssa and Andrew swung on swings while drinking some water and a marg, while debating if Andrew will buy a new truck or a car.

• Burrows

  • Small local Mexican-cuisine. The salsa in Texas tastes way better too. This place was cheap and good!

• Redd’s Piano Bar

  • This place is located in Kalahari resorts where we decided to go since Alyssa’s mom enjoys these. A single piano with a full bar, and the musician was talented. It’s crazy that they know many songs from many eras.

• Urban Roof Top

  • We have seen this place multiple times while driving down I-35. We eventually went to this rooftop after Andrew’s last day of work with his co-workers. Great time, great cocktails, and great memories from our time at this contract.

Marble Falls

Marble Falls was located about 45 miles, a 50 minute drive from our place in Georgetown. We decided to head out to this area to do a hike at Doeskin Ranch, then went off to a park nearby and swam in the Colorado River with no one in sight. Eventually, we made it to Marble Falls and drove around the downtown area, saw “deadman’s hole,” and found out we could have gone to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house for lunch. 

• Angels Ice House

  • We went to this place to watch the Gators play and lose. This place has a nice outdoor area for kids and a large square bar with multiple seats to watch football.

New Braunfels

This place is about 75 miles or a 90 minute drive from Georgetown. A great place for a day trip or a weekend getaway. We decided to head out this way to stay in a bed and breakfast, float down the Comal River, and check out historic Gruene. New Braunfels is a great town to visit during the summer or Oktoberfest time. The bed and breakfast we stayed at was attached to the sidecar “speakeasy.”

• Much and Fuss

  • We ate here the first night in New Braunfels. We shared a burger and fries and of course, it was fantastic! Literally, 20 feet from our place.

• Sidecar

  • A speakeasy in the basement of the bed and breakfast. They had a live jazz band, and of course, they had great cocktails too.

• Huisache Grill

  • After walking around the area and trying to decide where to eat, we stumbled across this place that was tucked away. We may have been underdressed, but the food was fresh and tasted homemade. 

• New Braunfels Coffee

  • We had to get some coffee before we headed home on Sunday. A nice coffee shop in the center of their downtown.

Gruene

Known for their German-Texan heritage and architecture, and being a historic district in the region. We did a lot of walking and just checked out some of the areas. It is known for the Gruene Hall, which was built in 1878 for a live music venue, and the oldest continually operated dance hall. We did not get tickets, but we will for the next stop.

• The Gruene Grove

  • An outdoor area with 2 outdoor bars and food trucks while you sit and enjoy some live music.

Best Wishes,

Andrew & Alyssa