6th Street Austin — Bar-by-Bar Nightlife Guide

6th Street is Austin’s live music epicenter — a 6-block stretch of bars and venues between Congress Avenue and I-35 with free live music pouring out of every door.

Dirty 6th (6th Street Main)

The main strip between Congress and I-35 is called ‘Dirty 6th’ — loud, rowdy, and the primary party zone. Maggie Mae’s — multiple stages with live music. The Blind Pig — dive bar with punk and rock. Shakespeare’s Pub — English pub with live music. Midnight Cowboy — a hidden speakeasy behind an unmarked door (reservation required). The street closes to cars on weekend nights and becomes a pedestrian bar crawl.

Austin Timeshare Promotions

Austin is the live music capital of the world — and one of the best-value timeshare promotional destinations in the South. With a legendary music scene, incredible BBQ, beautiful Hill Country surroundings, and a young, energetic culture, Austin resort properties offer promotional stays for qualified visitors at a fraction of the retail hotel rate.

Here’s how it works, what it costs, and how to decide if it’s right for your next Austin trip.

Austin with Kids — Family Guide

Austin is more kid-friendly than its “live music capital” reputation suggests. The swimming holes are magical, the bats are mesmerizing, and the outdoor activities rival any family destination in the South.

Can’t-Miss Experiences

Congress Avenue Bats (March-October) — 1.5 million bats emerging from under a bridge at sunset. Kids stand on the bridge, watch the sky fill with bats, and talk about it for years. Free. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for a good spot.

Best BBQ in Austin — Franklin, la Barbecue & the Whole Smoked Lineup

Austin is arguably the BBQ capital of the world — Central Texas-style brisket smoked low and slow over post oak until the bark cracks and the fat renders into silk.

Franklin Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue is the most famous BBQ joint in America. Aaron Franklin’s brisket has been called perfect by everyone from food critics to other pitmasters. The line starts forming at 6 AM for an 11 AM opening, and they sell out daily — usually by 1 PM. Is the 4-5 hour wait worth it? For BBQ pilgrims, yes. For everyone else, there are excellent alternatives with shorter lines.

Best Breakfast & Brunch in Austin

Austin’s breakfast culture is defined by one thing above all: the breakfast taco. A flour tortilla, scrambled eggs, and whatever else fits — bacon, potato, chorizo, migas, barbacoa. Every Austinite has a favorite taco spot, and defending that choice is taken as seriously as defending your BBQ allegiance.

Breakfast Tacos

Veracruz All Natural (multiple locations) — The consensus best breakfast taco in Austin. The migas taco (scrambled eggs with crispy tortilla strips, cheese, and salsa) is the city’s signature breakfast item. Multiple food truck and brick-and-mortar locations.

Best Breakfast Tacos in Austin

The breakfast taco is Austin’s love language — flour tortilla, eggs, and whatever your heart desires, wrapped and eaten on the move.

The Icons

Veracruz All Natural — handmade corn and flour tortillas, the migas taco (eggs scrambled with tortilla strips, cheese, jalapeño) is the one. Multiple locations including a food truck. Joe’s Bakery on East 7th — the OG Tex-Mex breakfast. Juan in a Million — the Don Juan taco (eggs, bacon, potato, cheese) is a gut bomb of perfection. Cisco’s on East 6th — cash only, been serving since 1948.

Best Restaurants in Austin

Austin is a food city disguised as a music city. The BBQ is world-famous (and worth every minute in line), the taco scene is as deep as any border town’s, and the food truck culture has spawned some of the most creative cooking in the South.

BBQ — The Main Event

Franklin Barbecue — The most famous BBQ in America. Aaron Franklin’s brisket has been called the best in Texas — which is to say, the best on earth. The line starts at 6 AM for an 11 AM opening. They sell out daily. Is it worth a 4-hour wait? For the brisket, yes. For the pork ribs, absolutely. Pro tip: Order online for pickup to skip the line (when available).

Day Trips from Austin

Austin is the gateway to the Texas Hill Country — rolling limestone hills, wildflower-covered meadows (spring), German-heritage towns, legendary BBQ, and natural swimming holes carved from limestone.

San Antonio — 1.5 Hours South

The River Walk, the Alamo, and one of the best Tex-Mex food scenes in Texas. Walk the riverfront, visit the missions (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and eat at Mi Tierra or the Pearl District restaurants.

Free Things to Do in Austin

Austin’s motto is “Keep Austin Weird” — and the city delivers an enormous amount of free weird (and wonderful) experiences. Free live music on every corner, 1.5 million bats emerging from a bridge at sunset, and swimming holes that look like they belong in a magazine.

Congress Avenue Bats (Free)

The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats — the largest urban bat colony in North America. Every evening from March through October, the bats emerge in a massive cloud at sunset, spiraling into the sky to feed on insects. Stand on the bridge, the hike-and-bike trail below, or from the TGI Friday’s patio (yes, seriously) for the best views. Completely free.

Things to Do in Austin, Texas

Austin’s official slogan is “Keep Austin Weird” — and the city delivers. Texas’s capital is the live music capital of the world (self-proclaimed but defensible), home to some of the best BBQ on the planet, and a tech hub that somehow still feels like a college town.

6th Street & Live Music

Dirty 6th — The main strip between Congress and I-35. Wall-to-wall bars with live music and no cover charge at most venues. Loud, young, and rowdy on weekends.