Au Pair Travel: Austin, Texas

Whether it's your 30 day grace period, or you have some vacation time, there are lots of ways to experience the United States during your au pair year in America. This series will give you a head start of things to do and things to see in some of the most popular cities in the U.S.

The motto of this city in central Texas is “Keep Austin Weird.” Austin residents love having the reputation of being in a community that is just a little bit different than the rest of Texas. The city is home to a Cathedral of Junk, tons of graffiti walls and a bustling outdoorsy community. If you're an au pair looking for a fun and an affordable vacation destination, you won't be disappointed!

Top Three Things to Experience in Austin:

1. SXSW: If you plan you visit to Austin during the spring, you’ll catch the annual SXSW festival. This includes music, entertainment, and technology events. Past musical acts included Lady Gaga and Kelis. Sometimes movies are screened here, like Furious 7 and Train wreck. Every year has something for everyone. Tickets go on sale in the fall the year before so plan early!

2. Barton Springs: In the middle of the Austin's Zilker Park are the natural water springs. There is a pool three acres in size that draws people from all over the city on hot days. There are also beautiful trials to hike if you enjoy nature and many people mountain bike these trails, perfect for a vacation workout!

3. University of Texas Football: There’s nothing quite like a college football game in the South. Even if you aren’t a fan, you’re sure to love the experience of gathering with over 100 thousand people to cheer on the famous football team. Go Longhorns!

What to Eat: If you like easy going food options on a warm summer night you’ll love Austin – there are tons of places to eat. Like most of Texas, locals take a lot of pride in how they prepare their meats, and with so many different barbecue restaurants you could enjoy a different flavor every night. Don’t think there isn’t a mix of culture however, Austin is a magnet for people all over the world and fusion restaurants are popping up all over.

"There were so many things to love about Austin, but my favorite was the food trucks! From Tex Mex to barbecue, it was some of the tastiest food I'd had in a while. I'm sure our au pairs will love it" - Jasmine

When to Visit:

Year round you're likely to find nice weather. The winters are milder than some other parts of the country, snowfall is uncommon in Austin although there will occasionally be ice storms. From April all the way to October you'll generally experience nice warm weather potential high temperatures of 80 degrees and up!

Nearest Cities:

If you want to spend a few days in Texas, there are a few cities in driving distance; San Antonio is about 1.5 hours away, Houston is 3 hours West and Dallas is about 3 hours North.