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ICON Preview: What Not to Miss in Austin From the TrendKite Team

This post is brought to you by Trendkite, a proud Platinum sponsor of the 2018 PRSA International Conference in Austin, Texas.

The toughest part of traveling to another city for a conference is finding the time to research where you should eat and what sites you should see between panels, keynotes and networking sessions.

When it comes to traveling to Austin, Texas for the PRSA 2018 International Conference on Oct. 7-9, we put together a quick guide for you, built on the advice of the TrendKite team who call the capital of the ‘Lone Star State’ their home.

Whether you come early, stay late or just make time for a few activities between panels, here are some of the TrendKite team’s favorite things to do around town:


Tamara, Chief of Staff:

“My favorite thing to do in Austin is hang out with my dog Rocco hiking on the Greenbelt or any of the trails around town. While you probably didn’t bring your dog, you can still check out some of the amazing trails around town for a walk, run or hike. It’s still warm enough for a hike around the scenic Greenbelt, though you might want to stay out of the water.”

Lisa, In-House Counsel:

“I love going to Barton Springs to cool off on a hot day. Pack your bathing suit so you don’t miss out! It’s still warm enough in October to take a dip.”

Lily, Sales Development Manager:

“Looking for a way to cool off that doesn’t involve water? Check out the New Central Library downtown; air conditioning is just one of the things it offers.”

Hayes, Vice President of Social:

“Summon a Lyft and head north of downtown to the Draught House for their amazing selection of draft beers. Check their website to see which food truck will be parked in the parking lot to make a night of it.”

Jenn, Head of Social Customer Experience:

“Get a taste of the University of Texas student experience by hitting up one of the Trudy’s locations around town for Mexican Martinis. Go on Tuesday for Top-Shelf Tuesdays and get a little more bang for your buck. Or if you want to experience the best Austin has to offer in cheese, try a queso crawl by sampling the goods at Torchy’s, Kerbey Lane, Texas Chili Parlor and Matt’s El Rancho.”

Erik, CEO:

Lady Bird Lake — formerly known as Town Lake — has an amazing ten-mile loop trail perfect for a run or a long walk. You can also rent a bike to ride if that’s more your speed. Don’t think you have to commit to ten miles either; there are plenty of access points to hop on and off the trail and a free app you can download (ATX Trail) to find your way around.”

Patrick, Director of Product Management:

“Grab some BBQ at Stiles Switch BBQ; it’s almost as good as Franklin’s but without the wait. Other options for getting your BBQ fix while in town include Rudy’s, Terry Blacks, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, or Lamberts if you’re feeling fancy. If you’re feeling up to a just-out-of-town excursion, head to the Salt Lick.

Chas, Sales Senior Account Executive:

“I’d recommend riding a bike around to explore downtown, checking out Zilker Park, seeing the bats on Congress Avenue Bridge, trying all of the BBQ spots you’ve got time for, or going to a show at Austin City Limits Live. The annual Austin City Limits Festival is happening the first and second weekend of October as well, so you can extend your stay for weekend two or grab a day pass to check out some of the night shows the first weekend if you’re feeling ambitious.”

Michelle, Enterprise Customer Success Manager:

“Austin has great beer selections and the breweries often do cool releases. I love Circle Brewing, Jester King (a drive out of town but worth it!), St. Elmo and Hops & Grain. Other breweries around town include Live Oak, Austin Beerworks, Adelbert’s, Zilker Brewing, Blue Owl, Lazarus, The ABGB, 512, and so many more.”

Simba, Senior Account Executive:

“Don’t miss out on the amazing food spots around town: Torchy’s for tacos and queso, Uchi for happy hour (or dinner if you’re feeling fancy), Veracruz Tacos for more tacos, and Via 313 for the best Detroit style pizza you can imagine in Texas.”


Didn’t see the recommendation for you? You can also check out:

  • Infinitely Instagrammable Graffiti park before it moves from its original location
  • Some of the murals around town (start with “I love you so much” outside of Jo’s Coffee)
  • A movie at the original Alamo Drafthouse on 6th street
  • Get a drink and a dose of Texas History at The Driskill
  • Get more history at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, or see some art at the Blanton Museum on the UT campus

There’s a little something for everyone. We hope you enjoy your time here!

About the author

John Elsasser

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