Make the most of your time in Austin, Texas with this simple travel guide based on our adventures.

Our first trip to Austin, Texas was to meet up with family for the Chive Charity Gala but we knew this would be a city on our must-see list. Since then we have been back for even more Austin adventures.

We love food and we are both hipsters at heart so Austin is a perfect getaway. Every time we go there is something new to explore and more vegan food to try.

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Where to Stay

Hyatt Regency

Not only does Hyatt Regency have the best location for downtown Austin but it also offers great views. We woke up every morning to the Austin skyline and view of the Colorado River.

The rooms are very modern and we were surprised with yummy baked goods upon our arrival. Kelsey's favorite part was the elevator since it had glass walls letting you enjoy the hotel's open concept.

If you are going to book a room there, make sure you upgrade yourself to the corner room with a river view. The view is spectacular and there is so much space that you can stretch out and relax.

The Fitness center is also state of the art and has a great view of the river as well so if it's too hot to go outside you can still stay in shape. They also have a pool on-site, a great location to hear live music and enjoy all the great food and they are even pet-friendly.

Trust us, there are a ton of great places to stay in Austin but the Hyatt Regency is the one to choose. Since the hotel has such a great location we were able to walk to all of our food/sightseeing destinations.

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Where to Eat

Torchy's Tacos

If you are looking for a good taco then look no further than Torchy's. The tacos are small so you typically order 2-3 which we love since it adds to the variety.

Depending on the taco it may be a flour or corn tortilla and the sauces that come with each one are amazing. Be prepared to dig in and get a little messy. Most of the options have meat but there are some vegetarian tacos as well.

Food Trucks

You can't go to Austin without eating at one of their food trucks. Luckily they are easy to find all over the city. There are sections reserved just for several food trucks to come together so you can try many at once. There are also outdoor sitting spaces so you don't have to take your meal to-go.

Conscious Cravings

For health nut vegans, this place was by far the best. Everything is plant-based and made with natural ingredients.

They also have a ton of options. Their main food item is their wraps.

They have more than just tofu, including seitan and other meat substitutes. They also have salads, smoothies, and yummy teas.

We have gone several times and have never been disappointed. Some of our favorite menu items are the BBQ seitan wrap with quinoa/rice blend, Cajun tofu wrap, Blackened tofu wrap or the Chimichurri seitan wrap.

Gourdough's Donuts

Okay, so this one is far from vegan but it's still vegetarian. If you want an amazing donut with lots of toppings, then this place is for you. It's unique and tastes pretty darn good. It's super unhealthy so maybe limit yourself to one.

They have tons of different flavors with everything from bacon and maple topping to jalapeños on top. You really can't go wrong with that kind of variety!

Counter Culture

There is all vegan everything at this super cute sit-down restaurant. The patio allows dogs and has some options for your fur babies as well.

They do a great job of taking staples and somehow making it vegan. They have a brunch and dinner menu, all of which are packed full. They also have a whole menu devoted to just teas.

We even went with non-vegan friends who thought the food was exceptional. We ended up ordering several items so we could all share. Here is what we got there and keep in mind ALL of this was vegan.

• Nachos
• Open-faced turkey dinner w/ mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce
• Pizza
• Philly cheesesteak
• Mac and cheese
• Key lime pie
• Mint chocolate chip ice cream
• Mocha cream pie-ice cream sundae

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What to Do

Hope Outdoor Gallery

This is more commonly known as Austin's graffiti park or wall. It's located on 11th and Baylor and is a lot of awesome artwork made with graffiti. As far as we know anyone can go and add to it.

The idea is to spread messages of love, inspiration, and education. It's beautiful, colorful and a must-see.

Wall Murals

The art scene in Austin is incredible. Located throughout town are several famous murals in addition to random paintings.

All of these murals are Instagram worthy and a perfect way to explore the city. To find these all you have to do is google the name of the mural and you can simply talk a nice walk to the location.

Greetings From Austin

Looking like a giant postcard the "greeting from Austin" mural is always a favorite. You can take a selfie or just snap a picture of the mural to show your friends and family where you are.

Before I Die

With chalk nearby the "before I Die" mural allows visitors to write down a bucket list item. It can be anything you want and trying to find space is part of the fun. It's also nice to look at what others hope to accomplish in their lifetime.

Our "before I die" goal is to live abroad. Even a few months in London would be so cool.

Farmer's Market

You can never go wrong checking out a city's farmer's market. Austin is way above the rest with the variety they offer.

They have a clear focus on all-natural and organic as much as possible. They also had more vegan choices then we typically find. There are a few offered in the city but we went to the one downtown and it was perfect.

Butler Park

We're sure most Austin parks are great but Butler Park is by far our favorite. They have a great paved trail which made for an awesome daily running spot.

It's centrally located so no matter where you stay, it's pretty easy to get to. They have a special dog park located inside where you can take your dogs off their leash and run free.

Congress Avenue Bat Bridge

So basically every night around dusk/dark a million bats emerge from under the Congress Avenue bridge to start their day. It is INSANE to watch. You can't figure out how so many bats can live under/in the bridge all at once.

You can either watch from the grassy areas below the bridge or on the bridge itself. We watched from the ground which was awesome but we have heard the view from the bridge is better.

Chive Charity Gala

Out of all of the things we did in Austin this was the only "non-free" event but it was worth every penny. The Chive charity tries to help those who may have otherwise been missed. The gala is a great way to fund money and honor those who it benefits.

It was one of the most fun nights we have ever had. There were great food and drinks plus lots of fun booths to try such as picture booths and character drawings. Plus there was green-lighting everywhere which is as cool as it sounds.

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We hope our travel guide for Austin, Texas will inspire you and help you plan your next trip. This place is known for its amazing food and a catchy hipster vibe. Happy Adventuring!