Full of emotion and overwhelmed with excitement, it was finally time to hit the road. A tent, sleeping bags, suitcases, duffels and a yeti cooler… Fran, the Fiat was loaded down like you wouldn’t believe. I had made the drive to Austin many times before but this marked the beginning of something great. It was Day 1 of my month long road trip!

Fortunately, I was able to start off my epic adventure with friends. I met up with some fellow Armed & Hammered peeps that I’ve known for a short time since The Yacht Week. Naturally, we put on our swimsuits (and ski suits) and headed to the pool.

Saturday night went to a couple of cool bars off of Rainey Street, Bar 96 and Bungalow. Sixth Street is fun but I always appreciate a locals perspective and enjoy checking out fun spots on Rainey Street.

You can check out this knock-off of the real “i love you so much” wall at Bungalow.

Weekend Eats:

We headed over to East Side King at Liberty Bar for some amazing Asian Fusion. So. Freaking. Delicious. This trendy little food truck gives off fun and quirky Austin vibes.

Some of my favorite dishes were the chicken buns, pork buns, kimchi fries and beet home fries. You’d be safe (and happy) ordering one of everything on the menu. Erin flew in from Kansas City and said East Side King was her favorite part of the trip. Take our advice, this food truck is a must-try next time you’re in Austin!

Our night was full of good times… and we were still feeling it on Sunday morning. We headed to Torchy’s to grab some hangover-curing tacos. Many of you know about Torchy’s but I figured I’d shed some light on their incredibly awesome secret menu.

My order typically includes The Hipster

Panko fried tuna, bacon and cheese = Amazing

Looking for a great burger? Head over to Hopdoddy Burger Bar!

I had the Buffalo Bill Burger with Bison, Apple-Smoked Bacon, Blue Jack Cheese, Frank’s Hot Sauce, Sassy Sauce, Red Leaf Lettuce, White Onion and Beefsteak Tomato. Mouth-watering good. They’re milkshakes looked tasty, too!

My weekend in Austin was the perfect start to my solo trip!

Stay tuned for my next post on my awesome time in Marfa, TX