Local news and fun, every day 6am.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed

It's been a long year, Austin. With 37% of the U.S. fully vaccinated and counting, it's time to start looking for the best places to enjoy that summer sun.
Wallethub makes your next vacation easier with a list of the best summer destinations in the U.S., but you might not even need to leave Austin to get your "Vaxxed Girl Summer" on.
Based on 42 key metrics, here are the five best summer travel destinations in the U.S. and where Austin ranked on that list.
1. Orlando, Florida
Disney World and its many amusement parks provide plenty of entertainment in Orlando. (Walt Disney World/Facebook)
With Disney World, an abundance of lakes and proximity to other Florida destinations, Orlando was ranked the No. 1 metro to travel to this summer. Orlando offered the most local attractions, the second-most attractions, and had the third-lowest local costs on the list.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Waikiki Beach is just one of many destinations in Honolulu.
Honolulu seems obvious; lush beaches are a must after spending a year mostly indoors and away from people. The city boasts the second-most attractions on the list and was ranked the safest city to travel to. Families, couples or friends looking for a good time can all enjoy a back-to-nature experience at the U.S.'s most tropical state capitol this summer.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The French Quarter gives European flair to the Cajun-infused city of New Orleans.
With its French and Spanish influence, visiting New Orleans can seem like getting a taste of Europe. Cajun food, Bourbon Street and the city's storied past offer plenty of destinations for the summer, and the city was also ranked the second-most safe in the survey.
Austin, Texas
For those that can't exactly travel, you can always have a "staycation" in Austin, whether that means booking an Airbnb, staying at a trendy hotel or planning a day of activities like you're new in town.
Austin, with its Hill Country outdoor attractions and "Live Music Capital of the World" reputation, came in at fourth on the list. It was the only Texas city in the top 10.
Favorites of the city include taking a dip in Barton Springs, paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, strolling through South Congress and enjoying a night out on Rainey Street. There's always the option of a short drive to visit nearby wineries and quaint Hill Country towns like Fredericksburg or Dripping Springs.
5. Atlanta, Georgia
(Georgia Aquarium/Facebook)
The city with both Southern charm and cosmopolitan appeal has plenty of attractions, from its signature "chicken biscuit" to the world's largest indoor aquarium. With a rich history steeped in Black culture and the 20th-largest economy in the world, the metro is packed with destinations, including botanical gardens, a zoo and plenty of major league sports teams. The city, sometimes called the "Capital of Hip-Hop" and a hotbed for other music genres, has a lively nightlife scene and is dotted with great eats.
- Austin culture makes it a top city for 'digital nomads' - austonia ›
- Food exclusive and special to Austin, Texas - austonia ›
- Austin-based female influencers to follow on Instagram - austonia ›
- Where to order Takeout comfort food in Austin - austonia ›
- A trip worth the drive—11 unique places to visit in central Texas ... ›
- Austin airport traffic is still way down from last year - austonia ›
- Austin's Vrbo shares 3 post-pandemic travel trends for 2021 - austonia ›
- BBQ season: A guide to Austin's best brisket, ribs and good ol' sides ›
- How to Austin: a field guide to a weird city - austonia ›
- Texas ranks second best for road trips this summer - austonia ›
- 5 places you can step into a portal to old Austin life - austonia ›
- The Austonia guide to floating the river in Central Texas - austonia ›
- Austin named best city in Texas on U.S. News Best Places to Live list - austonia ›
- The No. 1 most hospitable Airbnb in Texas is a chicken coop tiny cottage in Austin - austonia ›
- 100 degree heat sweeping Austin all week long July 2021 - austonia ›
- Hottest day of the year expected Monday followed by first fall cold front - austonia ›
- JSX, private jet, kicks off first hop-on flights from Austin - austonia ›
- Families from around the world reunite in Austin after 18-month travel ban - austonia ›
- American Airlines plans for 15,000-square-foot lounge at ABIA - austonia ›
- Casino 'destination resorts' could come to 4 major Texas cities if ... ›
- American Airlines adds 7 new daily destinations from Austin's airport ... ›
- American Adding 10 Destinations at Austin-Bergstrom ›
- Seven Amazing Destinations a Nonstop Flight Away from Austin ... ›
- A local's guide to Austin, Texas - The Washington Post ›
Popular
(Laura Figi/Austonia)
The original Z’Tejas location on West 6th Street is closing its doors after more than 30 years on the lot to make way for new development.
Z'Tejas owner Randy Cohen told Austonia the restaurant will be open at least through the end of 2022, possibly through March 2023.
Cohen said the owners—Larry McGuire of McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality—of the land have something new planned, though he’s not exactly sure what. Additionally, Cohen said maintenance costs for the old building were becoming prohibitively expensive.
“I think the people who own the dirt will tear it all down and build condos or some other development,” Cohen said. “I mean, it's a 60-year-old building, Z'Tejas has been here for 33 years and before that, it was something else. So it's just progress, that's all."
The restaurant isn’t going away though—Cohen said Z’Tejas is already looking for a new spot in the downtown area to move into. Z’Tejas also has a location in Avery Ranch, another in the works for Kyle and two in Arizona.
“We have all our ducks in a row right now and the management team is all rowing in the right direction,” Cohen said. “We're just excited, we're excited to build this iconic brand back.”
(Laura Figi/Austonia)
Once he finds a new place, Cohen plans to bring along its mural, “The Last Zupper,” which features Willie Nelson, Matthew McConaughey and Barbara Jordan. Cohen also plans for the adjoining ghost kitchen, Woo Woo Burgers, to follow to the new downtown location.
“We're still booking events through the end of December,” Cohen said. “Come ‘Z' me at Z’Tejas, we'd love to see you before we’re gone.”
- Complete guide to Austin FC's Q2 Stadium food options 2022 ... ›
- Austin food under $10, cheap eats that are delicious - austonia ›
- Sustainability office spearheading regional food plan - austonia ›
- Brazilian food places to try in Austin - austonia ›
- From Mexico City, machetes have made a spark in the Austin food ... ›
(Google Street View)
Two towers could be coming just south of the Austin American-Statesman’s former headquarters in the South Central Waterfront district.
According to city filings, the proposed planned unit development agreement is set for 200 East Riverside Drive, an area Project Connect’s Blue Line is slated to pass by someday.
Carrying this out involves removing the existing building, which is a state office complex and surface parking.
The new towers in place would reach just over 400 feet at their maximum and include office space and space for retail on the ground level. The mix of office and retail is a trend that’s been cropping up in downtown sites like the Perennial and the Meta tower.
The proposal on a plot of about four acres aims to incorporate green infrastructure and create a lively environment for pedestrians. It’d also be adjacent to the 118-acres of the South Central Waterfront Initiative, which is aimed at enhancing connections to and along the waterfront over the next couple of decades.
The filing lists architects STG Design, a group involved with work on the sailboat-like Google tower.
- More people looking to live downtown as towers fill with workers ... ›
- Meta, TikTok and Google offices are just the beginning of tech's ... ›
- By Lady Bird, an Austin tower of the 80s gets polished up - austonia ›
- Where to find Austin's moon towers, and why we love them - austonia ›
- The towers that will shape Austin's skyline in the 2020s - austonia ›
- 5 towers and development coming to Austin in 2022 - austonia ›
- A new office tower is coming to North Austin's Domain area - austonia ›
- Towers - austonia ›