Discover Austin

Discover Austin is a series about the culture of Central Texas. It covers a broad array of different places, restaurants, people, and more. All of the episodes are below, but you can also look at just the Discover Austin Eats episodes and Discover Austin Road Trip episodes.

Discover Austin - All Episodes

Discover Austin: Hollywood Productions (Episode 104)

The Austin area has been in quite a few films and shows over the years. Whether it’s just one scene or a whole movie that was filmed here, it’s always fun to check out the production locations.

Discover Austin: Waterloo Park (Episode 103)

Downtown Austin's largest greenspace is Waterloo Park. Recently reopened after a decade long project to help mitigate flood issues, Waterloo Park has a lot to offer.

Discover Austin: InterStellar BBQ (Episode 102)

Michael Zook and I visit InterStellar BBQ, a spot we've wanted to cover for years because it's our favorite barbecue in town.

Discover Austin: Lake Travis Zipline (Episode 101)

Spend a thrilling afternoon visiting Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.

Discover Austin: Hippie Hollow (Episode 100)

I think there's only one Austin destination suitable to fill the 100th episode spot, so join me as I bare it all at Hippie Hollow!

Discover Austin: Deep Eddy Pool (Episode 99)

Deep Eddy Pool is rooted in both Austin and Texas history. Find out how as I cool off at Deep Eddy Pool.

Discover Austin: Tony C's Pizza & Beer Garden (Episode 98)

Michael Zook and I enjoy pizza, beer, mozzarella sticks, & more at Tony C's Pizza & Beer Garden. If you think there's a better mozzarella stick in town, please let me know because I'd love to try it.

Discover Austin: Pecan Street Festival (Episode 97)

Twice a year, artists, crafters, and creators take over the Sixth Street Historic District to showcase their work at one of the largest art and music festivals in the country.

Discover Austin: Lonestar Round Up (Episode 96)

I'm all revved up because I'm headed to Lonestar Round Up! Join me as I (and thousands of other car lovers) admire hot rods and custom cars from across the country.

Discover Austin: Chi'Lantro (Episode 95)

Chi'Lantro's Korean BBQ inspired menu is delicious and I can't recommend the Kimchi Fries enough! They have several locations across Austin and more on the way. Head to the nearest Chi'Lantro today, you won't be sorry!

Discover Austin: Museum of the Weird (Episode 94)

I'm not sure there could be a more appropriately named place in Austin. I'm visiting the strange and unusual at the Museum of the Weird!

Discover Austin: South Congress (Episode 93)

South Congress draws tourists and locals alike to it's unique variety of shops and restaurants. I'm diving into all SoCo has to offer.

Discover Austin: Kalahari Resorts (Episode 92)

Kalahari Resorts is well-known for their indoor waterpark, but there is so much more to do at this Round Rock destination.

Discover Austin: Banger's (Episode 91)

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden offers a great patio atmosphere with live music and a delicious menu. Michael Zook and I visited to try it all!

Discover Austin: Roadside Stops (Episode 90)

When I visited Washington-on-the-Brazos, I pulled over for a variety of roadside stops along the way. Join me as I visit Newman's Castle, Berdoll Pecan Farm, and, of course, a quick stop for ice cream at the Blue Bell Creamery.

Discover Austin: The Oasis (Episode 89)

The Oasis, on Lake Travis, is known as the Sunset Capital of Texas and offers a stunning view of Lake Travis.

Discover Austin: Massive Portions (Episode 88)

Everything's bigger in Texas, right? That certainly rings true Juan in a Million, Banger's, and Casino El Camino.

Discover Austin: Food Trucks 4 (Episode 87)

Michael Zook and I stopped by LeRoy Lewis Barbecue and Pueblo Viejo, located at Cosmic Coffee & Beer.

Discover Austin: Washington-on-the-Brazos (Episode 86)

We're heading to Washington-on-the-Brazos, the location where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed.

Discover Austin: Famous Texans (Episode 85)

If you're new to Texas, you should know that Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin are two of the most prominent individuals in Texas history.

Discover Austin: The El Arroyo Sign (Episode 84)

El Arroyo, in downtown Austin, is a great Tex Mex restaurant and home to a famously funny marquee sign.

Discover Austin: Food Trucks 3 (Episode 83)

Radio Coffee & Beer is the latest stop for Michael and me. It's home to Veracruz All Natural and Dee Dee, both great options for food to have alongside your coffee or beer.

Discover Austin: Zilker Park (Episode 82)

Zilker Park plays host to many Austin events each year, but even when it isn't packed with people rockin' out at ACL or flying kites at the longest running kite festival in the U.S., Zilker Park is a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.

Discover Austin: ATX Quick Burgers (Episode 81)

It's burger taste test time! Michael Zook and I have gathered five, locally owned, quick burgers for a taste comparison. In the line-up is P. Terry's, Top Notch Hamburgers, Dan's Hamburgers, Might Fine Burgers, and Hat Creek Burger Company.

Discover Austin: Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (Episode 80)

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is not only a giraffe and rhino conservation facility, it offers visitors the opportunity to get up-close to animals from around the world. Join me as I feed native, exotic, & endangered animals right from my car as I drive-thru the safari.

Discover Austin: UMLAUF Sculpture Garden (Episode 79)

Charles Umlauf is a renowned sculptor who taught at the University of Texas for 40 years and you can now visit many of his sculptures at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum.

Discover Austin: Food Trucks, Part 2 (Episode 78)

Michael and I are hitting three more food trucks; Bombay Dhaba, Austin Dosa, and Churro Co.

Discover Austin: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Episode 77)

Lady Bird Johnson was an advocate for the beautification of our nation and highways, so it should come as no surprise that the botanical garden of Texas bears her name.

Discover Austin: Food Trucks (Episode 76)

Food trucks are abundant throughout Austin so Michael Zook and I thought we'd create a three course meal by visiting multiple food trucks. We visited Mighty Cone, Luke's Inside Out, and Manolis are all worth a visit!

Discover Austin: Kollet Originals (Episode 75)

She’s cool, her artwork is cool, she’s someone you should know, she's local artist Kollet Hardeman.

Discover Austin: JewBoy Burger Update (Episode 74)

Back in episode 30, Michael Zook and I visited JewBoy Burgers at their food truck. They're now in a permanent location at 5111 Airport Boulevard which allowed them to expand their menu and it gave us an excuse to go eat burgers again!

Discover Austin: Asia Market Eatery (Episode 73)

Michael Zook took me to Asia Market, where I thought we were visiting the supermarket, but in fact they've got a wonderful restaurant tucked in the back.

Discover Austin: Volente Beach (Episode 72)

Located along the shores of Lake Travis, Volente Beach Resort and Waterpark is a great destination when the weather is hot! You should definitely take some time to visit this summer!

Discover Austin: The River Walk (Episode 71)

We're heading south to San Antonio's famous River Walk.

Discover Austin: Big Top Candy Shop (Episode 70)

I felt like a kid in a candy shop for this episode of Discover Austin, because, well, I'm at Big Top Candy Shop! Located on South Congress, Big Top Candy Shop offers classic candy, ice cream, a soda fountain, and so much more.

Discover Austin: Waterloo (Episode 69)

You've likely seen Waterloo associated with establishments all across Austin although you might not know why. I'm here to make that connection.

Discover Austin: The Driskill (Episode 68)

The Driskill Hotel has a long-standing roll in Austin.

Discover Austin: Home Slice Pizza (Episode 67)

Home Slice Pizza’s north location doesn’t just have great pizza. Michael Zook wanted me to try their wings and their Italian sub too. Don’t worry, we had pizza too.

Discover Austin: The Alamo - Extended Version

This road trip episode is different than most. Usually I narrate as the video shows our subject. When I went to the Alamo, the director of Education, Sherri Driscoll, was a gracious host and has a huge depth of knowledge. After she shared the history of the Alamo, I decided to scrap the original script I had and just have the Alamo history be the narration for this episode. As it turns out, though, Sherri shared a lot of history with me so we created an extended length version for you

Discover Austin: The Alamo (Episode 66)

Usually I narrate as the video shows our subject, but when I went to the Alamo, the Director of Education, Sherri Driscoll, was a gracious host and has a huge depth of knowledge. After she shared the history of the Alamo, I decided to scrap the original script I had and just have the Alamo history be the narration for this episode.

Discover Austin: The Treaty Oak (Episode 65)

The majestic Treaty Oak is beautiful and historic.

Discover Austin: Dinosaur Park (Episode 64)

If you're a fan of dinosaurs then you must visit the Dinosaur Park in Cedar Creek, Texas. Just head southeast of the airport on Highway 71 (approximately 570 Diplodocuses past the airport) you'll find it, home to more than 30 life-size dinosaurs.

Discover Austin: BBQ Fest (Episode 63)

A festival dedicated to barbecue? Yes, please!

Discover Austin: Gristmill River Restaurant (Episode 62)

Michael Zook and I took a road trip to the historic district of Gruene, Texas to have lunch at the Gristmill River Restaurant.

Discover Austin: Homecoming Mums (Episode 61)

If you aren't from Texas, it's likely you've never heard of a Homecoming Mum, but you should know about this big Texas tradition.

Discover Austin: Uncommon Objects (Episode 60)

For our latest episode of Discover Austin, I went to Uncommon Objects to browse their collection of unique items. Whether you're looking for something antique or perhaps a taxidermy critter, Uncommon Objects is a good place to begin your search.

Discover Austin: Amy's Ice Creams (Episode 59)

Amy's Ice Creams is a homegrown Austin success story so I was very excited to visit them for this episode - and of course, to eat some ice cream.

Discover Austin: Odd Duck (Episode 58)

This week, we welcome back Michael Zook to have one of his favorite burgers in Austin. We're headed to Odd Duck for this episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: Public Art (Episode 57)

All over the city of Austin you'll find public art. Some is obvious while others are "hidden in plain sight." I invite you to head out and discover your favorite pieces.

Discover Austin: Gruene Historic District (Episode 56)

Just an hour south of Austin, along the Guadelupe River, sits a cluster of buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. We're in the historic district of Gruene for this road trip episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: Hamilton Pool (Episode 55)

If you’ve never been to Hamilton Pool, you are missing out on one of Central Texas’ most beautiful sites. It’s a great place to spend a few hours and get away from your normal routine.

Discover Austin: Snow's BBQ (Episode 54)

Michael Zook returns to enjoy Snow's BBQ for this episode of Discover Austin. Traveling just an hour east of Austin gets you the 2017 winner of the Best BBQ in Texas according to the Texas Monthly.

Discover Austin: Circuit of the Americas (Episode 53)

Let's race out to the Circuit of the Americas for this episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: Governor's Mansion (Episode 52)

I recently toured the Texas Governor's mansion, just a few steps from the Capitol, for this episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: Red Bud Isle Park (Episode 51)

Red Bud Isle Park is not specifically a dog park but a designated off-leash area. Keep in mind, you don't have to bring a dog to enjoy the park or to watch the dogs swim and play.

Discover Austin: Blues on the Green (Episode 50)

Blues on the Green has been bringing blues (and other genres of music) to Austin since 1990. It’s laid back, family friendly, and the city's largest free concert series!

Discover Austin: Quality Seafood (Episode 49)

Quality Seafood has been an Austin staple since 1938. Their goal has always been to supply Central Texans with the freshest seafood possible and, still today, they're doing exactly that.

Discover Austin: R.O.T. Rally (Episode 48)

This episode of Discover Austin is all about the Republic of Texas Rally, the largest biker event in Texas. Whether you ride a motorcycle or not, ROT Rally is an event to be experienced.

Discover Austin: Zilker Botanical Garden (Episode 47)

This tranquil installment of Discover Austin takes us to the Zilker Botanical Garden with several themed gardens and include both native and exotic plants.

Discover Austin: The Domain (Episode 46)

For this episode of Discover Austin, I visited the Domain in north Austin, a mixed-use development comprised of shops, restaurants, residential living, and office space. It sits on land once owned by IBM and its name stems from what was originally planned for that land.

Discover Austin: Din Ho Chinese BBQ (Episode 45)

While Chinese food and barbecue don't seem like they should be paired together, Din Ho Chinese BBQ is here to prove that they should! Local food blogger, Michael Zook and I went to enjoy their specialty dishes for this episode of Discover Austin Eats.

Discover Austin: Esther's Follies (Episode 44)

Whether you're in town for the weekend, or you've been here for years, spend an evening at the theater with Esther's Follies, a fast-paced variety show that's been a staple on 6th Street since 1977.

Discover Austin: Keep Austin Weird (Episode 43)

"Keep Austin Weird" has been around for some time now, but where did it originate? This Discover Austin episode explores who first uttered the iconic phrase and what it went on to represent for our city.

Discover Austin: The Round Rock (Episode 42)

I'm in the suburb of Round Rock, located to the north of Austin. The origin of the city's name is very literal, find out exactly where it comes from in this episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: The Bats (Episode 41)

The Congress Avenue bridge is home to the largest colony of Mexican Free-Tailed bats in North America. Join the spectators lining the bridge to observe the bats emerge as they begin their search for insects on this episode of Discover Austin.

Discover Austin: Kite Fest (Episode 40)

For this episode of Discover Austin, we hit Zilker Park to attend the country's longest running kite festival. Grab the kids (as well as the dog!) and head to Zilker next March to see kites of all shapes and sizes fill the sky over Zilker for the annual ABC Kite Fest.

Discover Austin: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (Episode 39)

Austin food blogger, Michael Zook knows the best spots to eat even when we're 700 miles from Austin! When we found ourselves in Kansas City a few weeks ago, we took the opportunity to get barbecue at Joe's Kansas City and film a special road trip edition of Discover Austin Eats.

Discover Austin: Blue Bell (Episode 38)

For this road trip episode, Discover Austin headed east to Brenham, Texas. Here I visited the Blue Bell Creameries with Johanna Fatheree, a native of Brenham and Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Advantage.

Discover Austin: Mayfield Park (Episode 37)

Mayfield Park and Preserve is home to a group of peafowl. Mating season begins in February, meaning the males have grown their full plumage. Head out to see the peacocks strut their stuff in the spring or head out in July to collect the feathers they drop at the end of mating season.

Discover Austin: The HEB Center (Episode 36)

The HEB Center calls Cedar Park home and hosts Texas Stars games, the Austin Spurs, and many other concerts and shows.

Discover Austin: Holy Roller (Episode 35)

*Unfortunately, the Holy Roller is now closed.* Holy Roller is one of my favorite spots for brunch.

Discover Austin: The Drag (Episode 34)

The Drag is a beloved stretch of Gaudalupe Street, across from the University of Texas campus, that has served the students for decades.

Discover Austin: Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch (Episode 33)

At the Lyndon B. Johnson National Park, you can visit landmarks from President Johnson's entire life.

Discover Austin: Talk Like A Texan (Episode 32)

We aren't visiting an attraction or event, instead I'm going to teach you how to Talk Like a Texan.

Discover Austin: Quick Visits (Episode 31)

Our city if full of hidden gems that you can easily visit in an afternoon. Here, we'll stop at three of those places; Sparky Park, the Larry Monroe Memorial Bridge, and Fairy Alley.

Discover Austin: JewBoy Burgers (Episode 30)

Mo, at JewBoy Burgers, makes up some wonderful burgers and provides a great experience.

Discover Austin: Wurstfest (Episode 29)

Do you like sausage? Or beer? Well, then Wurstfest is for you! This German heritage festival is a must-see event in New Braunfels.

Discover Austin: Trail of Lights (Episode 28)

For a couple weeks each December, Zilker Park is transformed into a spectacular light display for the Trail of Lights.

Discover Austin: Decorating the Cedar Trees (Episode 27)

This festive installment is all about decorating the cedar trees along Loop 360.

Discover Austin: Via 313 (Episode 26)

Via 313 serves up Detroit-style pizza and I can't tell you enough how delicious it is!

Discover Austin: Hill Country Wineries (Episode 25)

In case you don't know, Texas ranks number two in wine tourism, behind only Napa Valley.

Discover Austin: Mount Bonnell (Episode 24)

Visit Mount Bonnell in Covert Park, above Lake Austin for panoramic views of the city and beautiful hill country.

Discover Austin: Friday Night Lights (Episode 23)

High school football isn't exclusive to Austin or even central Texas, but you should certainly know about our favorite past time, Friday Night Lights.

Discover Austin: Chicken Fried Steak (Episode 22)

A Texas staple is Chicken Fried Steak and Mouton's Bistro in Cedar Park offers up one of the best options in the area.

Discover Austin: ACL Festival (Episode 21)

Austin City Limits Music Festival is six days, over two weekends, with more than 400,000 of your "closest friends," and all the live music you can imagine.

Discover Austin: The Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue (Episode 20)

You can find the stature of music legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan, on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake.

Discover Austin: Road Trip to Enchanted Rock (Episode 19)

Located west of Austin, Enchanted Rock State Park offers a multitude of outdoor activities for visitors of all ages.

Discover Austin: Breakfast Tacos (Episode 18)

I'm teaming up with local food blogger, Michael Zook, to enjoy and discuss breakfast tacos.

Discover Austin: The Broken Spoke (Episode 17)

I'm two-steppin' around the dance floor at the iconic Broken Spoke.

Discover Austin: Cathedral of Junk (Episode 16)

The Cathedral of Junk is a creation like nothing you've ever seen, a three-story sculpture made with thousands of pieces of recycled materials.

Discover Austin: Dell Diamond (Episode 15)

Play ball! Dell Diamond is home to the Round Rock Express and is a great place to spend a summer evening with your family and friends.

Discover Austin: Road Trip to Fredericksburg (Episode 14)

Time to take a road trip! We're visiting Fredericksburg, Texas, just about an hour west of Austin.

Discover Austin: Peter Pan Mini-Golf (Episode 13)

Peter Pan Mini Golf can be found if you fly to "the second star on the right and straight on 'til morning"...just kidding, it's near the intersection of Barton Springs and Lamar.

Discover Austin: Moonlight Towers (Episode 12)

Moonlight Towers were the city's first form of nighttime illumination and you can visit any of the 15 remaining still today.

Discover Austin: Road Peculiarities (Episode 11)

Newcomers to Central Texas can get confused by the unusual, and sometimes many, names for our roadways.

Discover Austin: Nau's Enfield Drug (Episode 10)

Nau's Enfield Drug has served Austin for decades as both a corner store pharmacy and a soda fountain.

Discover Austin: Lady Bird Lake (Episode 9)

Formerly known as Town Lake (and you'll hear locals still call it that) Lady Bird Lake is named after former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson despite her disapproval of such during her lifetime.

Discover Austin: Bluebonnets (Episode 8)

The Texas state flower is the bluebonnet and each spring when they bloom us Texans go nuts for them!

Discover Austin: Franklin Barbecue (Episode 7)

You may have to get in line before the sun comes up for an opportunity to eat at Franklin Barbecue, but don't worry, it's totally worth it!

Discover Austin: Inner Space Cavern (Episode 6)

Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown was discovered when surveyors were studied whether the area would support the construction of I-35.

Discover Austin: The Willie Nelson Statue (Episode 5)

Willie Nelson is so beloved in Austin that he has his own statue. Located downtown, stop by anytime to snap a photo with the bronze likeness of the legend.