Props to Chad (my husband) for planning an amazing trip to Austin for my 40th. It was a sweet grand gesture that lead to an Austin experience we’ll never forget – not because of Covid – but because we were in the heart of Winter Storm Uri.
WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed in this amazing Airbnb. I have to shout out to the owner, Lisa. She was amazing and when we lost power and heat due to the rolling outages (and all the hotels were booked) she offered to let us stay in her home or to let us stay at her rental property for the additional 4 days we were stuck in ATX. When we had no food or vehicle – she also made sure we were able to get to a grocery store when our rental car was stuck in ice and we couldn’t leave.
Her place was amazing and immaculate. It was elegant, charming and rustic. Perfect location to downtown, within 10 of Zilker Park, food truck parks, and the Barton Springs Pool that we never got to experience… 🙁
The last night, we sadly had to leave her place as her next guest was arriving and Austin began to thaw and very slowly open up again. We were able to get a room at the Fairmont in Austin.
WHERE WE ATE
Between Covid Restrictions and then Winter Storm Uri, we were in survival mode much of the trip almost without food at the heart of the storm. Measures we took:
- Walked to a convenience store a half mile away to score chips, pizza, large cans of Coors beer (ew) and frozen bean burritos to lunch/dinner.
- Tried to order UberEats, Postmates, DoorDash, GrubHub, Instacart, and literally any other local place that would deliver – and there was literally NOTHING and no drivers available in the area.
- Got a ride from our (lifesaver) Airbnb host Lisa to the only open grocery store 25 min. away where we spent 5+ hours in line and grabbing food from empty shelves. It was worse than when we entered the pandemic. Worse, our boys were back at our place with no heat or electricity in sub-zero temps and another storm was about to hit and it was getting dark before we left. (I never prayed with such high anxiety to get back safely in my life). The worst was if you were to get in an accident, officials warned that emergency vehicles and first responders were likely not able to get to you to help!
So, after spending hours planning reservations before the trip we found out the day we arrived that due to Covid Indoor Capacity Restrictions and cold weather most were cancelled. Then due to the Storm Uri. Then due to the Water Boil Notice. First, here’s the list we actually ate at + coffee before the storm and after.
- Chuys: great food & family atmosphere. ranchero sauce is amazing!
- Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum: (it was around 15° and we had patio seating so we took it home and at in on Chinese New Year) – amazing service and delicious, fresh food.
- El Alma Cafe y Cantina: would have been a great spot for patio dining.
- ATX Cocina: posh trendy downtown spot. Food was amazing.
- Moonshine Grill: brunch was the best – $5 Mimosas & Bloodys!
- Desano Pizza: fave pizza spot – one of few open during the winter storm.
- Red Ash: Italian steak & wine spot. Delicious dinner and highly recommend the clams.
- Taquero Mucho: cute pink taqueria with fun menu items + pink drinks!
- Salty Sow: all things pig & pork. one of our least favorite places.
- Churro Co.: so good you won’t believe it until you try it. fresh, warm with served any way you want – with chocolate, ice cream, toppings, Mexican hot chocolate on the side…
Restaurants we had on our wishlist (next time Austin!)
- Josephine’s
- JoAnn’s Fine Foods
- Radio Coffee and Beer
- Veracruz all natural tacos 🌮 best breakfast tacos + other food trucks
- Aba Restaurant
- Buenos Aires Cafe
- OlaMaie
- La Condesa
- Grizzelda’s
- Elizabeth Street Cafe
- Odd Duck
COFFEE
Hands down my favorite coffee was The Meteor – Expresso x Champagne x Chain Lube. The breakfast burritos were simple but my favorite especially with their in-house made salsas (the verde was the best!). We also liked the coffee at Radio Coffee and Beer in Austin, but most of the time it was closed due to the Winter Storm Uri and Covid. Bummer because everyone raves about the Veracruz taco truck that sits on the property. We also tried Jo’s Coffee when it was open and Bumble was serving free coffee & giving away breakfast burritos as the city began to recover and thaw.
WINTER STORM URI
Winter Storm Uri left it’s mark on our family vacation (during Covid) to Austin (our first time) and my 40th birthday trip. But it wasn’t all bad. While we ended up in sub-zero temps with no heat, electricity, transportation, hot water, and barely any food for over 48 hours – we also left with a trip our family will bond over for years to come. This is the trip where:
- We read books out loud to each other for entertainment. My kids asked me to read my book (American Dirt) to them at night.
- We had a screen detox for days.
- Our kids learned how to survive in a crisis. And no one flipped out (except maybe me a little 😉 but I get a break since I was also parting ways with another decade of my life, right?!)
- For the first time (and hopefully the last) Chad asked us all if we needed him to wash our underwear in a pot on the stove by hand.
- My oldest son learned how to light a match and start a stove.
- We had to ration food across the family.
- Slept in the same bed together for warmth.
- Taught the kids how to use candles for light.
- Researched how to heat a home with no electricity and not die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
- The kids learned about the dangers of black ice and ice storms.
- We had to spare our external travel power cords and ration our rental car gas so we could charge our phones for emergencies.
- I feared not getting back to take care of my kids (the boys were stuck at the house – no heat/electricity) while we manned the ice storm and grocery store for food.
- I had to use a kitchen shears to cut the boys’ toe and fingernails.
- We taught the kids how to manage (calmly and positively) through a crisis.
I’m grateful that we made it through – we learned a lot and how much we have to be appreciative and thankful for in our lives during this trip. I came away also crazy impressed with our kids and their flexibility/adaptability and resilience. I don’t look back at this trip with regret or bitterness. I look back at it with deep sympathy for those who didn’t fair as well during this storm and also a fondness that our family bond is strengthened by this experience.
COMING SOON
We also made a trip to Magnolia at the Silos on the last day when the state of Texas began to thaw. When that post is up – I’ll link it here too!
For links to products I couldn’t have lived without + favorite things from the trip, check out my Favorite Things. I’ll add items soon!
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