2 Days On 2 Wheels - Austin - Day 2

2 Days on 2 Wheels: Austin - Day 2

Join us as we take on Austin, Texas, for 2 Days on 2 Wheels! Our first stop along our tour of cities that participated in our Final Mile program. Check out more about the entire Final Mile Program at finalmile.peopleforbikes.org.

Our goal for our visit was to use updated and new infrastructure to check out the city by bike! Hop on a rental, your favorite touring bike or the local bike share and follow along as we hit some well-known sites and discover more along the way. Let's go day two!

Austin’s street art continues to be ever-present.

To start off day two, we enjoyed more street art along our route to breakfast. Ride bikes, have fun and feel good! Especially in good company with Marshall “Major” Taylor. 

Vinyl and coffee — need we say more?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we started it off right! Try Hard Coffee Roasters ATX serves as a coffee shop/vinyl shop. Grab some amazing breakfast tacos and enjoy a DJ set while you wait for your order. Grab a bag of local blends for later and hit the road.

To the north we go.

For day 2, we spent more time north of the Colorado River. Heading up, you get great views of Austin once again as you make your way to the city center. Check out the Capitol for a tour or utilize the great paths around it for quick views from the outside. 

Museum day!

Austin has a few amazing, centrally located museums. Our next stop was the Blanton Museum of Art. With permanent exhibits as well as a few temporary ones, be sure to pop in and check out what's on display. With art styles ranging across genres, everyone is sure to find art they’ll remember. 

Be sure to make a stop here before leaving the Blanton Museum area.

An added bonus to the Blanton Museum is Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin. The renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly gifted the Blanton the design concept for his most monumental work, a 2,715-square-foot stone building with luminous colored glass windows, a totemic wood sculpture and fourteen black and white marble panels. Titled Austin, honoring the artist’s tradition of naming particular works for the places for which they are destined, the structure is the only building the artist designed and will likely be his most lasting legacy. Envisioned by Kelly as a site for joy and contemplation, Austin is a cornerstone of Blanton’s permanent collection and enriches the lives of visitors from around the world.

We said museum day, right?

Another museum not far away is the Contemporary Jones Center. Perfect for lovers of contemporary art, this space is home to many Daniel Johnston pieces from over the course of his lifetime. Right outside the building, you are greeted by a mural titling the exhibit Daniel Johnston: I Live My Broken Dreams. Once inside, you’ll see his art as it progressed throughout the years and read about his career spanning music and mixed media. Check out the roof view for some sweet peeks at the skyline. 

Oh, the memories.

If you’re ready for all the childhood nostalgia you can handle, the Texas Toy Museum is the perfect stop. Featuring everything from lunch boxes to pinball machines, this place has all the fun. Once inside, you can even partake in a scavenger hunt as you explore the museum. Complete the hunt and you’ll get some free goodies! 

Ready for more tacos?

Veracruz All Natural has two locations across Austin. Easily spotted under the Wonder Woman Mural in the city and slightly further out food truck, either destination will be a hit. A very popular Austin staple, it is a must-stop during any trip. Grab an horchata or agua fresca to rehydrate and narrow down your many taco options.

The bat bridge.

If you need a break from the city for a recharge, you don’t need to go far. Head down to the river and check out the famous bridge home to Austin's unofficial mascots. While you might not see them during the day, the nightly emergence of the bats from underneath the bridge at dusk is a sight to behold. They can be seen from the bridge, from the sides of the river and from boats. 

Views from the inside, so many floors of goodness.

Even if you're not in Austin long enough to read a book, be sure to take advantage of the beautiful library! It has many floors that will satisfy any curiosity. If you have little ones, there is also a floor dedicated to kids! Be sure to make your way to the rooftop where you will find unmatched views of Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River. Complete with seating, it's a great spot to stop and take in the city.

Dinner in the city to round out the day.

We winded down at a popular local restaurant, Wu Chow. The food was great and so were the drinks. The outside patio supplies even more views of the city. A central location, you can easily go out to popular 6th Street for more drinks to continue your adventures in Austin!

A shot from our last foggy morning.

Where is your favorite place to bike in Austin? Did you check out any of our spots or have you been before? Let us know in the comments below! Thank you for joining us for day 2 of our 2 Days on 2 Wheels in Austin!