If the Doctor says so...

Part 2 of our Texas series: about inventive pharmacists, microscopic waterfalls and a capital city that is weird in the best sense of the word.

Fort Worth bids us farewell with bright sunshine. We have a manageable stage ahead of us, the rental car is full of gas and we have enjoyed our breakfast at the Springhill Suites on paper plates in proper style. We drive the Nissan through the city center once again and after a short time we are on the interstate heading south. Our destination for the day: Austin, the Texan capital.

But there's another little highlight on the way that we want to take a closer look at. We leave the highway in the city of Waco. We're thirsty, and Waco is the home of the Dr. Pepper beverage brand and its museum. Dr. Pepper, a wonderfully or terribly sugary and caffeinated drink depending on your taste, was first brewed there by a pharmacist and was created before its sticky distant relative Coca-Cola.

 

This way to see the Doctor.

The brand museum is now run by an independent foundation, is very charmingly managed and is much less commercial and polished than, for example, the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. Of course, the entrance fee includes a cool glass of Dr. Pepper, and it goes without saying that we don't say no to this after a leisurely stroll through the museum.

Back on the road, we approach Austin and soon recognize the city skyline with the characteristic dome of the Texas State House. Our accommodation, the Fairmont, is well located and we take advantage of the central location to gather our first impressions on this sunny afternoon. On the day before Thanksgiving, Austin seems quiet, but many bars and restaurants in the city center are open. Downtown seems safe, so we explore street after street on foot and end the evening with tacos and Dr. Pepper.

 

Almost everything is bigger in Texas: yes, this is a waterfall.

Despite the rather gray weather, we decide to spend the holiday outside. Our first destination is McKinney Falls State Park, a small park on the outskirts of the city known for its waterfalls. We stroll along the trails there, encounter not only confident squirrels but also a surprisingly large deer and realize that the word "waterfall" is a very relative term. Colorful trees mixed with cacti and striking rock formations nevertheless make the park well worth seeing - and surprising. Because the way there leads through an extensive industrial area where Tesla's headquarters are located and which is adjacent to Austin Airport. An oasis, so to speak.

 

In the afternoon, we discover the green side of the city center. The Colorado River and Lady Bird Lake offer countless walking and cycling opportunities and we mingle with the locals, who are either getting a running start and mentally preparing for their Thanksgiving meal or recovering from it in slow motion. Meanwhile, we marvel at the importance of Austin for its unofficial heraldic animal, the bat. It is estimated that around two million bulldog bats live under one of the busy bridges over the river into the fall, fluttering cloudy into the Texas sky in the evenings. We don't see them in November, but we think that's a good reason to perhaps return to Austin at another time of year. First, however, we decide to try Thanksgiving dinner at the hotel and are not disappointed.

 

We spend the day after Thanksgiving exploring the capital's lively street cafés. We soak up the atmosphere, encounter live music time and again and find Austin extremely relaxed. But it is also important to us to get to know the political heart of the state better and we make our way to the Capitol. You can't miss it, because the dome of this historic building is over 90 m high and larger than the dome of the Capitol in Washington D.C. A self-confident representation of local democracy.

Not to be overlooked: Texas' political heart.

 

What amazes us: apart from a security check at the entrance, access to the Capitol, which houses not only plenary chambers but also the offices of members of parliament, is open to all interested parties. You can move freely anywhere in the building. What's more, the building offers free guided tours at regular intervals, which show some of the architectural highlights and, above all, go into detail about the state's political system. Guests from abroad are warmly welcomed and the guides are genuinely delighted with the interest shown. What will no longer be possible for us in Austin is a visit to the governor's residence near the Capitol. We would have liked to take a closer look at this historic site, but a visit there requires more lead time due to additional security checks. Those interested in Texas can of course also find out more about the controversial political decisions of the current incumbent (as of the end of 2023) via American and international media.

 

To say a worthy farewell to Austin, we spend the evening on Rainey Street, a small street characterized by skyscraper construction sites as well as small bars and restaurants. And: a European (actually: German) style beer garden. As in so many places in Austin, we also encounter live music there and enjoy the warm atmosphere. Although we are not convinced by the interpretation of the currywurst, we enjoy the evening and soak up as many vibes of this liberal Texan boomtown as possible. "Keep Austin weird" is the city's unofficial slogan. We believe: absolutely!

Austin: please remain weird!

And we are already starting to think about the next day, when we have a long drive ahead of us - into the truly wild west. More on this soon on this blog!

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Good to know

In Austin, we chose the Fairmont as our accommodation, which was worth it because of its good location, but above all because of its absolute cleanliness and beautiful views. We were lucky and found a good offer, otherwise a stay at any Fairmont can quickly become very expensive. However, there are plenty of alternatives in Austin.

Texas offers taco lovers an almost limitless choice. We quickly became friends with the uncomplicated concept of Velvet Taco. One of their branches is located in the middle of the city on 6th Street. The aforementioned beer garden on Rainey Street called Banger's is close to the Fairmont and is worth a visit for the atmosphere and music.

A visit to the Capitol is highly recommended and free of charge. Information on opening times and tours can be found here. If you pass by Waco and are thirsty, you can find everything about the Dr. Pepper Museum on this page.