Why Austin Is America’s New Hotspot for Outdoor Living and BBQ

There’s a reason more people are packing up and heading to Austin, Texas. Known for both its live music scene and tech boom, the city has long wooed newcomers with more than just jobs: they come seeking a lifestyle. With wide-open spaces, a teeming lake culture and some of the best barbecue in the country, Austin has become one of the most exciting places to live, visit and eat.

A City Built for the Outdoors

For all its growing pains few bustling cities have experienced harsher side effects of the tech and condo booms Austin remains anchored in nature in a way few others its size do. Residents can hike in the morning and lake in the afternoon and gather in the evening around a barbecue pit all without leaving the metro area.

Running along Lake Travis, this neighborhood is where Lakeway Marina is located, which is a popular place for locals and visitors to get out on the water. Whether you’re interested in boat rental Lake Travis, wake surfing, or simply watching the sunset over the lake, wake surfing Lake Travis or to simply relax and catch the sunset over the lake, Lakeway has become the place to be for those who want to experience the best of Texas lakeside.

And with an increasingly large portion of the population choosing to work at home, the notion of a home office with views overlooking a lake is turning places like Lakeway into some of the hottest real estate markets in the state.

BBQ That’s Worth the Trip

Of course, after a long day on the lake, there’s no better way to wind down than with a plate of slow-smoked Texas barbecue. While Austin has always been a BBQ town, recent years have brought new flavors, new traditions, and new national recognition.

Even Matthew McConaughey did his part, hosting Opie’s BBQ on The Today Show while he served Texas brisket to the nation. And local food trucks like KG BBQ which combines classic Texas smoking methods with Egyptian and wider Middle Eastern spices are redefining what it is to be a Texas pitmaster.

Austin’s barbecue district is at the top of its game, with a mix of old-school classics and new-school upstarts. Whether you want a classic brisket platter or a novel rendition of smoked meat, there’s a reason food professionals from around the country are traveling to check out what’s cooking in Texas.

The Secret to Austin’s Appeal

It is not just about the food, and it is not just about the great outdoors  it’s how they come together. There’s something to be said for a place where you can begin the day on a paddleboard and end around a fire pit, with some of the country’s most delicious food in between.

But now that more people are figuring out what makes Austin unique, the challenge will be to maintain its laid-back, outdoorsy vibe while not overlaying it with too much of the exhilarating energy that growth brings.

But for the moment, what’s undeniable is that if you’re in the lake, in line for barbeque, or basking in the state’s sun (it is the Texas sun, after all) there’s no better spot to be in this valley of ours than here in Austin.