10 Things Not to Miss in Austin, Round Rock, Bryan, College Station, Georgetown

1. The new location of HOPE Outdoor Gallery is expected to open across from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in early 2022. The 18-acre, open-air cultural center will feature large-scale public art, a collection of shipping containers housing shops and gallery spaces, a rooftop bar and food trucks.

2. Three Austin restaurants made the top 10 of Texas Monthly’s 2021 list of The 50 Best BBQ Joints. InterStellar BBQ made its first-ever appearance on the list at number 2, while LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue ranked number 5 and Franklin Barbecue came in at number 7. Belly up and try them all.

3. Ping pong palace Smash ATX combines sports, nightlife and dining all under one roof. Play a game or two, then settle in for comfort food like crispy chicken sandwiches sided with a local beer or cocktail.

4. The new Round Rock Amp concert and event venue has an opening lineup that spans food festivals to rap and hip hop. April and May will feature Mount Westmore featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too Short, and E-40; Clay Walker and John Michael Montgomery; the Austin Taco & Margarita Festival; and Dwight Yoakam.

5. Round Rock was recently named one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. All that growth means new event space is coming into town. Kalahari Resorts & Conventions recently opened its doors, and the city is also home to an array of multipurpose venues, including the Marriott Conference Center, the United Heritage Center, and Dell Diamond stadium.

6. Recently named one of the 11 Most Idyllic Restaurants on Farms for The Ultimate Farm-To-Table Experience by OpenTable, Ronin Farm & Restaurant in Bryan preserves the culinary traditions of Texas by sharing sustainable foods and exceptional experience with the community. During one of Ronin’s Full Moon Dinners you will enjoy a guided-tour of the farm, followed by a nine-course tasting menu in the forest, complete with intermezzo and dessert.

7. The history of African Americans in the Brazos Valley represents a compelling story of struggle and triumph by our neighbors, friends, and ancestors. This story is told with particular vigor and enthusiasm at the Brazos Valley African American Museum, located in Bryan, where an impressive collection of archives and artifacts explore the African American experience.

8. The Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center recently won five prestigious Stella Awards, including Best Food and Beverage and Best On-Site Support Staff, both for the Southwest Region, for consistently delivering service and innovation to meeting and event professionals. The Stella Awards are the meeting industry’s highest honor, recognizing hotels, convention center, airlines, cruise lines, and more.

9. College football and College Station go hand in hand, so next time you’re in town, spend some time at Kyle Field. Learn about and feel the 12th Man spirit. You can tour the stadium for $12 per person or $10 per person for groups larger than 25. Email Kyle Field Tours to reserve your spot.

10. At Goodfolks in Georgetown, good folks aren’t so hard to come by. This newly open restaurant is inspired by Southern food and Southern hospitality. As they say on their website, “Like our beautiful town square and sunny, kindhearted residents, it all comes with the territory in the Red Poppy Capital of Texas.”

Sources: Visit Austin, Go Round Rock, Destination Bryan, Visit College Station, Visit Georgetown