Maybe you got into town early. Maybe you’re hanging around for a few days after the Summit. Maybe you’ve just got some free time between sessions. If you find yourself itching to go out on the town, here are some fun things to do in Austin.
Near the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
Stretch your legs and check out the sites within walking distance of the Summit.
Explore the UT campus
Wander through the University of Texas at Austin campus, right outside the doors of the Conference Center. One of our favorite sites is the Littlefield Fountain and its view of the iconic UT Tower.
Stroll over to Pease Park
About a mile from the Conference Center, Pease Park is an 84-acre park complete with shaded trails, local flora and fauna, a giant troll named Malin and a two-story treehouse.
The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
And don’t forget to enjoy the Conference Center itself. Dive into the heated outdoor pool. Work up a sweat at the state-of-the-art workout facilities. Or check out all the art created by folks from around the world. There’s even a giftshop!
Grab a bite to eat
BBQ, food trucks, something you’ve never had before — Austin is a foodie’s dream. When you aren’t enjoying the IMS-catered lunches Wednesday-Friday or the breakfasts on Thursday and Friday, here are a few local joints to check out.
Franklin Barbecue
Located about a mile and a half from the Conference Center, Franklin Barbecue is said to serve “the best barbecue in the known universe” for lunchtime crowds. With that in mind, be prepared to get there early and wait!
Gourdough’s
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the doughnuts at Gourdough’s. Their food truck hangs out less than 10 minutes from the Convention Center and features sweet and savory sandwiches made of “Big. Fat. Donuts.”
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
Interested in something a little off the beaten path? Try Kemuri Tatsu-Ya’s Japanese street food with a Texas twist — like brisket ramen, guaca-poke, BBQ eel and other Asian fusion dishes.
Hungry for something else? We pulled together a few more options.
Do some team bonding
Live music, museums and local shopping — here’s a small sampling of what Austin has to offer.
Enjoy some live music
There’s always live music somewhere in Austin. Here are a few spots to check out:
Take in the cultural scene
With museums like the Contemporary Austin – Jones Center, the Texas Science & Natural History Museum, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History and more, as well as iconic street art (like this mural), there’s plenty to learn while you’re in town.
Shop ‘til you drop
Austin boasts a number of delightful local shops. Some of our favorites include BookPeople, which is the largest independent bookstore in Texas, and Waterloo Records, which is a haven of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and other music-related goodies.
Here are a few more activities our team recommends.
We’ll see you in Austin
As you put your agenda together, be sure to keep an eye on the schedule of events for the Industrial Marketing Summit. Whatever you get up to between all the sessions, panels and workshops, we can’t wait to hear about it.