If you can't take off a week from work and don't want to break the bank, Austin, Texas is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Every angle of Austin is a great backdrop for a photoshoot; from the best brunch spots to Lady Bird Lake you can snap the perfect pic for Instagram. I'm always finding new places to go to and exploring different areas, each better than the one before. This past weekend I spent three days covering all corners of Austin; the sunny, 85 degree days and the cool breezes kept us alive during the day. With phenomenal weather, it made it easy to enjoy Austin since so much of it is outdoorsy.

The gal pals and I started every morning, or afternoon, with boozy brunches at my new favorite spots like cutesy Irene's off of West 6th or my favorite hidden gem, ForthRight, located in downtown Austin amongst all the high-rises right off of Lady Bird Lake (thanks Evan) - this place is amazing because you can turn the corner and go for a stroll by the lake and lay around on the dock that has a great view of the Austin skyline. Mimosas were obviously a must at brunch but always go for the biscuits at Irene's and the fried-chicken Benedict at ForthRight.

Post boozy brunches the drinking continued on to Rainey Street, the perfect hangout spot for a sunny day. Beers, board games, pups and Austinites galore come together to hit this outdoor strip of bars that are in cozy looking houses. Since Austin decided to have some of the best weather the weekend I went (yes, 85 degrees in February - welcome to Texas) we sat outside and sipped on our Tito's sweet teas at Lucile's and played Never Have I Ever and one too many games of Tick Tack Toe. While you're in Austin, never miss out on the chance to day drink and pet and play with every pup that passes by.

The best part of this trip easily had to be the lavish dinner at Vox on South Lamar. It is a tapas style dinner that consisted of shared small-plates and perfectly concocted drinks. My friends and I started with a lovely board of prosciutto and baked bread then ordered five plates that were carefully created and plated; we had bass, octopus, calamari pasta, pork belly with a fried egg, and the steak with a fried egg (absolutely must order). I love small-plate dinner because it creates a sense of community with the friends you go with; it allows you to engage with each other and talk about what you did or didn't like. We finished the night with a nice bottle of champaign and toasted to the future of more weekend getaways.

xo, kristina

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