Joah Spearman
Austin, Texas
Laguna Gloria
Austin is well known for its live music, its Tex-Mex, and its patio bars, but art is not among the first things a visitor mentions. Thankfully, this local is a lover of the arts, and here to tell you Austin has some gems worth exploring. Laguna Gloria is one of these local gems. An outdoor sculpture garden that doubles as a bit of a nature walk makes this both an ideal place for families and a romantic walk for dates. Plus, getting your steps in will help fight off the food coma you’re sure to get if you follow my BBQ recommendation.
ZACH Theatre
Looking for something to do that’s a little out of the ordinary? Perhaps a nontraditional date night or family night on the town? I’d suggest giving the most prominent theatre in Central Texas a try. Whether it’s an outdoor concert or a holiday-timed musical (post-pandemic), ZACH delivers high-quality entertainment that is hard to match anywhere outside of Broadway. From Christmas Carol to Notes from the Field, ZACH has made a name for itself by presenting fun-filled and/or insightful takes on important stories.
la Barbecue
Yes, Franklin Barbecue is the most famous place in Texas for good reason. But what la Barbecue lacks in media attention, it more than makes up for in taste. Their brisket is a close second to Franklin’s, but la Barbecue’s pork ribs - the true star on their menu - are to die for. Bonus: la Barbecue is located inside Quickie Pickie, so you’ll be able to grab a drink while you wait the hour or so for your food rather than tailgating for several hours at Franklin as is customary.
Barton Springs Pool
Easily the best place to take an out-of-towner when they first come to Austin in the spring/summer months. This place doubles as the best outdoor swimming pool in America AND the closest thing you’ll get to a European watering hole a la Berlin summers. The size of a couple Olympic pools, the temperature of an open water lake, and the scenery of dreams on a hot sunny day. Dive in.
Austin is, without a doubt, my first love. I started coming here in 1999 for track and cross country meets in high school and fell in love almost immediately. Something about seeing people running on the Town Lake Trail really resonated with me. When I moved here for college, I knew the real education I was going to get wasn’t on campus, but by venturing out and about the city. Austin matches my personality in that it’s creative, entrepreneurial, outdoor-friendly and loves good food and live music.
I started Localeur in 2013 by asking a dozen of my friends in Austin to recommend their favorite local spots to eat and drink before South by Southwest Festival. Eight years later, I’m still at it with an even stronger connection to the unique role travel and local plays in our lives. My path to this idea was anything but straight. I started my career working for the Texas Longhorns while I was in college then I moved to D.C. to become a speechwriter before moving back to Austin in 2009 to pursue entrepreneurship. My first business was a social media consulting company helping to turn Rainey Street into a nightlife district. After that, I opened a sneaker boutique in Downtown Austin, underneath the mayor’s office at City Hall. Then I convinced the founders of SXSW to let me create and run the first-ever fashion part of the festival. Somehow, the combination of all these experiences gave me a unique perspective on what a traveler really wants when they visit a new city: authentic recs from locals. Now, some 190 cities later, I feel like it all makes sense.