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Hopefully Alabama has something comparable to offer (it's the nearly free option!!).
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<p>Like I said, if Austin's as good as hyped, given your son's interest in music, he'll probably be disappointed with Tuscaloosa.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all those wonderful suggestions and ideas! Just great! We are arriving just before lunch on Sunday, so that should be a perfect time to check out a restaurant (or 2!) plus walk around the town. </p>
<p>feenotype--yes, well. I can see my request for stuff to do in TX & AL has produced a wealth of enthusiastic TX info & not a single suggestion re: AL <getting nervous="">. Hopefully son will appreciate UofAL for what it is -- not an urban campus w/all the city offerings, but a spirited, fun, campus-centric place all it's own. $2k a yr vs $39k ... kinda big difference ... hope the music & icecream is -really- good if we go the Austin route....!!!!!</getting></p>
<p>Thanks again, all, very much...feel much more prepared for the trip!! :-)</p>
<p>Amy's is great!! There is a neat video about Amy's and the Friday Night Lights cast, I'll see if I can find it. On the Friday Night Lights website, there are some neat Austin webcasts, they are called "Spotlight on Austin":</p>
<p>Here's one about Amy's and shopping in Austin:</p>
<p>Friday</a> Night Lights - Cones & Clothes - Video - NBC.com</p>
<p>Here's one for the Hula Hut:</p>
<p>Friday</a> Night Lights - Hula Hut - Video - NBC.com</p>
<p>And for Guero:</p>
<p>Friday</a> Night Lights - Party with the Collettes - Video - NBC.com</p>
<p>The videos are cute - in one, one of the actors says to stay away from 6th street, that weird things happen on 6th street like getting into a "break dance fight (??)" </p>
<p>Okay, that's something I'd like to see!</p>
<p>Sunday brunch? If you want to go upscale, check out Fonda San Miguel. Pricy, but it's a beautiful restaurant with great food. Not Tex Mex. Fonda</a> San Miguel - Restaurant in Austin Texas</p>
<p>Speaking of Tex Mex. You will find all kinds of wonderful Mexican food in Austin. I'm not sure where you live now, but I have a friend who moved here more than 20 years ago from Pennsylvania and she says she's not how she survived to 28 without ever having had Mexican food. The aforementioned Guero's and Chuy's are different from each other, but both are wonderful Tex Mex. I even love the fast food chain Taco Cabana. :)</p>
<p>I grew up in Austin and got my BS and MS at UT. I LOVE that town. The only reason I moved to Maine is that I couldn't take the heat in the middle of the summer.</p>
<p>I would suggest driving up to Mount Bonnell to see the incredible view of the river and the hill country. I took my friend from Maine there last spring, and she couldn't believe how beautiful it was. It cracks me up when Mainers think that all of Texas is FLAT!</p>
<p>It's also really fun to go out to the Oasis on Lake Travis. It's a huge restaurant with multiple, multiple tiers of outside decks. You sit there, eat Mexican food, and watch the sunset. When the sun sets, they ring a bell and everyone hoots and hollers.</p>
<p>I would skip Sixth Street, also.</p>
<p>Barton Springs IS incredible. I spent quite a few summers there, sunning on the rocks. The bottom is the rocky creekbed, and a lot of times there are ducks swimming around.</p>
<p>Believe me, if your son has the chance to go to UT, he should jump on it. My son would love to go there (he'd be the 4th generation of Longhorns), but he is a long-distance runner who isn't quite at UT's elite level!</p>
<p>Good luck! Enjoy Austin for me.</p>
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I even love the fast food chain Taco Cabana
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<p>More colloquially known as Taco C ;) Great for late night feed fests!!</p>
<p>Ditto on Oasis for the sunsets!! It is in a beautiful spot, only issue I have with it is the food isn't that great and the service can be sketchy. But, you're going for the ambiance and the experience.</p>
<p>Shhhh! Don't talk about the heat! Enough Amy's will combat the heat. :D</p>
<p>If you want BBQ with a view that's close in, look at County Line on the Lake. Salt Lick is good but pretty far out there. I linked to the 3D view rather than the menu! <a href="http://www.countyline.com/tours/austinlakes_rm2.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.countyline.com/tours/austinlakes_rm2.html</a></p>
<p>Yeah, I'm not an Oasis fan either. But the view is nice.</p>
<p>"Hopefully son will appreciate UofAL for what it is"</p>
<p>My husband I both attended UT but neither of our kids is interested in going there. They think it is too big and overwhelming. So your son may have the same reaction. Or he may love it. Please let us know how it all turns out.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the additional suggestions. We are from NJ -- this is a whole new world & it sounds just great!</p>
<p>Mainelonghorn-- re: "if you son has a chance to go to UT he should jump on it" --- do you think it would be worth $25,000 a year out-of-pocket for that? Vs. #2k a year at U of AL? I know that's a question that's always debated, but curious about what you thought (esp since you've lived on east coast & TX).</p>
<p>Re: the weather-- both son & I are people who feel the cold and don't mind the heat, much. I always say I'd take a month of 100+ July days in exchange for getting rid of one, bone-chilling, grey, February day. Son's #2 prerequisite for college consideration was 'warm weather' (after 'good program in my major"). </p>
<p>Now actually getting nervous that son will love Austin so much he'll be 1200 miles away for sure...!</p>
<p>Again, many thanks for the tips!</p>
<p>Jolynne, I know what you mean about it being hard to turn down the $$$. My oldest son got into UT and seriously considered going there until UF dangled the full ride in front of him. He took the money and it has turned out to be the best decision for him. He has been there for 4 national championships, has met the love of his life who he will marry in June, and is a proud member of the Gator Nation.</p>
<p>Problem for us is, he loves it so much, he's staying in Florida :( </p>
<p>That is an issue for us parents who send our kids far away to school - they may never come back!! Thank heavens my middle son chose UT and my youngest is working hard to try to stay in the top 10% so he can go there as well.:)</p>
<p>As far as Alabama goes, I know a bunch of kids there who absolutely love it! Tuscaloosa is a great college town, the Tide Pride rolls strong! </p>
<p>Both are great school that offer different opportunities. You're son won't go wrong either way.</p>
<p>"I'd take a month of 100+ July days in exchange for getting rid of one, bone-chilling, grey, February day."</p>
<p>Then Austin is the place for YOU! ;)</p>
<p>Wow, all this talk of Austin makes me want to get Son to reconsider St. Edwards, a smaller school in Austin.</p>
<p>My sister moved down there in 1974. She's one of those folks who can say, "I saw [name of now famous musician or band] at the Armadillo." She's always been about 100 times wilder than me...when I'd go visit, she'd drag me to clubs to hear live music....I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn and Joe Ely that way. I can still see my sister - about 8.9 months pregnant at the time - rocking down to Stevie Ray Vaughn. The next morning we'd go out to breakfast and I'd feel as if I'd smoked a pack of cigarettes myself because the clubs were so smoky. Do they still allow smoking in the clubs, or has it been banned?</p>
<p>Not banned but curtailed: <a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/downloads/SIPPO_08_FAQs_071408.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/downloads/SIPPO_08_FAQs_071408.pdf</a></p>
<p>But, as always, people are hoping to expand it to a total ban statewide: Supporters</a> rally for statewide smoking ban | Top stories | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle</p>
<p>I agree with all who say that Austin is a great city. A couple of things you will notice- Austin has a very high homeless population by virtue of its temperate weather. There is a considerable amount of street crime and hassle as a result. On campus and near campus. Walk down Guadalupe Street, where the book store is, to get a sense. </p>
<p>As for visiting some of the eateries mentioned- bear in mind that unless your S has a car on campus, which is expensive and not nearly as convenient as one might think, he will probably not attend these places as a student there. (But check out County Line BBQ anyway, for yourself) </p>
<p>On campus, I would recommend going into some of the dorm buildings, particularly the ones that have classrooms in the lobby. Although you will not get a chance to see a room, you will get a feel for just how large they are. </p>
<p>And definitely check out the aquatic center. It's like a resort.</p>
<p>ag54--thanks for that encouragement. I appreciate it. I'd been feeling almost like a bad parent -- son possibly going to the near-free-ride school because his parents didn't save enough $$ for the more expensive option (I was home with his little sister during the 'ideal saving years.'). Almost feel like if I work now & fork over big % of money to his tuition, I'm making up for staying home w/his little sis instead of earning for 529. Maybe not logical. lol. </p>
<p>Glad to hear stories of how well things worked out for kids who went with the 'affordability option.' Just want son to be challenged, happy and successful. (as we all do!). </p>
<p>Youdon'tsay--yes...I cannot fault son's affinity for warm weather in the least. Especially in February. I've consumed 4 cups of coffee/diet hot cocoa this a.m. alone, to warm.</p>
<p>missypie--your sister sounds fun. At least you have some 'wild youth by proximity' stories. I also had a pretty non-wild-n-crazy youth.</p>
<p>Edit to add: thanks, pipmom! Btw, we're under such budget constraints that we'd already planned to hit the 'lower end' of the price-spectrum on eating establishments! So, we'll probably be eating w/the students, lol. Will check out the aquatic center!</p>
<p>As much as I love Austin, that price differential would be a deal-breaker for me so don't feel bad. We also don't have a lot of money saved as I quit working when kids were in elementary school.</p>
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My sister moved down there in 1974. She's one of those folks who can say, "I saw [name of now famous musician or band] at the Armadillo."
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<p>lol, sitting on the rugs on the floor at AWH (RIP). ZZ Top when they were named "Texas." </p>
<p>Leon Russel working the booth taking tickets at AWH while Jim Franklin (who normally was the ticket taker) painted murals at Russel's home in OKLA. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Franklin_(artist%5B/url%5D)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Franklin_(artist)</a></p>
<p>OP--you are from NJ, right? OK--Alabama is in the DEEP South. Texas is "Southern," but with its peculiar twist. </p>
<p>Tuscaloosa is a smaller town than Austin (especially if you consider San Antonio is "just down the road"--don't worry in Texas anything less than 100 miles is "just over there"!). </p>
<p>IMO --Tuscaloosa is still "Deep South Southern." Be aware that the Slogan for Austin that you will see on bumper stickers, T-Shirts, etc. is : Keep Austin Weird! I attended both UT-Austin and Emory and, IMO, being in Austin is like Dorothy said of Oz: You ain't in Kansas anymore!</p>
<p>I now live in Dallas but frequently visit Austin and the Hill Country. It has an open, come on down attitude. I go to a small gym in Dallas and there is a 25 y.o. female from Alabama who works out there. She went to SMU. I asked her recently, why not U of A? Her reply: "Too Southern." If you know anything about SMU, you will appreciate this statement as indicating just how Southern that is.</p>
<p>On the $$$ issue: to you as parents, the money difference may not make sense. To your child, who will be at either school for 4 years (and isn't having to come up with the money), HE may have a preference. Ah--the great dillema.</p>
<p>FYI--I believe that the best gift a parent can give their children is for the parents to never be financially dependent on their children. If paying more for college is something that could really set the parents back financially, I'd suggest considering the more affordable route. Parents without the means to support themselves in their elder years can be a crushing responsibilty to their grown children.</p>
<p>Check out Scholz Garten...a casual place (a beer garden of sorts, but still OK for kids) for an inexpensive meal and a great watering hole following athletic events. On San Jacinto Blvd, I believe. Austin is a great city--great music, Mexican food and barbeque. The state capitol does a nice tour.</p>
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Too Southern." If you know anything about SMU, you will appreciate this statement as indicating just how Southern that is.
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<p>Slight hijack, funny you say that. I went to SMU in the 80's and at that time, at least 50% of the kids there were from the north!! Lots of kids from St. Louis, Chicago (especially the Lake Shore), Connecticut, NJ and NY. My roommates were all yankees!! ;) Sr year - one from Ohio, one from Greenwich. I was the lone Texan!!</p>
<p>Jolynne, that's a tough decision! I don't know anything about Alabama, so I'm not much help. We have very little money saved for college, so we will probably have a similar decision to make a year from now! We HAVE told DS that we can't just send him anywhere he wants to go, unless he gets a big merit or running scholarship, and that doesn't seem likely.</p>
<p>I have wondered what would happen if he had to choose between going to UT and not running versus attending a lesser school where he would be on the team. Sigh. Why couldn't this process be as easy as it was when I was in high school?</p>
<p>PS - Since I moved 2500 miles from my parents, I guess it will serve me right if my kids end up back in Texas!</p>