Every year, Austin, Texas, welcomes thousands of people to South by Southwest, a conference highlighting film, music, culture, tech, and more. This year, from March 10 to 19, downtown Austin will buzz with creatives, tech enthusiasts, and entertainment lovers looking to rub shoulders with their favorite artists and business leaders.
Many companies send their employees to SXSW on business. If you're one of them, why not take the opportunity to get out and see Austin when your work day is done? Take advantage of the new "bleisure" travel trend — that's a combo of "business" and "leisure," a trend where workers are blending the two types of travel — and tack a few days onto your trip to relax.
Outside the SXSW festivities, you may find yourself on a bar crawl down 6th Street, stumbling upon the historic Maggie Mae's, or participating in the toned-down bar crawl a stone's throw away on Rainey Street. If raucous crowds aren't your idea of relaxing, then mosey over to a rodeo or head to the calm countryside for a horseback ride.
Here's a guide to some of Austin's hidden gems to help you unwind and turn your work trip into "workation." While there's public transportation in central Austin, some of these outings are on the outskirts of the city, so consider renting a car or pooling for ride shares.