A Guide To The Weirdest Attractions In Texas

The task of keeping Austin weird is never a hard one. There are plenty of restaurants, locals, and just plain weird attractions that continuously validate this greatly weird city, and Austinites wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are just some of the few destinations contributing to Austin’s ‘weird’ reputation.

Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts.

Gourdough’s is a donut experience unlike any other in Texas. Not only are their donuts huge in size, but they’re also topped with everything from bananas to fried chicken. Try their Sin-A-Bomb donut with cream cheese, butter, and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Gourdough’s is definitely one of the weirdest and best donut shops in the city.

The Broken Spoke

LaLa’s Little Nugget

LaLa’s Little Nugget is your one stop for year-round Christmas decorations, funky jukebox tunes, good vibes, and fascinating people. This is a great dive bar where you can bring out-of-towners or spend the evening with friends. You’ll find all kinds of people hanging out here from the regulars to the curious newcomers.

Vortex Repertory Company

A great secret gem in Austin, Vortex Repertory Company is a non-traditional theater venue putting on live shows from plays to operas. They’ve won awards for their innovative performances and artistic productions. Enjoy their outdoor seating where you can pair cocktails with delicious Italian cuisine from the food trailer.

Cathedral of Junk

In the south side suburbs of Austin sits one of the most innovative structures in the city. Vince Hannemann built the Cathedral of Junk in his backyard over time as a fun personal project. It’s now a top ‘weird’ destination in the city. You can walk through whimsical passageways where trash mimics grand treasures. Repurposed CDs, TVs, bottles, and so much more make up the large cathedral. With Hannemann’s imagination, it’s like reliving your childhood dreams of ruling your very own kingdom, complete with a throne.

Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata

The Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata is one of the last in-home and family-run museums in America. Within their special collection, you’ll find odd trinkets, historical artifacts, and cultural relics all in the living room of the museum owners, Jenn and Scott. The best part, however, is the stories that go along with each collected item. If you thought Austin was getting a little too normal, visit the east side and check out this oddly wonderful museum.

Spider House

Spider House is the coolest place for specialty cocktails and live music. The outside patio bar is complete with a garden and table tops for hanging out. The furniture is vintage, and at night, the place lights up with sparkly Christmas lights. They also hold events, films screenings, and rent the space out for private parties.

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