Austin, Texas: Part Texas bravado part effortless cool, Austin is literally one of the hottest cities in America right now (present temperature at 4:31am is 72 degrees). To protect themselves from the sweltering heat Austinites head to Town Lake or the nearest air-conditioned margarita joint to cool off during the summer months. Yet surrounding Austin some of the country's best BBQ can be found at The Salt Lick restaurant. Located in the town of Driftwood in the cooler Hill Country that surrounds Austin (aka the BBQ ring), the Salt Lick is quick 30 minute drive from town. Named by the ownerbecausee, "[the] Salt Lick is something where all the animals congregate. There is something good, something essential about it," the restaurant is located in a dry country so make sure to pack up a cooler of ice cold beers or margaritas before you go. Upon arrival at the Lick you will be greeted by a lively indoor/outdoor family style restaurant with wood picnic tables and a live band. Sit below the trees and under the strung up lights and while away an evening with BBQ falls of the bones and the cornbread should not be missed. This is not the place to girlfriend with her macrobiotic tofu diet. In fact, leave her back on the coasts and trade her in for a rocking, energetic, athletic, bleach blond Texan.
+EAT: Salt Lick, 18001 FM 1826, Driftwood, Texas +1 512-858-4959.
+SWIM: Town Lake, Austin [Texas outside].
+STAY: Hotel San Jose, 1316 South Congress, Austin +1 800 574 8897.
+FUN TEXANS: Angie Harmon, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce Knowles, The Butterscotch Stallion, Farrah Fawcett, Steve Martin, ZZ Top, and nut-a-rexic/oddly sexy Renee Zellweger.