Musician Carson McHone
Gig schedules can take artists all over the world – do you get a chance to explore the places you visit?
Most of the time we roll into a city, play the show and roll on to the next town in the morning – which doesn't leave much time for exploring. But every now and then we get a day off, which is a great opportunity to check out a museum or something unique to wherever we are, or we get to go fishing or swimming. I went to a music festival in Hyde Park while I was in London recently; I'd love to go back there on a quiet day with a book and a blanket and maybe a picnic lunch, and just relax and enjoy the park.
What's usually on your headphones when you're travelling?
Right now.. Tristen, Robert Ellis, Alabama 3, Norah Jones, Blake Mills and Gillian Welch.
What's your ideal holiday?
A book, my guitar, my horse – all at my secret spot on the Llano River.
If our readers had one day in Austin, where would you send them to eat, drink, shop and party? What should visitors not miss?
Wake up early – the heat comes on fast so it's best to use the early hours to your advantage. For breakfast try Cisco's at E. 6th Street and Comal. It's a classic Tex-Mex breakfast joint which has been around for over 50 years – the walls are plastered with old newspaper cutouts and bizarre out. Get the huevos rancheros with tortillas and biscuits.
Next, walk or cycle around Town Lake. It's a great hike and bike trail and it's right along the Colorado River. For shopping, there are cool vintage stores along North Loop. Tears of Joy hot sauce hop is also great – they have loads of great salsas, hot sauces, jellies and a sampling table. Then just hop directly across the street to Jim Jim's water ice for an all-natural snow cone – mango is my favourite.
For lunch, be sure to try some homestyle cooking at Threadgill's. Both locations represent distinct eras in Austin, and are steeped in local music history.
Next, take a hike along the Barton Creek Greenbelt – there are some beautiful trails, and it can be a great place to cool off depending on the rainfall.
For nightlife, check out Lambert's BBQ – it's a great place for food and you'll have the chance to see some local acts upstairs in their live music venue. The White Horse is great for honky tonk; you'll find folks from all walks of life dancing, drinking and playing there. There's a heavy country music presence there, but you'll also find brass bands, traditional Mexican Conjunto music with Los Pinkys on Sundays, and a great thrift market on Saturdays.
If you're into a more intimate live music setting, check out The Cactus Cafe on the UT campus; it's a great place to sit and enjoy a drink with great acoustics. For a night cap, head east along 7th St. to Springdale and find the Hard Luck Lounge and Lady Lucky food trailer. Food trailers are everywhere in Austin, and the Lady Luck in particular has locally grown ingredients and great recipes, plus serves directly into the back beer garden of the Hard Lucky Lounge. Perfect for live music, drinks and food all at once.
What would be your favourite day trip from Austin?
Drive into the hill country about 95 miles north west of town to see Enchanted Rock. It's a huge granite dome, a part of the Llano Uplift, and a great place for hiking, camping, birdwatching and stargazing. Just gorgeous!
The arts in general are very important and prevalent in Austin
Where do you head in Austin when you need some down time?
Barton Springs, a pool naturally fed by spring water, is a great place to go for a dip or just lounge on the lawn under the oak trees – topless sunbathing is allowed!
Austin has a reputation as being a music-loving cowboy town. What else would you like people to see in your city?
Austin is definitely known for its live music scene, which is very diverse and healthy. But there's so much more to this town. The arts in general are very important and prevalent in Austin; you should check out Present Company Theater for excellent theater in unconventional setting – for free. Another great spot would be Mexic-Arte Museum of Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Art, both contemporary and traditional.
What do you consider to be the most underrated destination in the US?
Big Bend National Park is a breathtaking and unique ecosystem in west Texas and is being threatened by commercial petroleum interest right now – it needs all the attention and protection it can get.
What's next for you in terms of work?
I'll be in the studio again this autumn working on a new record to be released in 2017.
To see more of Carson McHone's work, visit her website. For more information on Austin visit austintexas.org.
