Everybody has heard of Whole Foods Market by now, but did you know that the headquarters is in Austin?  Touring the Whole Foods Market Landmark store is a “must see” when in Austin.  Located on Lamar and Sixth Street, the 80,000 square foot Whole Foods headquarters sets a new standard for food shopping. The store has six mini-restaurants including a sushi bar, trattoria and a sorbet bar.  From a distance, the fruit and vegetable displays look like an impressionist painting.  It’s a blur of color and textures.  The store also has a huge array of meats and seafood, wine and beer and a “Whole Body” section that contains all kinds of natural make-up, soaps and lotions. Whole Foods offers daytime seminars on healthy eating and on Thursdays evenings during the summer, hosts live music on the upper plaza.

To experience breakfast Austin style, go to Magnolia Café on Lake Austin Blvd. Don’t be fooled by the way it looks on the outside, the food is great.  Their gingerbread pancakes are so famous they’ve been featured on the Food Network. They also have delicious omelets and breakfast tacos. If you want to burn off some of that breakfast with some exercise, cross the street and walk along the Town Lake trails. 

A great thing to do on a warm day in Austin is to pack your bathing suit, sunscreen and a book and head over to Barton Springs Pool.  The pool is fed from an underground spring and is a popular swimming spot for locals. Robert Redford learned to swim at Barton Springs when he was a boy. Once you’ve had you’re fill of sun, go to nearby Chuy’s on Barton Springs Road for the best frozen margaritas in town. Chuy’s also serves yummy tacos, enchiladas and flautas.  While you wait for your table, check out the Elvis shrine in the entryway.