We just stayed at this resort from February 3-14! Not all the Wyndham units have balconies. No whirlpool tubs even in the presidential units. Not many other people were there and we were the first people to stay in our unit. The rooftop deck and pool area are nice but the weather was too cold to use them when we were there..
If you can walk two or three blocks pulling your suitcase, it is very easy to take the bus to get to the resort and back to the airport. The blocks in Austin aren't long ones. Walk out the door of their airport and go to your right to the bus stops. You want Route 100 and a transfer to 7 or 20. It will let you off at 8th and Lavaca. To get back to the airport you get on at 8th and Guadalupe. Both are one way streets, Lavaca is Northbound and Guadalupe is Southbound, that's why you get on and off at different streets a block apart. It is $2.50 for a ticket with a transfer and that ticket will get you anywhere the buses or rail runs for the next 24 hours.
There are both a Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods with half to 3/4 of a mile. We unpacked and walked to Trader Joe's with our empty carry on suitcases to bring our groceries back to the resort. I think that started the staff's fascination with the crazy couple who left warm Florida to come to Austin in February! After that front desk staff and member services would greet us by name when we came through the lobby and want to chat with us about where we were going or where we'd been. We joked that they must be really bored because there were so few guests for our comings and goings to be so entertaining! The one young man working the front desk made a game of hustling over to open the door before we could when he saw us coming.
Voodoo Donuts - Cash only, no credit cards. Ask if they have any buckets. The buckets are $10 and we got 18 or 19 donuts in ours, about a dozen of those were the more expensive filled donuts and fritters. We paid around $8.50 for four donuts, and two of them were the cheaper donuts, before I read about the buckets online. We took half of the donuts from that bucket downstairs to the front desk. That made us even more popular with the front desk staff!
Moonshine Bar and Grill - The Berkeley House Salad is big enough to share, they even split it for us. DH had the Ranger Cattle Texas Wagyu Meatloaf and I had the Chicken Almondine. Got to try a sample of the Green Chili Mac and Cheese. All were very good.
Iron Cactus - We got there early enough for Happy Hour. Great margaritas! They asked us if it was our first time eating there and kitchen manager came out with a sample of one of their appetizers, the picadillo purses. He talked to us about the different entrees. DH had the Mexican Meatloaf, a little spicy. The Mexican street corn that came with it is so good you could make a meal of just that. I had the Chile Relleno Rústico and it is stuffed with chicken, sun-dried cranberries, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pepper jack, toasted pecans, verde sauce, and also comes with Mexican rice and a choice of beans. We both really liked our meals.
Hut's Burgers - Old diner atmosphere. We tried the blue plate special of the day which was okay but really wished we'd ordered a burger when we saw them going by our table! Talked to other people who said the burgers are amazing. On Wednesdays from 6-10pm they have 2 for 1 burgers.
Texas Chili Parlor - I had Freida's Chili Enchiladas. Two cheese enchiladas topped with your choice of chili. I had the black bean, beef and sausage chili which is fairly mild. DH had the same chili with a side of the mac and cheese. I recommend reading reviews to decide if this place is for you. It was crowded, noisy, kind of tacky, and the service wasn't great just like the reviews said. But it was fun, we liked our meals and we'd go back.
Stubb's Bar-B-Q - We shared a three meat combo plate. It was good but not the best barbeque we've had. They have a Sunday Gospel Brunch but you have to make reservations way ahead of time. Waitress said two months if you want to be seated in view of the bands. We wanted to try Franklin's barbeque but never got there. We were told you have to be waiting in line when they open at 11am and even then they might be sold out of some stuff by the time your turn comes.
Whataburger - Their special right now is a burger with mushrooms and swiss cheese, my favorite, and it was the best I've ever had!
The Capitol Grill in the Texas Capitol Building - We both had the large fresh fruit platter with cottage cheese and chicken salad. Nice break from the spicy foods we'd been eating and it was excellent. Prices are reasonable and they also serve breakfast. We toured the Capitol Building while we were there
Bullock Museum of Texas History - We had a nice surprise when we got there. They have free admission on the first Sunday of the month.
Governor's Mansion - You have to arrange your tour at least 2 weeks ahead of time so we didn't get to tour it. Next time!