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Getting Around Northwest Austin
- By Car: Daytime Parking at the Conference Venues
- By Conference Shuttle: Hyatt House to Conference Venues
- Taxi Services
Getting Around Northwest Austin
The area surrounding the Hyatt House-Austin Arboretum conference hotel is walkable, and there are restaurants, a grocery store, and shopping center within walking distance. We’ve done our best to make the commute as easy as possible by offering a shuttle service from the Hyatt House to the two daytime conference locations as well as to the Tuesday and Wednesday evening events. The shuttle ride between the hotel and daytime conference locations will take 5-10 minutes depending on traffic. The shuttle schedule will be posted soon.
Should you drive to Austin or rent a car, there is ample parking at the Hyatt House conference hotel. Parking is also available on the University of Texas-Austin J.J. Pickle Research Campus where both daytime conference venues are located. Note that these buildings are not in downtown Austin where the main UT-Austin campus is located.
By Car: Daytime Parking at the Conference Venues
Parking at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) (Tuesday, Sept. 25)
The easiest way for visitors to park near TACC is to use the UT-Austin parking kiosks that are found in the visitor lots near the building. You may park in the covered parking lot or on the street. Please obtain a parking pass from one of the kiosks and be sure to place the parking permit on your windshield. If the pass is not visible, you will get a ticket. The cost is $4 per day. The machine does not give change, but you may pay using exact change or a credit card.
Parking at Commons Conference Center (CCC) (Wednesday & Thursday, Sept. 26 & 27)
You'll want to use the Burnet Rd. entrance (the Braker Lane entrance is for staff only, but you may use it as an exit). Bypass the guard gate and immediately turn right on to C.P. Bonner Rd. Park in the parking lot on your left (directly in front of the Commons Conference Center building). If this lot is full, go to the lot by the water tower.
Please obtain a parking pass from one of the kiosks and be sure to place the parking permit on your windshield. If the pass is not visible, you will get a ticket. The cost is $4 per day. The machine does not give change, but you may pay using exact change or a credit card.
By Conference Shuttle: Hyatt House to Conference Venues
We're offering shuttle service each morning and evening. The detailed shuttle schedule is posted on its own page.
Taxi Services in Austin
Exploring Austin
Both TACC and CCC are located on the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, which is about ten miles north of the main UT-Austin downtown campus and a 5-10 minute drive from the Hyatt House conference hotel. The Hyatt House hotel has some nearby restaurants, shops, and grocers that are in easy walkng distance.
Eating and Shopping Near the Hyatt House
Places to Eat
Baby Acapulco a.k.a. Baby A's (10-minute walk)
9505 Stonelake Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Tex-Mex cuisine and Mexican drinks
Buca di Beppo (16-minute walk)
3612 Tudor Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Family-style Italian fare
Haru Sushi (14-minute walk)
9503 Research Blvd #500, Austin, TX 78759
Inventive Japanese rolls and hot dishes
Panera Bread (5-minute walk)
9901 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78759 (in the Gateway Shopping Center)
Cafeteria-style sandwiches and soups
NXNW Restaurant and Brewery - Stonelake (3-minute walk)
10010 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78759
Brewery and pub food (NOTE: We will meet here Thursday, Sept. 27 for a casual dinner gathering.)
Grocery
Whole Foods Market
9607 Research Blvd #300, Austin, TX 78759
Natural and organic food
Shopping
The Gateway Shopping Center
A large, outdoor shopping area housing major chain clothing, food, electronics, and home goods stores.
The Domain
The Domain is located on the other side of the highway closer to TACC and CCC, so it's not recommended that you walk there from the Hyatt House-Austin Arboretum hotel. This is a large outdoor mall area, including the Punch Bowl Social where we'll host a social gathering on Tuesday, September 25. Their website includes a full listing of all shops and restaurants within the domain.
Popular Places to Visit in Austin
Although the Hyatt House, TACC, and CCC are located just about 10 miles from the central UT-Austin and downtown area, Austin traffic can be bad enough that getting downtown can take up to an hour. If there's no traffic, you can be there in fifteen minutes.
If you decide to catch a ride downtown or to explore different parts of Austin, here are some things you might consider doing:
- Visit the Texas State Capitol and Governor's Mansion, which marks the location of the Lone Star State's Capitol, home to the Texas Legislature and Office of the Governor. Down the road from the capitol building is the Bullock State History Museum, where you can learn about the story of Texas.
- Go to a concert at Austin City Limits.
- Eat BBQ! You might wait in line for hours at some of the more popular places, such as Franklin BBQ. Other favorites include Stiles, Black's, Freedmen's, and La Barbecue.
- Take a 3-hour craft brewery tour by pedicab with Metrocycle Pedicabs.
- Enjoy the nightlife on 6th Street. We hear it's a younger crowd that hangs out here, so if you're interested in a different vibe you'll find a helpful guide for various entertainment districts in Austin (including 6th Street) at https://6street.com/.
- Go two-steppin' (or watch others two-steppin'!) at the Broken Spoke.
- From March to October (typically), 1.5 million bats emerge nightly from narrow but deep crevices in the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridge, about 20 minutes prior to sundown. The best vantage point is on the Congress Bridge.
- Take a 0.5-mile hike up Mount Bonnell to take in stunning views, or do the full loop of the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail.
- Catch a film at the Alamo Drafthouse, They serve food, beer, and curate an interesting schedule of new and old releases.