Recently, we found ourselves embarking on an last minute trip to Austin, Texas for the highly anticipated GalaxyCon 2023 convention. My daughter was recently diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder and just really needed some time to feel happy and normal again. This travel business was inspired by and named for her. What better way to accomplish supporting our business while lifting her spirits than to visit this vibrant city that has a unique blend of culture, music, and culinary delights. Join us as we recount our unforgettable three-night stay in Austin, filled with exciting convention experiences and unexpected discoveries.
Day 1: Arrival in Austin, Texas via Jet Blue airlines. The plane was comfortable and we did not experience any delays. The only stressful portion of our trip out West was the security lines early in the morning were extremely long compared to what we are used to at our local airport. Fortunately, with my daughter being a minor, she was able to have TSA pre-check applied to her ticket since my husband and I are subscribed. Next time, we will need to leave earlier to ensure we aren’t down to the wire with only minutes to spare.
We grabbed an Uber ride to our hotel after finding the ride share pick-up location in the parking deck across from the airport baggage claim main building. We checked into the Marriott Courtyard Austin Downtown/Convention Center. Our room offered the perfect view of the Austin Convention Center. We grabbed lunch at Velvet Taco, which offers a delightful infusion of flavors, combining traditional taco ingredients with unexpected twists. Located in the heart of Austin, it is conveniently situated near other popular attractions, making it an ideal spot to refuel after exploring the city.
We enjoyed walking around downtown and checking out the famous Sixth Street during the day. On our evening walks, the entertainment district was a sight to see with its colorful signs, music from each venue, local open mics and karaoke, and bustling with a variety of visitors. This street feels like a mix between Nashville and Bourbon Street. We settled on a quick dinner near our hotel at The Backspace. We enjoyed the wood-fired pizza, which was fantastic and we recommend stopping here if you find yourself in Austin. Our waiter suggested we try the Voodoo Doughnut located a few blocks away. These doughnuts became our daily guilty pleasure after dinner every night of our visit. Personally, my favorite was the Strawberry Go-Tart. The jam inside was fresh and paired perfectly with the white icing and yeast doughnut. We tried the August and September specialty flavors along with Banana Cream Pie, Bacon Maple Bar, their Voodoo Doll, and Marshall Mathers. It would take a month to try every flavor combination.
Day 2: The convention opened in the afternoon where we checked in seamlessly. My daughter dressed as Bubbles from the Power Puff Girls since the character is voiced by her favorite actor, Tara Strong. The game plan for the day was to complete as many celebrity meet-and -greets as possible along with merchandise shopping. Doing this allows you to make the most of your time at the convention when crowds are lower since most people are working or in school. We were able to take our time shopping and not fighting large crowds. We found anime merch, collector pins, Pokémon items and even a fantastic local artist water color with Godzilla that had to come home with us. We met Jonathan Frakes, William Shatner, Tara Strong (twice) and saw several anime actors and others like Richard Dreyfuss, the cast of Boy Meets World, and more.
My daughter had a fantastic time, but left early to rest and prepare for a longer day on Saturday. My husband and I had dinner near the hotel at Stella San Jac. The food was fantastic and I recommend you try their signature biscuits. The hotel is also near food trucks and Chick-Fil-A, so bringing dinner back to the hotel was the perfect solution for my daughter. She also appreciated the second round of Voodoo Doughnuts brought to her hotel room. All-in-all, the first day of the convention was successful and we were excited to see what the weekend festivities would bring!
Day 3: We started our morning with breakfast from the Starbucks in our hotel. We purchased a photo opportunity with David Boreanaz who played Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Agent Seeley Booth from Bones. Bones happens to be one of my daughter’s favorite shows and has inspired her to attend classes for criminal justice. Her end goal is to work in the Special Victims Unit in some capacity later in life. With it prescheduled, we thought we could arrive about an hour before the time slot to allow for checking in at the front desk. However, the hotel room was the real MVP of the weekend. Had we not had a room facing the Convention Center, we would not have seen the lines snaking around the entire building beginning earlier in the morning. The crowds were so large that we quickly got dressed in character and headed out 3 hours before our scheduled meet.
My Hero Academia was the family theme for the day. My husband dressed as All Might, my daughter as Itsuka Kendo, and I as Mei Hatsume. While in the 2.5-hour line outside in the 90-degree heat, we heard kids, adults, and teens exclaim "It’s All Might!” My husband is an introvert at his core, but he warmed up over time to the many requests for photos from people at the convention. I felt like his handler for the day as people handed me their cell phones so they could pose with him for pictures. The second photo appointment we had later in the day was with Lana Parrilla who played Regina in Once Upon a Time. The crowds were thick inside the building. Our biggest complaint is that the Convention Center did not have any seating or areas where you could eat. We ended up purchasing pizza slices and drinks inside, but had to sit on the floor as there were no chairs to be had. We visited costume meet ups and listened to engaging panel discussions with industry icons. The convention offered an immersive experience for fans of all ages from all walks of life.
After a day filled with excitement, my husband and I decided to try Stubbs Bar-B-Q while my daughter rested at the hotel. This venue offers an authentic Austin experience and is an institution in the city’s food and music scene. Established in 1968 by C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield, the legendary blues musician and barbecue pitmaster, this restaurant provides the perfect mix of dinner for the barbecue aficionado with concerts for the music enthusiast. With its mouthwatering menu, lively atmosphere, and rich musical heritage, Stubbs embodies the spirit of Austin.
Conclusion: We did not attend the final day of the convention as we needed to catch a flight home. However, I would recommend purchasing the 3-day pass and waiting in line on the first day the convention opens in order to skip the long weekend cues to enter the building. If you have mobility concerns or otherwise covered by the American Disability Act there were no signs or anyone working outside to tell you that you did not need to wait in the long lines wrapped around the building exterior, but could walk to the front and enter a much shorter line. Had we known, I’m sure my daughter would have been able to enjoy more of the event without having to leave early to recover from the heat. I’m not sure if this was the first year the Convention Center held GalaxyCon, but the lack of seating inside and the chaos at point of entry were definitely detrimental. Outside of these two issues, our impromptu Austin visit exceeded all expectations. From the thrilling convention experiences to the city’s vibrant culture and culinary scene, Austin left an indelible mark in our hearts. Whether you’re an anime or pop culture enthusiast, a food lover, or an avid explorer, Austin offers a little something for everyone. So, if you find yourself with the opportunity to visit this dynamic city, embrace the spontaneity and let Austin’s charm sweep you off your feet.
Be sure to check out our full video review below.