AUSTIN: WHAT TO BUY

SOUTH CONGRESS SHOPPING DISTRICT:
This hip strip features an array of eclectic shops, restaurants, boutiques, antiques, music venues and galleries. And every first Thursday of the month, the street turns into a street fair of sorts with all stores staying open until at least 10pm. 

Some of the standouts for us were:

ALLEN'S BOOTS
1522 South Congress Avenue
+1 512 447 1413
Cowboy boots! Hundreds and hundreds of cowboy boots. If you're not going to buy them in Austin, then where? 

LUCY IN DISGUISE WITH DIAMONDS
1506 South Congress Avenue
+1 512 444 2002
The Allen's Boots of costume shops. So bizarre and yet so much fun.

SECOND STREET SHOPPING DISTRICT:
Home to most of the big name stores in Austin: Banh & Olufsen, Design Within Reach, Swatch and the like, the area is a great place to walk around and shop, and there are a ton of great restaurants as well (see La Condesa, above). There are also a number of smaller, cooler local shops with checking out.