Successful Dad's Weekend? Check!

How to have a successful Dad's Weekend:

1. Go outside.

On Friday afternoon, after our lunch at Hopdoddy (of course), we hiked up Mount Bonnell and sat at the top overlooking the lake. Saturday morning we walked from the hotel to Jo's Coffee for lattes and a breakfast taco. This may have been my dad's first time trying coffee from a coffee shop other than Starbucks, as he was excited to tell me, "Wow, this is so much better than Starbucks." Yes, dad...most coffee places are.

2. Spend time together.

We spent most of the day and night on Friday just us two.  We spent a few hours on Mount Bonnell and all of dinner talking about business, family and life.

3. Try new restaurants. Lots of them.

I love when my parents come to Austin because I get to host them and show them MY city. In Austin, they are my guests, so I want to show them the best time and, of course, feed them the best food. Dad and I tried and loved La Condesa for dinner on Friday, Jo's for breakfast on Saturday (and Sunday), Easy Tiger for lunch and beers before the UT baseball game, and Parkside for dinner with my friends on Saturday (even though we had been here before). We had a successful food weekend. That's for sure.

4. Go downtown. Drink. Repeat.

Since my dad is more fun than I am, we went out both nights that he was here.  Friday night we went to our favorite place, Cedar Street, for a drink after dinner.  Saturday night we went with all of my friends and their dads to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar.  We had the best time all together, and may or may not have polished off a few rounds of shots.  From here, dad insisted on bar hopping until the bars closed, which is when we took a pedicab back to the hotel. Poor pedicab driver...

5. Go to a sporting event.

Saturday we spent our entire afternoon at the UT v. Stanford Baseball game. Not only were we sitting with friends, but the game was intense and the weather was absolutely perfect.

6. Be thankful.

I am so thankful for times like these.  In fact, I wanted to thank my dad with a little surprise at the hotel, which included a bottle of Hendrick's Gin, Jalepeno stuffed olives, and bags of salted nuts and pistachios. Just a little something to thank him for coming to Austin for the weekend! Much to my surprise, he beat me to the punch and gave me a stunning diamond "love" ring that I have been wanting for forever.  Never taking that thing off.