Enjoy Unique Shops and Tasty Travels on South Congress

As the mother of a child with autism, I know just how hard it can be to find vitamins and other supplements for kids with sensory issues. I've spent many years experimenting with different types of products to find the ones that work for my son and, in the process, I've learned a lot. Knowing that I'm not the only one who must be struggling with this, I created this site to share my experiences and the outcome of our trial and error. I hope that the information here not only helps you feel less alone in the process but also makes it easier for you to find options that may work for your kids.

Enjoy Unique Shops and Tasty Travels on South Congress

27 March 2017
 Categories: Shopping, Blog


Shopping at an outdoor market can be so much fun! Why settle for the same, boring shopping where you have to drive from store to store to get what you want? Why not find something you love, either for yourself or a gift, that you can't find in a store? And, while you are at, sample some amazing, local cuisine.

The South Congress area in Austin, TX, has many unique storefronts and shops. Perhaps the most unique areas are the ones that are temporary, with vendors setting up tents and tables to display their unique products.

The open-air markets offer a wide variety of products ranging from local crafts to cook-to-order food and are usually open only on the weekend. Here is just a taste of what you can find at the South Congress outdoor market areas:

Local Crafts and Art

There are many sellers of local art, sculptures, jewelry, and clothes. These items are often hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind items that you can't order online or find in a store. Some examples include:

  • Hand-crafted jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. The jewelry can be made out of all types of materials, such as copper, silver, bronze, wood, semi-precious stones, and rope.
  • Screen-printed t-shirts. These often carry local Austin or unique sayings. Some of the t-shirts may be resale from non-local sources, but there is still a wide variety of unique shirts.
  • Custom leather goods. Leather is a very versatile material and there are numerous vendors who sell leather hand bags and wallets.
  • One-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures.  There are many examples of unique paintings, carvings, and sculptures created by local artists. In many cases, you can meet with the artist personally since he or she is the one manning the booth.

Unique Restaurants and Eateries

The South Congress area also abounds with unique places to eat and drink. In fact, you will be hard-pressed to find any of the regular, chain restaurants. Eateries can be either traditional, walk-in restaurants or food trailers, and trucks.

There is an unbelievable variety of food that is sold out of food trucks and trailers. These range from pan-Asian cuisine to scratch-made desserts. Take the time to peruse the selection and don't be afraid to try a little bit from each place.

Even the storefront restaurants have a local flair. Many have local extras, such as live music or local artwork on the walls that can also be purchased. Often, the food is an Austin take on more traditional fair, such as upscale hamburgers, eggplant pizza, or vegan cuisine.

Shopping on South Congress is as much about the experience as the product. Make sure to spend time in the open-air markets and sample the delicacies from the many restaurants and eateries.