So you say you’re new to Austin? Well, as long as you plan on keepin’ it weird then you’ll be welcomed by the heavily tattooed, yet widely outstretched, arms of this amazing city.

Austin has a lot to offer and not only prides itself on live music but has become quite a food lover’s paradise as well. The creative vein of our fine city runs deep and the calendar always has some sort of festival/art show/fair/drum circle to attend.

You have a car, you say? Getting around Austin has become a bit of a challenge so if you don’t already have a trusty pair of ‘patience pants’, run right out and acquire a fashionable pair. Heavy traffic here usually kicks off between 6:00 and 7:00 in the morning and the afternoon rush hour typically starts around 2:30 or 3:00 (I’ve often wondered how 9-5 equates to a 3:00 traffic jam, but it most definitely does). Now by neatly outlining our traffic patterns you have to also know that there is some kind of traffic somewhere at ALL times, mmmkay? Found those comfortable pants yet??

Before you can even start to worry about the impending traffic, you must know how to navigate the city. The main thoroughfares in Austin are IH-35, Mopac, Research Boulevard, Ben White Boulevard and Capital of Texas Highway. Oh, excuse me, did I say Mopac? I meant to say Loop One. Oh dear. I think I said Capital of Texas when I meant to say 360. And did I dare say Ben White? You might hear Ben White also referred to as US 290. That leaves us with Research. I surely meant to say US 183 or, when far north, Bell Boulevard. Totally simple, right? Basically, make sure your phone is well charged at all times to stand up to the heavy dose of mapping it will endure.

As I mentioned earlier Austin relishes our wealth of great food, both at a myriad of amazing restaurants and within our grocery stores. HEB is a local go-to because they are everywhere and their prices are highly competitive. Central Market is HEB’s version of a boutique-type grocery store. There are two locations in town and the north location (at North Lamar and 38th Street) can be a mama’s best friend for the simple fact that the cafe has a great outdoor area and large playscape. Call up your mom besties, grab some lunch and a glass of wine at the cafe, park it outside and enjoy lunch al fresco while the kids play.

Austin is also home to the flagship Whole Foods location as well as 4 other stores. Meandering the aisles of a Whole Foods can truly serve as an education in all things food. If you’re interested in upping your cooking game, the main store on Lamar even has a cooking school where you can sharpen your skills (and probably learn to chop things super fast like every one of those cooking show contestants). Besides the three shopping destinations mentioned, Austin also has a few Randalls locations, 3 Sprouts stores, and 2 Wheatsville Food Co-op locations. Consider yourself (and your family) well fed.

We’ve managed to cover the basics of traffic, roads, and grocery shopping, so what else is there? If you’re new to Austin, specifically a mama who is brand spankin’ new to this great city, you need to start building your village. Austin Moms Blog has a great resource to get moms connected in their specific areas of town. The AMB Neighborhood Groups are a fantastic way to meet other moms in town and set-up playdates, get information, ask questions, etc.

Undoubtedly, Austin is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Once you learn the basics you’ll be able to skip around town (in those trend setting patience pants) and get the most out of what this city has to offer!