Austin, TX
San Antonio-Austin mega-metro might be a bad cultural fit
When I first got this job, a culture writer named Cat Cardenas had some strong instructions for me. Born and raised in San Antonio and an Austin resident since enrolling at the University of Texas in 2014, she was excited for my new position but worried about an Austin writer joining MySA.
“Don’t Austin my San Antonio!” she pleaded.
It was in jest, but there is a kernel of truth in every joke, or so the bromide goes.
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The phrase has morphed. Austinities worry about the city getting California’d (too late). While reporting a story in Lockhart recently, I saw a sticker that read “Don’t Austin my Lockhart.” That sense of provincialism has proliferated throughout the state.
In this edition of our series on the mega-metro, we’re focusing on culture. Mainly, what would smushing these towns and cities together do to benefit each one? And how could annexing Austin and San Antonio flatten the culture in either city?
The River Walk in San Antonio, Texas at sunset.
f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Culture Shifts of the San Antonio-Austin mega-metro
In a mega-metro, San Antonio benefits from tech jobs and dollars, UT Austin talent, and more. But from a cultural perspective, Austin has more to gain from San Antonio than vice versa.
Yes, Austin has the money and the flagship university and the shiny new arena built with that money at that university and which hogs Drake and Olivia Rodrigo and all the other musicians who skip San Antonio on their tours. And Austin has the Texas State Capitol and the political capital that comes with it.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 16: George Strait (L) introduces Bruce Springsteen during the Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band 2023 tour at the Moody Center on February 16, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)
Rick Kern/Getty Images
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But there is, beyond the Alamo and the other missions, a strong cultural identity that has either been lost here, or, if you’re a black-pilled Austin cynic, never really existed.
“San Antonio kind of represents the past, whereas Austin represents the future,” says Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies. “And I think that people will see that as a negative, but there’s a lot to be said for the history and the culture of San Antonio.”
It’s certainly a shift from the pretty recent past. If you’ll remember Austin used to be — or has been characterized as such, endlessly — as a sleepy town where musicians paid for sandwiches with a song.
In 2010, Josh Long published Weird City: Sense of Place and Creative Resistance in Austin, Texas, on the precipice of major capital and cultural shifts in the city. The book categorized and anticipated threats to the underlying cultural landscape that made Austin special. Those threats weren’t so far off. Thirteen years later, Long would write a completely different book.
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“For years,” Long says, he heard San Antonians complaining about Austin hogging all the glory. Not so much anymore. “I have friends in San Antonio who are like, ‘You know what? Never mind. We don’t want it. Austin sucks now,’” he says.
It’s a popular refrain in 2023 for Austin residents to self-hate, but to hear it from the city just down I-35 is new. It’s bearing out in the real estate market.
During a housing market boom in 2021, Austin saw residents priced out of the city, settling in nearby Elgin, Pflugerville, or Kyle. But more recently, folks are trading one major metropolis for another.
San Antonio added 19,000 new residents in 2022 — and 20% of those imports came from Austin. A more recent report shows that 56% of pageviews on Zillow for San Antonio housing come from people in Austin, with many young, first-time homebuyers skipping over the suburbs on the I-35 corridor and picking the Alamo City.
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Could we see a mass exodus from Austin to the “suddenly hip” city down I-35, an impossibility just a decade ago?
“If you’d told me when I was in my 20s that people would be talking about the coolest cities in Texas being San Antonio and Houston,” Long says, “I’d be like, ‘Get the f**k out of here.’”
Austin fans cheer on the San Antonio Spurs during game featuring the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs on April 6, 2023 at the Moody Center in Austin, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Austin Spurs
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I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the silver-and-black elephant in the room. Ever since the San Antonio Spurs played two meaningless, late-season games at the Moody Center last season, Spurs fans have been apoplectic about losing one of its crown jewels to Austin.
But wouldn’t that be just so Austin?
San Antonio sports fans are still not over the fact that the city 75 miles to the north swooped in and grabbed an expansion MLS team in 2018 even after Austin unsuccessfully tried to poach the Columbus Crew a few years earlier. The city, not known for caring about much in the way of athletics beyond Longhorns football, had been rewarded for its brashness while San Antonio, with an existing USL Championship squad and proof of fervent soccer fandom, was left in the lurch.
Consider that this happened after San Antonio and Bexar County ponied up $9 million to purchase Toyota Field in order to create a stadium that was attractive to the MLS and got the Spurs to join the bid. And consider that the guy who brought soccer to Austin, then-Crew owner Anthony Precourt, also sat on the MLS committee in charge of awarding new franchises.
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Matthew McConaughey addresses the crowd on the jumbotron before Austin FC’s inagural game against San Jose Earthquakes at Q2 Stadium on June 19, 2021 in Austin, Texas.
Gary Miller/Getty Images
“Putting the guy that wants to move to Austin on it, knowing full well if Austin got a franchise we were not going to get one, because we’re only about 75 miles away or so … all of our suspicions became true,” Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told Texas Public Radio last year. “The Spurs didn’t think that was going to happen – but [if] you’ve been around politics long enough how to smell out a rat – I figured that was a rat. And turned out to be a big rat.”
Put aside the fact that the team just invested half a billion dollars in a campus and practice facility in northwest San Antonio and that Austin doesn’t have — and can’t build, realistically — an arena large enough to handle an NBA team. Forget, even, about the five banners hanging from the rafters at the AT&T Center.
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Branding exercise though it may be, two games out of 82 is still a stab in the heart for every diehard who has gladly exchanged their hard-earned money for the opportunity to watch a rebuilding team flounder at the bottom of the Western Conference.
“The Spurs are sacred in that city,” Long says. “I shudder to think … it’d be riots in the streets.”
The new Torchy’s location will open off Bandera Road.
Courtesy of Torchy’s Tacos
Would San antonio be the second city in an Austin mega-metro?
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There are already mega-metro dual citizens, says David Martin Davies, who, by the way, likes to call the forming region the Combo-Loco Metro.
He’s heard stories of folks getting on buses in San Antonio to work at Giga Texas in Austin every day, just as they do in Killeen, just in the other direction.
As we’ve covered in an earlier story in this series, transportation is at the heart of this project, and I-35 could wind up as the clogged artery in the mega-metro. Increased traffic and stalled rail plans are indicators that the mega-metro could be speeding along too quickly, to the detriment of San Antonio in particular.
“We don’t want it to grow like a cancer — that’s the problem with uncontrolled growth,” he says. “You just have this big tumor of these two cities coming together. And we don’t want that.”
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Louis Singh, owner of St. Mary’s restaurant Singh’s Vietnamese, grew up in San Antonio but has lived in Austin before, saying that he’s already seeing the Austin influence on the San Antonio culinary scene in the proliferation of food trucks in the city. Austin-based chains have also invaded San Antonio in recent years, from Torchy’s and P. Terry’s to Via 313 and Kerbey Lane Cafe.
P. Terry’s is eyeing the first week of July for the big reveal of San Antonio’s first location of the Austin burger brand.
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com
Singh says he’s fine with growth and more food options as San Antonio grows as a food city, and that competition isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In some cases, it can bring more ideas to the (pun intended) table. But it can’t be unchecked growth.
“I’m a little afraid of getting oversaturated, kind of like how Austin is,” Singh says. “The bigger picture is that it’s going to take somebody or some great teams to help facilitate that kind of communication.”
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In order to share a food scene, in a mega-metro scenario, some thought is going to have to go into exactly how to make sure legacy businesses don’t get shoved out as Austin comes parading down the highway.
Davies, who, anecdotally and in his work as a reporter, sees the mega-metro as an inevitability, is also worried for San Antonio if Austin decides to impose its will. There are economic advantages San Antonio could see, through higher paying jobs and through pooling talent with Austin and the rest of the corridor. But the drawbacks will be particularly stark in the way of culture.
“My main concern about a San Antonio-Austin, Combo-Loco Metro, is how San Antonio will be the Oakland to Austin’s San Francisco, or the Fort Worth to their Dallas,” Davies says. “We’ll be the second city, the second banana. And, you know, it’s hard to argue that it would be any other way.”
Austin, TX
Orlando Outpaces Honolulu, Hawaii, Austin, Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio, Salt Lake City as America’s Top Summer Travel Destinations During this Memorial Day Trip Surge, What Everyone’s Talking About – Travel And Tour World
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Orlando is officially leading the pack. As travelers pack their bags for the Memorial Day trip surge, it’s clear that Orlando outpaces every other contender. This year, it’s not just about sunshine and roller coasters—it’s about value, variety, and easy access. While cities like Honolulu, Hawaii, and Austin, Texas offer charm and excitement, Orlando delivers a complete summer travel package. And right now, everyone’s talking about it.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati, Ohio and Salt Lake City continue to attract savvy travelers with cultural gems and outdoor escapes. But even with their rising popularity, Orlando outpaces them in affordability, family appeal, and entertainment options. As the Memorial Day trip surge kicks off the season, the spotlight remains on Orlando.
People are skipping the long-haul flights to Honolulu, Hawaii in favor of quicker getaways. They’re choosing theme park thrills over live music in Austin, Texas. And while Cincinnati, Ohio and Salt Lake City offer great getaways, Orlando edges them out with sheer versatility.
What’s more, everyone’s talking about how Orlando has become the heartbeat of American summer travel. It’s the city that delivers on every front—fun, food, affordability, and family-friendliness.
So, as the Memorial Day trip surge fuels travel conversations nationwide, don’t be surprised that Orlando outpaces destinations like Honolulu, Hawaii, Austin, Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City. This isn’t just a trend. It’s a travel takeover. And everyone’s talking about where they’re heading first.
Travel season is heating up—and so are travel prices. But even as airfare, hotels, and dining costs rise, your dream summer getaway doesn’t have to burn through your savings. A new study from WalletHub reveals the most affordable cities for summer travel in 2025, blending high value with high adventure.
Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or plan a multi-week vacation, these U.S. destinations rank highest in terms of cost, access, attractions, and overall travel convenience. What makes them stand out? Each city delivers a uniquely American experience—without the sticker shock.
WalletHub’s Methodology: What Makes a City Budget-Friendly?
WalletHub analyzed 100 major metro areas across six core metrics: travel costs and hassles, local expenses, attractions, weather, activities, and safety. The goal? To identify cities that offer the best value per vacation dollar.
Each destination was scored out of 100, creating a weighted average that puts both entertainment and economics into context. The cities topping the list aren’t just affordable—they’re also culturally rich, easy to navigate, and packed with reasons to visit now.
#1 Orlando, Florida – The Magic of Affordability
Orlando claims the crown this year, and not just because of its world-famous theme parks. While Disney and Universal attract families from around the globe, Orlando also offers incredibly affordable lodging (as low as $42 per night for 3-star hotels) and a surprising number of free and low-cost attractions.
Boat tours, art installations, lakefront parks, and quirky neighborhoods offer endless adventures without premium prices. Orlando blends luxury with budget-savvy fun, making it a no-brainer for travelers of all ages.
#2 Atlanta, Georgia – A Southern Star with Massive Value
Atlanta ranks second for many reasons: its strategic location, airport connectivity, and affordable access make it a central hub for both long-distance road trippers and air travelers. From free festivals and parks to low-cost entertainment, Atlanta stretches your dollar farther than most major cities.
It also shines with its vibrant food scene, rich Civil Rights history, and top-rated attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.
#3 Washington, D.C. – A Capital Experience That Doesn’t Cost a Fortune
America’s capital is surprisingly affordable. With dozens of free museums, national landmarks, and public gardens, D.C. offers one of the most enriching travel experiences in the U.S.—without spending big.
Hotels are reasonably priced, and public transport is convenient and safe. With a lower-than-average crime rate, Washington, D.C. is ideal for families, solo travelers, and cultural explorers alike.
Other Standouts: Culture, Comfort, and Cost-Saving All in One
Here are the remaining WalletHub top 15 affordable summer destinations for 2025:
- #4 Honolulu, Hawaii – Surprising entry, but off-season airfare and island deals make it more reachable than ever.
- #5 Austin, Texas – Live music, lakes, and low costs.
- #6 Cincinnati, Ohio – A Midwest gem filled with art and food festivals.
- #7 Salt Lake City, Utah – Outdoor adventure and calm, walkable neighborhoods.
- #8 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – American history, vibrant culture, and walkable cityscapes.
- #9 Miami, Florida – Art Deco, beaches, and unbeatable summer hotel discounts.
- #10 Dallas, Texas – Museums, music, and modern family fun.
- #11 Knoxville, Tennessee – Gateway to the Smokies with a small-town vibe.
- #12 Tampa, Florida – Waterfront escapes and low-cost thrills.
- #13 Richmond, Virginia – Civil War history and Southern hospitality.
- #14 Chicago, Illinois – Big city adventure with surprising summer deals.
- #15 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Rodeos, rivers, and rising cultural status.
Why Budget Travel Is Booming in 2025
This year, travelers are getting smarter about their spending. Rising inflation and airfare costs are prompting tourists to seek greater value, not just the flashiest destinations.
Tourism boards across the country are responding by offering discounted travel packages, free public events, and hotel loyalty programs that reward extended stays. Many second-tier cities are investing in digital nomad amenities, local experience tours, and free public transit—all of which enhance the travel experience without increasing the price tag.
Moreover, family travel, road trips, and solo getaways are shaping 2025’s travel trends. Travelers want more authentic, local, and affordable experiences, and the destinations on this list deliver.
Travel Smarter: Tips for Booking Your Budget Getaway
Planning your summer escape? Here are a few quick strategies to maximize your travel dollar:
- Travel midweek: Tuesdays and Wednesdays often offer cheaper flights and hotel rates.
- Book early or last-minute: Dynamic pricing rewards both planners and flexible adventurers.
- Use fare alerts: Track routes to cities like Atlanta, D.C., and Orlando for sudden dips.
- Look beyond big chains: Boutique hotels, local rentals, and eco-stays often offer better value and experience.
- Bundle up: Many destinations now offer city cards that include transit, museum entries, and attraction discounts.
What This Means for the Travel Industry
The WalletHub list reflects a broader shift in American travel behavior. Tourists are gravitating away from the most crowded, overpriced destinations and toward cities with soul, affordability, and accessibility.
For airlines and hospitality brands, the message is clear: price transparency, local partnerships, and traveler trust are more valuable than ever. The smartest brands are already tailoring packages to these rising destinations, knowing that volume and value now go hand in hand.
Regional airports, budget airlines, and boutique hotel groups stand to gain the most—especially those that invest in infrastructure and digital outreach before peak summer hits.
Final Word: Don’t Let High Prices Cancel Your Summer Plans
Travel doesn’t have to be exclusive. And a tight budget shouldn’t stop anyone from exploring the incredible diversity of the United States. From oceanfront boardwalks in Florida, to the historic heartbeat of Philadelphia, to the rising food scenes in Cincinnati and Dallas, the options for affordable, inspiring travel are more accessible than ever.
This summer, skip the stress and embrace the savings. Let your budget take you somewhere unforgettable.
Tags: Austin, Chicago, cincinnati, Dallas, florida, hawaii, honolulu, Illinois, Knoxville, Memorial Day Trip, Miami, Ohio, Oklahom, oklahoma city, pennsylvania, Philadelphia, richmond, salt lake city, Tampa, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia
Watch Texas football player Kelvin Banks Jr. tackle Austin’s best BBQ
Food critic Matthew Odam joins Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. for a Statesman exclusive interview.
Fire up that grill — it’s National BBQ Day!
National BBQ Day is celebrated each year on May 16. So if you ever actually need an excuse to grab some Texas barbecue on a Friday, this is your chance.
To celebrate the day as well as the approach of summer, Yelp has rounded up a list of the cities with the best barbecue. And don’t worry: You won’t need to leave the state to enjoy the most delicious smoked meats and mouthwatering sauces in the country.
Austin, San Antonio have the best BBQ in America, Yelp says
Yelp reviewers, like Southern Living readers, determined that Austin and San Antonio have the best barbecue around. Yelp searches for “Texas BBQ” increased by 63% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Austin was hailed as the best barbecue city in the country — and if that comes as a surprise, you haven’t been paying attention. A couple of months ago, Southern Living named Franklin Barbecue as the best barbecue joint in Texas for the third year in a row. La Barbecue’s brisket received a coveted Michelin star last year.
Here’s what Yelp had to say about the Texas capital’s barbecue scene:
Whether you like slow-smoked beef brisket, pork ribs, or house-made sausages, Austin has earned its reputation as a top barbecue destination. The city’s food scene features legendary brick-and-mortar BBQ joints, such as Terry Black’s Barbecue, and food trucks, including Micklethwait Craft Meat in East Austin. Yelp users praise Austin’s barbecue for its simple seasonings, which let the quality of the meat shine. Trays of tender brisket, flavorful ribs, and pulled pork sandwiches are among the most photographed dishes. Many users also highlight the perfectly tender texture of the meats at spots like Interstellar BBQ and Salt Lick BBQ.
Coming in second on Yelp’s city rankings is San Antonio. Its diverse barbecue scene features iconic food trucks like Brisket Boys and Cake-N-Que.
Yelp had this to say about barbecue in San Antonio:
Home to top-rated joints like Curry Boys BBQ, Smoke Shack and Garcia Barbecue, this major Texas barbecue city takes the No. 2 spot on this year’s list. Yelp reviews frequently highlight the mix of classic BBQ spots and new fusion-inspired restaurants like Reese Bros Barbecue. San Antonio also boasts a thriving food truck and casual barbecue scene, with spots like Nelson’s BBQ — ranked No. 28 on our 2022 Top 100 Places to Eat in Texas list — which is known for its Texas-style brisket smoked over mesquite wood.
LIST: Best US cities for BBQ 2025
Here are the top 10 cities for barbecue, along with their top-rated barbecue spot, according to Yelp:
- Austin, TX: Jim’s Smokehouse
- San Antonio, TX: Curry Boys BBQ
- Kansas City, KS: Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
- Memphis, TN: Elwood’s Shack
- Charleston, SC: Lewis Barbecue
- Greenville, SC: Smoky Dreams Barbecue and Catering
- Honolulu, HI: Ty’s BBQ and Grill
- Tulsa, OK: Alpha Grill BBQ
- Durham, NC: Moe’s Original BBQ
- Nashville, TN: The Ridge Nashville
Austin, TX
Paxton settles lawsuit with Travis County over security funds for DA granted behind closed doors
The lawsuit Attorney General Ken Paxton filed against the Travis County Commissioners Court in September over allegedly violating the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) has been settled.
The lawsuit was filed after the commissioners court agreed to pay Travis County District Attorney José Garza $115,000 for private home security in a closed session in March 2024. Paxton’s office argued such a use of public funds should be deliberated during a regular session, when residents have a chance to weigh in.
Garza said a series of escalating threats, including tweets displaying his address and one handwritten note that read “Resign by the end of June or we will kill you” pushed him to ask for money for private security.
In the settlement, Travis County did not admit to violating TOMA but agreed to continue complying with the act going forward.
“This agreement balances public transparency with security concerns like those permitted for discussion in executive closed session, thereby protecting our employees and elected and appointed officials,” Travis County spokesperson Hector Nieto said in a statement.
Since the lawsuit was filed, the commissioners court has taken steps to ensure all elected or appointed officials receiving threats can get protection through the county. As attorney general, Paxton too has a taxpayer-funded security detail.
The Travis County Commissioners Court is in the midst of one other lawsuit with the attorney general. In September, Paxton also sued the county for funding a program that mailed out voter registration forms to unregistered voters ahead of the election. That litigation remains ongoing.
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