Will you be joining us for the 26th Annual OCD Conference in Austin, TX? We asked Narisa Trammell of Visit Austin to share what makes Austin such a unique and exciting city to visit. Read her article below and start planning your trip!
By Narisa Trammell
As a native Texan, a local and a proud representative of Visit Austin, I’m thrilled to welcome the 26th Annual OCD Conference to the capital of Texas! Austin is one of the country’s most popular cities – one which has the ability to appeal to a diverse set of interests. Austin is down-home, yet sophisticated. Laid-back and bustling with energy. Traditional and avant-garde. Austinites (as the locals are known) and visitors alike embrace the city’s unique identity and appreciate the values it was founded upon.
I had the pleasure of attending the 25th Annual OCD Conference last July in Washington, D.C. and found it to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. After chatting with fellow exhibitors, getting to know attendees, and hearing many of your stories, I am so excited to be able to introduce you to this great city. My goal is to make your time in Austin one of the most memorable experiences of your lives.
Getting to Know Austin
As the Live Music Capital of the World,® Austin echoes with the sounds of country, rock, blues, and Tejano. Fans discover live music in nearly 250 venues throughout the city. This small university town where Willie Nelson crafted his own style has become a big city with a glittering skyline and two million people in the metropolitan area.
If you have the time, I highly recommend exploring our live music scene, local restaurants, entertainment districts, shopping, and our beautiful outdoors.
As the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, with rolling hills and wide-open landscapes, Austin has been called a “hymn to the outdoors.” Surrounded by three lakes and dozens of parks, Austin offers the perfect environment for enjoying the best of nature. Speaking of nature, did you know Austin is home to Mexican free-tailed bats? Just before sunset, you can watch them head out into the night sky. And since you’ll be visiting in the middle of summertime, be sure to beat the heat by visiting one of our natural, local swimming holes.
Visit Barton Springs Pool, Deep Eddy Pool, Hamilton Pool Preserve in Dripping Springs, or extend your weekend and make the 45-mile trek to Schlitterbahn, a family-friendly water park in New Braunfels, Texas. You also can’t go wrong with a frozen, sweet treat from Amy’s Ice Cream Shops or Sno Beach Austin.
If staying indoors is more your style, don’t miss our fabulous museums. Immerse yourself in Texas history at the Texas State Capitol or the Bullock Museum of Texas State History, get presidential at the LBJ Presidential Library, or catch a movie in the birth city of Alamo Drafthouse at one of our six theaters.
Exploring the Conference Hotel
This year’s host hotel, the JW Marriott Austin, brings an unparalleled upscale hotel experience to downtown Austin. Situated in the heart of the city, this sprawling urban resort features the largest guest rooms in Austin with floor to ceiling windows, seven bars, three restaurants, Starbucks, the posh Spa by JW, the brand-new Edge Pool Bar & Cabanas, and the ever-popular Burger Bar, a food truck without wheels. JW Marriott Austin is a 2018 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award winner and only a 15-minute drive from Austin International Airport.
Planning Your Trip
Whatever your interests, preferences, or budget, Austin has something for everyone.
Don’t miss out on special discounts with our Austin Insider Deals. And don’t forget to check out the Austin Visitor Center, where you can take one of our fabulous tours and pick up a souvenir to take a piece of Austin home with you.
Experience all things Austin at VisitAustin.org.
Interested in attending the 26th Annual OCD Conference?
To learn more about the 26th Annual OCD Conference, taking place in Austin, TX from July 19-21, click here.
This native Texan and hoarding specialist is VERY excited to be attending the conference. Meeting others from all over will be most exciting. Austin downtown is vibrant and yes, lots of things to do. I office several blocks from the hotel, so I will be so close.
We are OVER THE MOON that the IOCDF conference is coming to our home town!!! Can not wait to see you all there! My team of clinicians and I are looking forward to learning from some of the top leading experts in the field of OCD and catching up on the most current research and methods. See ‘yall soon!
This place is so beautiful, whan an amazing view