The Line
Austin
August 2020
My family and I have stayed at The Line Hotel multiple times, and each experience has been fantastic. The hotel is pet-friendly with an added bonus—no pet fee! The floors and hallways are spotless. Since it was my first time at a pet-friendly hotel, I half-expected it to smell like a zoo, but I was pleasantly surprised: no stains, no odd odors, nothing. The lobby offers comfortable seating and a few open tables perfect for working or dining. Mornings started at their coffee shop, Alfred, where I enjoyed a delicious cold brew. They also have a restaurant and bar, Arlo Grey, in the lobby, which was closed at the time due to COVID.
All right, let's talk about the rooms 😏. I recommend reserving one that faces Lady Bird Lake—the view is amazing, especially at sunset. The room was spacious enough for me, my parents, and my black Lab. The mini-fridge in the closet was fully stocked with a variety of drinks, including soda, alcohol, and sparkling water—the list goes on. You could honestly have a little party! They even had condoms, which made it hilarious watching my mom sift through and discover everything inside.
The hotel is located near the South Congress Ave bridge and close to fantastic food spots, biking and running trails, and, most importantly, right next to the river. Every time I visited Austin, it was a must to inflate my SUP and soak up some sun on Lady Bird Lake. There are several docking spots, but I usually set up my SUP under the 1st Avenue bridge. Conveniently, my parents would walk over to Capital Cruises to rent kayaks.
Capital Cruises is a great option, as they close at midnight and are also very close to the South Congress Ave bridge. Around 8 pm in the summer, a large crowd gathers at the Congress bridge to watch the bats take flight for their nighttime feeding. If you plan to watch from a kayak, I’d recommend renting your kayaks early—ideally before 5 pm—to avoid them running out, as they often reserve kayaks for a bat-watching tour.
