Whenever Central Texans gear up for completely unpredictable weather patterns, it usually coincides with one very important thing: Thanksgiving travel season!

There are probably a lot of people reading this right now who have their holiday travel itineraries set, or not, and have a good idea as to what might be waiting for them on the Thanksgiving menu when they arrive at their respective destinations. This year, instead of arriving empty handed, why not bring a little Taste of AUS with you and be embraced as the hero of the holiday season? Here are a few really good ideas that travelers flying out of AUS for the Thanksgiving holiday break can take advantage of this year! A little pro tip from the terminal, if you will… 

The Salt Lick BBQ – For most people that are traveling for the holidays, they will be going to destinations that have nothing remotely as delicious and tasty as Texas BBQ. Especially Salt Lick BBQ! In their “Take It Home” portion of the menu, you can buy a whole brisket, and entire BBQ smoked turkey breast, or even a BBQ gift pack. No need to have some poor soul spend hours on the main dish when you can let the culinary masters at Salt Lick BBQ do it for you! 

Taste ATX – Thanksgiving is mostly about food, family, and (hopefully) fun. Taste ATX has dozens of items that perfectly complement a party with all three of those themes in mind. Dry rubs and sauces from multiple local culinary giants, vintage Texas candies and treats, and locally themed coasters, casserole dishes, mugs, games, and gifts that can only be found here in the Hill Country. 

Amy’s Ice Creams – What about the kids? Everyone knows that Amy’s Ice Creams has some of the most delicious Ice Cream you could ever taste, but what some people don’t know is that Amy’s Ice Creams at AUS has a “Kick Up your Boots and Dig In” holiday themed gift collection that features a “Big Kid S’mores Kit”, Mexican vanilla marshmallows, hot cocoa, and several other items that can add a sweet flair to the festivities for all ages. 

Ruta Maya – Most adults love coffee. Let’s be honest, most adults need coffee. Instead of driving around and looking for coffee in an unfamiliar territory or, even worse, drinking that canned coffee that your host has kept buried in the back of their pantry for years, why not supply the family and friends with some of the freshest coffee you can find? Ruta Maya has several different sizes and flavors of their locally owned, world-famous coffee beans in their vintage burlap sacks. So, whether you are a dark roast, medium roast, espresso roast, or even decaf consumer of the beans, Ruta Maya has you and your whole group caffeinated. 

Vino Volo – Much like coffee, some adults also love adding wine to the family holiday festivities. When it’s time to catch up on all the wonderful family tea, make sure that the wine supply is in a good place. Vino Volo has to-go bottles that feature all the familiar varieties from all different regions. Whether it’s some crisp Rose, light and fun chardonnay, or any of the different reds that represent the full flavor profile that wine lovers have come accustomed to love, Vino Volo has you covered no matter what side of the terminal you find yourself. 

See something you like? Awesome! Make sure to head to the terminal before your flight, we recommend arriving 2.5 hours early for domestic travel and 3 hours early for international to give yourself plenty of time. 

Need help finding your way? Our digital wayfinding map has you covered: airportmaps.flyaustin.com 

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at AUS!