Like a Kid in a Whole Foods Store

{Aisle upon aisle of organic packaged food. You get the oxymoron in that statement, right??}

Did you know that the Whole Foods in downtown Austin is the city's biggest tourist attraction? I know right, seems wrong to me too, but that's what the lady in "Candy Island" told me. Whether it's a lie or not doesn't really concern me, because I brought my camera and took pictures of everything to share with you. I'm pretty sure there's a segment of the Austin population that assumes I'd never seen a grocery store before. I swear, you've never seen one like this.

{Oodles and oodles of fresh, local, organic herbs}

{The produce section was vast and gorgeous}

{I saw these and had to have them! They reminded me of the cane sugar
sticks you get in your fruity cocktail on vacation. I've yet to use them.}

{And here, we have the spice aisle. Or as I like to call it "Spice Isle," for no good reason other than I think it sounds cool. They literally have giant jars of any spice you can imagine.}

{I know it looks like poo...I mean, I know it...but it's actually chocolate peanut butter.
Freshly ground!! Yeah, not so gross now, huh?}

{Okay, yeah, it still looks like poop.}

{Also part of Spice Isle, oodles of flavored cane sugars. The vanilla bean spoke volumes
to me, but unfortunately, I didn't think travelling with a pound of a powdery
white substance was the smartest thing I could do.}

{The bakery had an amazing selection of pastries. I'm still regretting not trying one of these white chocolate brioche rolls.}

{Candy Island is just one of many pods like this in the flagship Whole Foods. They also had a version for the seafood, meat, wine, and pasta sections where you could actually sit down and order food.}

{I've got a thing for vanilla. What can I say?}

{Fourth of July themed chocolate-covered apples}

{Gorgeous marbled chocolate bark.}

{Pretty marzipan fruit. So much prettier than it actually tastes.}

{Marshmallow cups that look like cupcakes!!! I can't even.}

{I mean, don't even get me started on the cookie bar. It was EVERYTHING!}

{Longhorn cookies}

{I mentioned earlier the different pods where you could actually sit down and eat. Well, Kyle and I stopped for lunch at the seafood pod. We had this amazing calamari appetizer...}

{...and I had these fantastic tilapia tacos. Possibly the best I've ever had. If they don't have what you want--not likely--you can pick something form the seafood case and they'll prepare it for you. The best part? Everything was around $10! I would eat here every day if I lived in Austin.}

{And then we got a Root Beer Float. Why? Because why not?!}

{Following our adventure around Whole Foods, we checked into our room at the W.
The room was the perfect combination of Austin eclecticism and W style.}

{Heavenly bed. Truly heavenly.}

{The W stocks Bliss toiletries for guests. I probably swiped 3 days worth of refills
to take home with me. FYI, we stayed one night.}

{Eventually my root beer float sugar high started to wear off, so I sought refuge in the vanilla jelly beans I found at Whole Foods. They're almost TOO cool for the W.}

Anyone else been to this Whole Foods? How great is it?? How many hours did you spend there? And what did you eat??