MAIN Travel Destinations Popular Austin, TX

Austin is the capital of Texas and despite the citified surroundings, the folks who live there have kept their southern cowboy hospitality.

Money Magazine, Fortune 500 and Business 2.0 have named this city one of the best places in the USA to live and do business.

Visitors here will find a feast of Tex Mex, ethnic and international foods; country, rockabilly, punk, ska or alternative music festival; running trails and marathons; city nightlife and hill country scenery mixed together with government, university and cultural features plus down home, Texas style friendliness.

The welcome extends to children with the Austin Children's Museum just one of the draws for the little ones. If you are a dog lover, Austin has been named one of the top ten best USA and Canadian cities to visit with pets!

If you think of the Texas landscape as being dry and dusty with tumbleweeds rolling through the towns, be prepared to change your mind. Austin is at the edge of Texas Hill Country and was built on the banks of the Colorado River which has been dammed to create large lakes. Lake Austin and Lake Travis lure boaters, scuba divers, water skiers, windsurfers and fishermen. Trails around the lakes and in the countryside are perfect for walking, cycling and even horseback riding. The area around Austin is also known for wine trails!

Only a few buildings in Austin are taller than the trees and they stand out. One of these is the Texas State Capitol which is 15 feet taller than the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. and the reason that Austin shied away from looming towers in the downtown area. It seems that Austinites believe that the imposing Capitol should be able to be viewed from anywhere in town.

Due to this restriction, the city is not a skyscraper showcase, although there is a boom going on and several newer buildings are reaching levels that stand out. Don't worry though, there doesn't seem to be a limit to the tourist activities you'll find housed in the low, welcoming buildings and the countryside around the city.

In addition to being the capital, Austin is home to a major university — with all the music, culture and nightlife you'd expect in a college town. Whether you are going in September to enjoy the Austin City Limits Music Festival, taking in a bit of modern history at the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum or waiting to see the largest urban bat colony take to the skies as evening falls...Austin offers a big enough variety of activities to satisfy any visitor.

Lonely Planet Guide to Austin - Basics about the 'Live Music Capital of the World' plus detailed info on where to play, eat and stay while you are there. Comments from other readers who know the town or at least have visited to help you sort through the options.

AOL City Guide: Austin - Listings to most popular bars and restaurants and a search by metro or specific area. You'll also find local weather, movie listings, walking tours, an event finder, plus general tourist and city information.

6th Street Austin Texas - From the site: The downtown Austin guide to arts and entertainment. A one stop shop for Austin music, events, live entertainment, festivals, restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs, live music venues, lodging, bands, art galleries, theatres and businesses. Austin live music and events calendar and our comprehensive road show run-down. That just about covers it - a daily calendar of events, maps, places to go and music to hear, races, hot sauce and crawdad festivals...

Epinions - Austin - This guide takes the format of natives or others who know the city well posting individual reviews. Some are better than others, but overall they provide an good insight into the attractions of the city from an insider's point of view.

Vegetarian Travel Guide to Austin - If you are looking for veggie restaurants and like minded folks to stay with, this guide is for you. Organic friendly people, some naturalists, yoga, places to stay, eat and meet...sans meat.

Bats At Congress Ave Bridge - Seriously batty, one of the most unusual Austin tourist attractions is the evening flight of bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge. The world's largest bat colony based in a big city boasts 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats who take to the air in a spectacular exhibition - if you go, make sure to wear a hat to avoid bat droppings...

Over 50 things to do in Austin - A list of Austin based activities ranging from concerts, Austin City Limits, Austin Duck adventures, museums, ghost tours and more.

Texas Highways Magazine - Hill Country - Austin is at the edge of Texas Hill Country and there is plenty to do and see in the area. There is also a good listing of events in and around Austin.

Also see -> Texas Travel | Texas Independence Day Events & Parades

Texas Beaches | Texas Wineries & Vineyards | Dog Friendly Cities