MAIN Travel Top Travel Picks Austin, TX

View of Austin's skyline from Lady Bird Lake.

Unique and quirky (in a good way!) -- and holding out a warm Texas welcome for visitors -- Austin also lays claim to some of the most interesting tourist attractions within the Lone Star State.

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

Visitors here will find a feast of entertainment and other diversions, including Tex Mex, ethnic and international foods. At the famed 6th Street club scene in Downtown Austin there's country, rockabilly, punk, ska or alternative music. For fitness buffs, there are running trails and marathons.

All told, Austin city nightlife and hill country scenery get jumbled together with government, university and cultural features with a dollop of homey, Texas-style hospitality. What could be better?

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!

Cityscapes? 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.

The city is not a skyscraper showcase, although there is a boom going on and several newer buildings are reaching levels that are noticeable.

Austin's 6th Street club scene.

Meanwhile, if you think of Texas as being dry and dusty with tumbleweeds rolling through towns, be prepared to change your mind in Austin.

Located at the edge of Texas Hill Country, Austin was built on the banks of the Colorado River which has been dammed to create Lake Austin and Lake Travis which lure boaters, scuba divers, water skiers, windsurfers and fishermen.

Trails around the lakes and in the countryside are also perfect for walking, cycling and even horseback riding. The area around Austin is also known for wine trails.

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 as evening falls -- Austin offers a big enough variety of activities to satisfy any visitor.

Did we say Austin was quirky? Have fun!

also see -> Texas Independence Day Events & Parades

More about Austin tourist attractions around the Web:

Austin Conventions and Visitors Bureau - Check out the official site for a colorful look at upcoming events and entertainment, find a hotel or other lodging, shop til you drop, and get insider tips from Austin locals.

Austin - Wikitravel - Get inside this deep guide to the city with extensive tips and advice for getting there and getting around, what to see and do, plus more about what to see outside the city.