Austin, the capital city of Texas, is in some ways one of the
least archetypically Texan of cities. Known more for its lush
music scene and burgeoning reputation for motion-picture production
than for its ties to the Old West, this eclectic and vibrant city
attracts 17 million visitors every year.
Families visiting Austin will enjoy the cities lakes. Lake Austin
is a popular recreation destination, as is Lake Travis, home of
Volente Beach Water Park. Both draw big numbers in the summer,
though, so visitors should be prepared for some crowds. Capital
Cruise boat tours can be taken on Town Lake, which is right in
the middle of the city and offers great views of the Capital Building.
For drier kid-friendly fun there’s always Kiddie Acres,
where little ones can enjoy a modest little theme park that won’t
break the bank.
Art and culture is readily available in SoCo, the portion of South
Congress Ave. dotted with unique art galleries, stores and restaurants.
There’s music and theater to be enjoyed in beautiful Zilker
Park. The city also has many interesting museums. The Austin Museum
of Art is the place to go for contemporary art. The Mexic-Arte
Museum features rotating exhibitions by Mexican and Mexican-America
artists. Natural Science buffs should definitely check out the
excellent Texas Memorial Museum.
Austin is home to the University of Texas. UT’s 50,000 students
insure a lively bar and nightclub scene for young people, most
of which can be found on the stretch of Guadalupe St. known as
the Drag. Texas football fans will naturally want to catch a Longhorn’s
game if they’re visiting during the season.
With more bars and nightclubs per capita than any city in the
United Sates, Austin is well known for its hip and varied nightlife.
Oslo is a Scandinavian influenced nightclub that has become an
Austin bastion of cool. Cowboys and girls will want to mosey down
to the legendary Broken Spoke for a little country-western two-stepping.
Azucar is the spot for those who would rather dance a salsa. Gay
travelers won’t want to miss a trip to Oilcan Harry’s
in Austin’ warehouse district.
Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, and it
this case it isn’t just typical Texan hyperbole. Countless
stars from every genre have emerged from its storied music scene,
including Janis Joplin Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The
distinctive flavor of its rock-n-roll, country, blues, rockabilly
and Latin music has made the city an American music Mecca.
No visit to Austin is complete without seeing at least one live
music performance. Legendary venues like Antone’s or Threadgill’s
Restaurant are part of the cities music history, but great places
to catch a show are as common in Austin as cactus in the desert.
Stubbs BBQ is always a solid choice for ribs and blues, but the
younger crowd may want to head over to UT’s campus institution,
The Hole in the Wall bar. Rock and Punk aficionados should drop
in the Red Eye Fly on Red River St.
Austin City Limits is the longest running PBS series, and those
lucky enough to get tickets are in for a treat. The September
festival of the same name is a can’t-miss opportunity. The
South By Southwest Music Festival is an enormous music industry
event where record companies from across the country come to find
the next big thing. Hundreds of the area’s best bands play
their hearts out for days on end. It’s an unforgettable
experience for music lovers, but the prices are high and the lines
are long, so only die-hards need apply.
