Things to Do in Austin
Austin is no stranger to eclectic attractions. With music as its centerpiece, the city hosts a few of the country's most renowned festivals - Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. Throughout the year, you can hear music spilling from the walls of venues such as The White Horse, Sahara Lounge, Elephant Room and Paramount Theatre, to list a few. Besides exploring the diverse music scene, visitors might like to walk around the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, a 10-mile path bordering the lake on its flow through downtown. Get your shopping fix at South Congress Avenue where eclectic shops, popular music venues and hip restaurants line the street. Before you leave, be sure to try a rack of barbecue ribs or Tex-Mex feasts.
Political buffs and architecture lovers should swing by the pink granite Texas State Capitol, which - in true Texas fashion - stands taller than our nation's capitol. You can relive Texas history at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, admire European paintings and modern Latin American art at Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas campus, or soak up the natural beauty of Texas Hill Country at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. For those who like a little outdoor adventure, the Congress Avenue bats make up the largest urban bat colony in North America. The Barton Springs Pool, an artisan spring-fed swimming hole, welcomes visitors to cool off in the 68-degree waters.