Austin has historic heft—it is, after all, Texas’s capital, with a massive state capitol building to prove it. Overall, however, it has a young, hip vibe, both as the “Live Music Capital of the World” for its many music venues, and as “Silicon Hills” for its many tech companies. Austin’s major festivals tell the same story: The 10-day-long SXSW started out as a tech conference and expanded into film and music components, while the Austin City Limits Music Festival takes over Zilker Park for 2 consecutive 3-day weekends. 

Austin’s dominance in the tech and music sectors—not to mention its youthful orientation—owes a great deal to the presence of the University of Texas (UT). The campus is a key source of the city’s cultural savvy, including a presidential library; theater, dance, and concert venues; and a major art collection. But UT’s original funding came from oil money, and even the most sophisticated Austinites revert to typical Texan fervor when it comes to rooting for the Longhorns. 

Perhaps what most defines Austin is its love of the outdoors. Despite downtown’s rapid development and the unbridled growth of the tech corridor in the Northwest, Austin’s heart is green. The city has a vast municipal system of parks and preserves, and a string of lakes for water recreation. Downtown’s Hike and Bike Trail, looping around Lady Bird Lake, is proof of this fresh-air obsession. There’s no better place to mingle with Austinites of all ages, incomes, and abilities than on this tree-fringed thoroughfare. 

Things to Do

Austin is home to the largest State Capitol in the U.S. The pink Renaissance Revival building's dome, while smaller than the U.S. Capitol's, is taller. (Like they say, everything's bigger in Texas.) Since Austin prides itself on being a little different, why not visit the Bat Bridge? Crowds of people hang around the Congress Avenue Bridge for the star attraction -- the evening flight of the million bats who live beneath the span.

Shopping

Downtown Austin's shopping district sells a mix of goods, from local hot sauce to indie music, from Western wear to Texas folk art. SoCo, or South Congress, is home to art galleries, funky clothing boutiques and bargain antique stores. The real fun in SoCo comes on First Thursdays each month, when the shopping district throws a street festival to attract customers. Live music and entertainment (jugglers, magicians, street theater -- who knows?) keep things lively until 10 p.m. (or later if everyone's having fun).

Nightlife and Entertainment

Antone's has always been synonymous with the blues. When Etta James or Edgar Winter head to Austin, it's Antone's they're heading to, although Willie Nelson and other country acts have been known to show up, too. Honky-tonkin' is the name of the game at The Broken Spoke. Expect cowboy hats, cowboy boots and lots of two-steppin'. The Backyard serves good barbecue and draws big names from all music genres.

Restaurants and Dining

Home-style cooking is the rule at Threadgill's, an honest-to-goodness Austin restaurant dishing up chicken-fried steak, fried okra and ham with Jezebel sauce. It's a favorite venue for Austin's musicians. Americana lives at Shady Grove, with its yellow-pine Texas roadhouse decor. The food says Americana, too: Meatloaf, chili and fried catfish. Sit outside on the restaurant's large patio in summer and, on Thursday nights, listen to free live music when Shady Grove Unplugged features musicians going acoustic.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.