About Austin
Explore Texas
Overview
Fittingly known as The Live Music Capital of the World,® Texas’s eclectic capital city, Austin, is home to such world-renowned festivals as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW®) plus more than 250 foot-stompin’, soul tappin’ musical venues which give Austin its decidedly musical flair. Home to a diverse population who all consider themselves, first and foremost, Texans, plus a range of finger-lickin’ restaurants, sporting events, such as Circuit of The Americas™ (COTA) Formula 1 United States Grand Prix race and PGA World Golf Championship, plus unique shopping experiences and growing culinary scene make Austin a sizzling hot destination all year round. South Congress, SoCo to the locals, and Sixth Street showcase blues, soul, reggae, country and rock music on a grand scale. The Texas State Capitol sits proudly amid bustling downtown Austin, while Lady Bird Lake and the University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center offer a peaceful respite near the heart of the city.
What To Do
Take a bike or unique Segway tour through downtown Austin, stopping at such points of interest as the Capitol building, Sixth Street, newly constructed boardwalk, and South Congress Street. You can even go on a pub crawl via bicycle through the city’s newest entertainment district, Rainey Street, that includes scenic skyline views and plenty of nightlife.
Stop and smell the flowers at the University of Texas at Austin’s colorful Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Visit the university’s educational LBJ Presidential Library. Kayak, paddleboard or stroll along the popular 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail along the lake.
Enjoy an outdoor concert at the renowned Austin City Limits Live venue.
Treat yourself to some of the city’s best BBQ, brews and live music on South Congress or Sixth Street for the perfect all-around Austin experience.
When to Go
This year-round destination in south-central Texas offers hot summers reaching the 80s and 90s F and moderate winters with average temperatures around 60 F, plus plenty of rip roarin’ musical festivals and 300 days of sunshine to keep locals and vacationers warm throughout the year. May to September is wettest, and the summer is hot. Sizzling South by Southwest happens every March and Austin City Limits festival occurs each September. No matter what season you arrive, you’ll leave Austin with a smile on your lips and several songs in your heart.
Fast Facts
Although famed country-western-blues singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas, he moved to Austin to seemingly retire in 1972. However, Austin had other ideas. On August 12th of that year, Willie Nelson appeared onstage at the Armadillo and helped to ignite the Austin musical scene. There’s even a statue of the city’s favorite artist at 301 Willie Nelson Blvd.
Experience a haunted happy hour at the Speakeasy, once a bootlegging saloon now thought to be visited nightly by ghosts of Austin’s past.
In keeping with the state’s way of thinking that bigger is better, the Texas State Capitol building in Austin is the second largest in the country, second only to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
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