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Discover Places to Go and Things to Do
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Austin, TX
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Austin is a place where business professionals, artists, musicians, filmmakers and students all bring their passions to life. Even with its population growing rapidly, this city continues to welcome new residents with open arms. Over the past few years, several national magazines have touted Austin as a top place to live. Even with new, cutting edge high-tech companies growing at an alarming rate, it may seem surprising that Austin has retained the laid-back style it has become famous for.
Sixth Street To experience "The Live Music Capital" of the world,  Sixth Street is a good place to start. Often closed to vehicle traffic on the weekends, this street is lined with dance clubs, live music venues, eateries and street musicians, plus several tattoo and piercing shops. Visitors can have their tarot cards read by a gypsy on a street corner, or buy handmade jewelry from artists and hippies.
Sixth Street To experience "The Live Music Capital" of the world, Sixth Street is a good place to start. Often closed to vehicle traffic on the weekends, this street is lined with dance clubs, live music venues, eateries and street musicians, plus several tattoo and piercing shops. Visitors can have their tarot cards read by a gypsy on a street corner, or buy handmade jewelry from artists and hippies. Grab a slice of pizza at Roppolo's when the munchies take over and you're short on cash; or, if a Cajun meal is what you're after, Jazz serves up Louisiana cooking and great mixed drinks. Music fills the air in this area every night of the week, and visitors can hear everything from country to hip-hop, blues to noise-pop.
If you venture north on Red River Street, you'll find some of Austin's best live music venues. Emo's , Stubb's and Red Eyed Fly , a venue that opened its doors in 1999, all reside here.
Capitol Complex Visitor Center Built in 1856 and 1857, the Capitol Complex Visitor Center is the oldest remaining state office building in Texas. In 1997 it underwent an enormous restoration and extension. Inside the Capitol Building , there is an exhibit chronicling the restoration, where visitors can view a 20-minute film narrated by Walter Cronkite, titled Lone Star Legacy: A History of the Capitol.
The Capitol Building The Capitol is a Renaissance Revival-style building made of Texas pink granite and native limestone, overlooking Congress Avenue . Guided tours are free and provide interesting information and anecdotes for visitors. Make sure to stand in the center of the Rotunda, look up, take notice of the Texas star, and enjoy the beautiful architecture.
Congress Avenue As you are heading South on Congress Avenue , stop by the Austin Museum of Art and check out their collection of 20th-century artwork. Or, if you are in the mood to shop for unique gifts, visit Tesoros Trading Company , where you will find a large selection of Mexican and Latin American jewelry, folk art, amulets and collectibles. Many locals buy their "Day of the Dead" supplies here, as well as Peruvian good luck charms and Latin American Christmas ornaments.
As you travel further south on Congress and cross Lake Austin, you'll encounter a whole new environment. Starting with Guero's Taco Bar, you will notice that South Austin has a different kind of energy—relaxed and funky. Here, you will find antique shops, retro resale shops, vintage clothing and folk art. Stop by Terra Toys to check out their collection of tin soldiers and chemistry sets, then head over to Texas French Bread for soup and a sandwich. Zilker Park This 400-acre park is home to natural spring-fed Barton Springs Pool , a miniature train that circles the park for children to ride, a giant playscape, picnic grounds, rugby and soccer fields, a disc golf course and canoe and kayak rentals. At Christmastime, one of the city's moonlight towers serves as the trunk for the Zilker Park Christmas Tree . Thousands of colored lights are strung to form the shape, and each year locals and visitors twirl around underneath the enormous structure.
Enjoy a number of musical, dance and theater events at the Zilker Hillside Theatre , where the Austin Shakespeare Festival is held each year. Or, visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens , where visitors spend the better part of a day enjoying the cactus, succulents, roses, butterflies and special gardens offered—for free.
Clarksville Originally an African-American community half a mile outside of the city limits, Clarksville remains a melting pot of art and culture. Houses have increased greatly in price due to the location of the neighborhood and all it has to offer. West Lynn Café , a popular vegetarian restaurant, resides here, as well as Jeffrey's for fine dining. You may also enjoy a visit to Nau Enfield Drug, where you can order an old fashioned malt.
The Drag The strip of business along Guadalupe Street, bordering the University of Texas , is lovingly called "The Drag." Many of Austin's coolest shops are here, including Sound Exchange (CD's, records and tapes), Blue Velvet (vintage clothing), Garb-A-Go-Go (colorful clothes and wigs) and Legs Diamond (hard-to-find, eclectic shoes). Stop by the outdoor Renaissance Market , where you will find jewelry, clothing and gifts made by Austin artisans. If you're looking for live music any night of the week, head down to the Hole in the Wall. This small dive hosts live music seven nights a week, with free Sunday night shows. The back room is full of pool tables and pinball games, and the crowd features many regular customers. Walk a few more blocks and you'll stumble upon Mojo's Daily Grind , a coffee shop that prides itself on NOT being corporate run. Vulcan Video is just a few steps further, offering rare cult films and indie classics for rental.
Hyde Park Take a leisurely walk or drive through this Central Austin neighborhood and view its historic homes. You will likely see many residents working in their yards, walking pets or riding bikes. Duval Road runs through the neighborhood and is home to the vegetarian restaurant Mother's Café and the popular Hyde Park Grill . This unique area, the city's first planned suburb, has its own small grocery store, and boasts a theatre in its name— Hyde Park Theatre . Stop by Dolce Vita Gelate and Espresso Bar for sweet Italian ice cream or check out Quack's 43rd Street Bakery for a cappuccino and a homemade muffin.
R.Staggs
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By BennyTzuk1
4 days
This 4-Day trip includes some day activities but leaves you plenty of energy left for the nightly dancing & music hot spots in Austin.
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By Jacobfe7
6 days
This 6-Day trip includes a "healthy" supply of pubs & grill, with nights out at comedy clubs and Esther's Follies in Austin.
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21 people reviewed Austin (1-20 out of 21)
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Top
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at 10:50PM January 3, 2009
great winter weather, cool music scene
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at 9:30PM July 24, 2008
Simply the hidden gem (or not so hidden, any longer) of the United States. An unbelievable place to live, to seek the outdoors, to find the best of live music and to experience the funky, the fun, the different and, most of all, the happy.
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at 12:40PM July 17, 2008
Almost like dallas but bigger, the food, the scenery from across the hotel u can see the nice view of downtown!!
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at 1:10PM June 7, 2008
Good place to visit & seems like a good place to live.
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at 5:42AM May 29, 2008
When I move back to Texas it will be to Austin. I love this city and I love the University of Texas
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at 12:43AM May 29, 2008
nice place, hot weather, best: Tex-Mex food & drinks
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at 4:50PM May 27, 2008
I love it so much, I am moving here!
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at 4:40PM July 7, 2009
saw bands, the nutcracker...went shopping allllll over...great place!!
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at 9:50PM September 16, 2008
A-TX!!!!!!!11
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at 3:20PM August 19, 2008
Better than Dallas
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at 10:30AM June 15, 2008
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at 4:06PM May 29, 2008
Crazy drivers!
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at 9:44AM May 29, 2008
Austin Rules!!! I would move there if I could!
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at 8:40AM May 29, 2008
If you have to live in Texas...live in Austin. :)
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at 12:57AM May 29, 2008
I wish I had much more time here when I visited. It is a great party town and the people were very kind, too!
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at 7:45PM May 28, 2008
Nicest people ever.....lots of drunks too. :)
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at 6:16PM May 28, 2008
the only place in TX. I can tolerate.
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at 4:50PM May 28, 2008
Great live music, country, blues and much more
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at 4:44PM May 28, 2008
Live music and lots of LIIT... Perfekt for ei helgekule..
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at 12:58AM May 28, 2008
wow. went for austin city limits (and to visit a friend) and it is SO incredibly cool...traffic is horrendous though, so i could never ever live there but still. good stuff.
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