Austin, Texas is an unusual combination of laid back attitude and entrepreneurial energy. Austinites are known for being friendly and non-judgmental; nonconformity and iconoclastic mind-sets are admired and support the unofficial motto, “Keep Austin weird.”  It’s a quirky city, part hippy, part hipster, with solid doses of music, art, history and business to tie them all together.

Sightseeing in Austin

Most of Austin’s best sightseeing is concentrated near the city center. Possibly the most famous landmark and one all visitors should take time to see is the distinguished pink granite Texas State Capitol building. The 22-acre shaded, park-like grounds have 19 monuments celebrating Texas history, great for a self-guided tour or a picnic. Free interior tours, including the lush legislative chambers and the impressive rotunda are available daily.

Also in the heart of Austin, just north of the Capitol is the University of Texas campus. Several museums including the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, the Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum showcase the unique social contributions that have come from the state of Texas. Travel Maestro tip: Many of Austin’s museums offer free admission to active duty military and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day through the Blue Star Museum program.

A fun way to see Austin is on a Segway tour. Cruise past the sights of O. Henry’s home, the haunted Driskill Hotel, Lady Bird Lake, the armadillo-shaped City Hall and much more while you learn the city’s history and secrets from your Segway guide.  Or you can take a pedal taxi and let someone else do the driving.  

If you’re in Austin between April and November, be sure to make your way to the Congress Street bridge any night at dusk to see the phenomenon of thousands of bats flying out for their nightly foraging expedition. The best views are from above on the wide sidewalk of the bridge itself, a grassy park on the banks of the river (bring your own blanket or chairs) and tour boats or pedal bikes on the water below. Travel Maestro tip: Just be sure to keep your mouth closed if you are looking up!

Austin’s Music Scene

The eclectic social fabric of Austin is evident in the city’s vibrant music scene. You’ll find college students, cowboys and computer professionals side by side, toe-tapping to the same band in one of the many bars that feature live music. It might be the legacy country sounds of old Austin or a new band who is trying to make their mark on the “Live Music Capital of the World,” but live music is the heartbeat of Austin. You’ll find plenty of rock, blues, Latin, jazz, as well as all kinds of dance music – not just cosmic cowboy’s country.

Sixth Street, east of Congress is choc-full of bars and music venues side-by-side. The young and rowdy flock to the area and it can get a bit tawdry, particularly on weekends, but even if that’s not your style you should take a peek. The Warehouse District runs from Third to Fifth Streets, west of Congress, tends to attract an older, more upscale crowd to its bars and dance clubs. Red River Street, at the edge of downtown has something for everyone from the popular Sunday Gospel Brunch at Stubbs to gothic and electronic dance music at Elysium. Classic favorites like the Continental Club, Antone’s and Cactus Café are a bit spread out, but remain beloved for a reason.

In spring the music scene hits a fever pitch when the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) music/film/interactive festival takes up residence in Austin. Almost every bar, shop, gallery and even parking lot has a live music line up. In fall, the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) turns the park around Lady Bird Lake into a Wookstock-like weekend.

Austin Eats

The ubiquitous food truck is yet another representation of Austin’s funky character. There are concentrations of food trucks South of Congress (SoCo) and in East Austin, serving traditional favorites of TexMex and barbecue, among other specialties. Many of the bars in East Austin have large backyard patios with a permanently parked food truck in residence. The trucks are charismatic, the food is delicious and the prices are low – what’s not to love? For a more refined dining experience, upscale Italian, French and Asian restaurants are sprinkled throughout the city. There is a strong farm-to-table movement in the Austin culinary scene, so from cheap eats to fine dining, you’ll find fresh and flavorful food of the highest quality.

Outdoor Recreation in Austin

Austinites like to play outside because the mild climate allows for year-round activity. A 10-mile Hike and Bike Trail downtown along the Colorado River (known as Lady Bird Lake) is hugely popular with runners, walkers and bikers. Lance Armstrong makes his home in Austin, so there is an enthusiastic bicycling community – both mountain biking and road biking. Many shops rent bikes if you want to tackle the nearby Hill Country. The landmark Barton Creek pool is a natural spring-fed pool that stays a bracing 68 F year-round and is heaven sent during the hot Austin summer. Golf is also quite popular and there are some fine courses, but many are private so you’ll need some connections to play there. Travel Maestro tip: If you don’t have that kind of pull, you can always enjoy some Frisbee golf on one of Austin’s many courses.

Austin has outgrown its roads, so the traffic is terrible with significant rush hours twice a day. Unfortunately a car is necessary to get anywhere outside the downtown area. A taxi or an executive transportation service like Carpitality is the best way to get to and from the airport or anywhere that it’s too far (or hot) to walk.

Austin is a lively city with a character all its own – the people are friendly, the food is delicious and the music is amazing. If you’ll be visiting Austin for business or pleasure, please contact Covington Travel for your travel arrangements and some more insider tips.