Austin is the Capitol of Texas, county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. In 2006 Austin was selected # 2 as Best Big City in “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine, and the “Greenest City in America” by MSN.

Located in Central Texas, Austin is the fourth largest city in Texas, and 16th largest in the United States with a population of 709,893 (according to the latest Census Bureau).  Austin is the cultural and economic center of the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan area (population of 1.5 million plus) and is among the fastest growing cities in the U.S.

Live Music Capital of the World
Music is the Driver of the “Creative economy” that brings millions of dollars annually for Austin. The City government recognizes that music is one of the things that makes Austin special and has implemented several programs to help musicians and encourage their music. Austin is home to music legends from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin to Willie Nelson and The Dixie Chicks.

Entertainment Districts
Along Sixth Street, a National Register district once known as Pecan Street, jazz and rock 'n' roll hangouts interweave with dance clubs and bars to create the foundation of the Live Music Capital of the World.

The Warehouse District is located West of Congress along Fourth and Fifth Streets.  The restaurants in this area have been revamped into popular hot spots from old warehouses.

South Congress Avenue and South Lamar Boulevard yields unconventional shopping and dining experiences. Also found here are The Broken Spoke (the last of the true Texas dance halls), the legendary Continental Club and the Saxon Pub.

Texas is known for its big, juicy steaks, which is why people are taken aback when they hear that one of Austin’s must-visit eateries is a vegetarian restaurant!

Veggie Heaven is located at 1914 Guadalupe Street near the University of Texas campus.  The food is mouth-wateringly good, even if you’re a devote carnivore.  Not only that, but the menu is diverse and extremely cheap!  With a nice staff and masterfully prepared vegetarian and vegan dishes, this is a must-visit Austin restaurant.

While enjoying the Boba tea and Protein Bowl 2000, drop by one of Austin’s most famous bookstores, located down the street from Veggie Heaven.  Brave New Books was founded in 2006, and as the founders put it, “has been fighting against the enemies of the Constitution ever since.”

Brave New Books is a bookstore that sells unconventional books and DVDs.  This isn’t a Barnes & Noble or Borders Books and Music.  Brave New Books strictly sells political texts and conspiracy theory literature.  Not only that, but on any given day of the week, the store also hosts film screenings, and guest speakers such as master-ranter Alex Jones.  None of the films shown at Brave New Books are sleek, Hollywood presentations.  They’re all independently funded and produced and address conspiracy theories. 

Even if the films and books don’t appeal to you, Brave New Books is a wonderful place to witness Austin’s communal environment.  Go there to catch an interesting film, speech, or just to people watch.  You’ll overhear some amazingly interesting, and sometimes downright insane, conversations.

After satisfying your thirst for conspiracy theories, visit Austin’s most famous 24-hour café for some lunch.  The Magnolia Café is known for its diverse menu from homemade sauces, breakfast menu anytime, and pasta to fish, burgers, and even steaks!  Special menus are also available for lunches, dinners, and late night, but most patrons recommend the stack of pancakes. 

At Magnolia, even the oatmeal is served Texas-style.  Its served in a huge bowl with raisins, cinnamon, brown sugar, almonds, and a side of toast!  The staff is also very energetic and nice, which adds to the overall Magnolia experience. 

Magnolia proves that it’s still possible to eat large, for cheap, in a major city.  The menu prices are extremely reasonable especially when considering how large the portions are.  However, keep in mind that Magnolia is one of Austin’s most famous cafés, so there isusually a wait for a table. 

If you’re more of a guided tour kind of person, and you’re looking for something a little more spooky, consider the Austin Ghost Tours.  The tours take you on a walking tour through downtown Austin, which is a nice way to see the city even for non-believers!  Your guide will talk about the history of Austin and the freaky sightings on Sixth Street all the way to the Capitol.  Tours last about 90 minutes and usually cost around $15.00.

Ghosts not your cup of tea?  Fear not!  Austin has events for everyone.  Austin’s Duck Adventures is a popular choice for families visiting Austin.  So-called duck tours because of the small vehicles that take tourists through downtown, Duck Adventures is the perfect way to learn about the history of Austin.  Not all the historical facts are dry dates and names.  For example, not even Austin residents realize Downtown Austin streets that are named after Texas’s rivers actually mirror the order they flow on the Texas map. 

The duck vehicles earn their name when they convert into boats and take tourists for a ride along Lake Austin!  Even if city history doesn’t interest you, Lake Austin is a beautiful sight to see. 

Whether you’re looking for food, literature, or a historical tour, Downtown Austin has it all!