Austin, Texas is locally known as The Live Music Capital of the world. Although this title is ambitious (not mention arguable), there's no doubt that the city offers up a wide array of styles and venues for music-lovers, as well as big serves of artery-hardening Texan fare.
Dining and Entertainment
Head to Stubbs BBQ for an introductory taste of Austin's music and food. Warm grill is served every night (vegetarian options are, of course, limited) and there is an indoor and outdoor stage. Although Stubbs (801 Red River St) has been an Austin icon for years, it is still a pretty unassuming place, and only the photos on the wall give away the fact that it is a favorite of touring musicians. Every genre of music imaginable is played here, and its a bit of a lottery as to what you're going to get each night. Notable performers have included Johnny Cash and John Lee Hooker, although high-profile international Djs and hard rockers also drop in for impromptu performances.
Off the Beaten Path
Austin is one of America's quirky capitals of culture, and most of the city falls into the category of 'off the beaten path.' Esther's Follies (525 East 6th Street) is a Vaudeville Hall, and has nightly shows of comedy, ribald humor and song and dance numbers. A night here is an unabashed kitsch-fest, so leave your finer sensibilities at the door with your coat. The whole of sixth street is one long strip of great bars, restaurants and clubs (with a good blend of live music and electronica), so give yourself plenty of time to explore it.
A free, and weirdly fun, thing to do in Austin is head to the Congress Avenue Bridge. Around 1.5 million bats call this place home between March and September, and dusk is the time to be here, when all of them wake for the night and fly out. A little creepy, but definitely a must-see.
Capitol and Musuems
For slightly more refined attractions, there are couple of historic points and museums in Austin that should be included on the itinerary. The Texas Capitol Building, opened in 1888, provided the focal point for the state's political and economic activities for the better part of a century. Tours are offered, and the architecture is superb. The Austin Children's Museum is a great way to combine family fun with a little education. Offering science workshops, story-telling, and camps, there's enough here to keep everyone entertained for an afternoon (although smaller kids will probably be bored after a couple of hours). For a slightly more unusual museum, the Mexic-Arte Museum is a collection of exhibits from traditional and contemporary Mexican artists. It's a great place to learn about the history of Mexico and the country's ongoing and checkered relationship with North America, as well as buy a piece or two from Mexico's brightest and best emerging talents.
Nature
For nature-lovers, Austin has a few notable wilderness areas. Visitors can climb Mount Bonnell via the one hundred stone steps (breathtaking in more ways than one). The view from the top is unbeatable, and the climb is a good way to work off some of the overindulgence in Texan fried meat. Lady Bird Lake is more centralized, being near the middle of Austin, but still offers ten miles of hiking and cycling trails, as well as the chance to rent kayaks and boats (although motor-powered water vehicles are prohibited).
Hotels
Accommodation in Austin can be had from $25 per night (although you get what you pay for). More standard prices range between $100 and $150 per night for a good suite in the middle of the action.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Austin.
(Photo:Fotolia/rb stevens)
