Austin Adventure

Austin, the state capital of Texas, is marketed as the “Live Music Capital of the World” due to its large number of live-music venues. It is home to South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival, one of the biggest music festivals in the United States, with more than 1,400 performers playing dozens of venues around Austin for four days in March. Austin is also a great city for theater, especially if you like new works.

The Texas State Capitol is a must-see for visitors to Austin. A source of pride for the city and the state, the State Capitol is a beautiful building wrapped in Texas pink granite. There are numerous parks all over the city and in the surrounding suburbs that are very popular with the residents of Austin including Barton Springs Pool, which is more than three times longer than a football field. Nestled in the heart of the city at Zilker Park, it is one of Austin’s most appealing (and at a 68 degrees year-round, refreshing) attractions.

Located in downtown Austin, the only hotel adjacent to the Austin Convention Center. One block from Sixth Street entertainment and walking distance from the Warehouse Entertainment District. In the downtown business district and near all attractions and points of interest in the downtown area such as the Capitol Building, University of Texas Campus, Bob Bullock Texas Historical Museum and the LBJ Presidential Library. Also, only seven miles or ten minutes from the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The property features 800 rooms, each equpped with a spacioius work desk with two phones (each with 2 lines), voicemail and a dataport providing Wireless High Speed Internet Service. A hospitality center in each room includes a servi-bar and coffee maker. Iron/ironing board and hair dryer are also standard in all rooms. The hotel has a Business Center, Concierge Service and full-service Health Club featuring exercise facilities, Massage Therapy and Personal Trainers. Food & Beverage amenities and service will include two restaurants, a Coffee Shoppe, a lobby bar and 24 hour Room Service. A 48-foot outdoor heated lap pool and whirlpool are also available. Meeting facilities will total 60,000 total square feet of versatile space. These facilities will feature the Austin Grand Ballroom at 28,000 square feet and the Governor's Ballroom at 16,000 square feet, all on two floors. Both Ballrooms are divisible and combined with the additional meeting rooms, there are 32 possible configurations of meeting space. The versatility of the space and the simplicity of the layout makes it ideal for both planners and event attendees.

Built in 1867 as the home of the Texas General Land Office, this building is the oldest standing government building in the state. Along with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it has quite a bit of history. From 1887 to 1982, a draftsman named William Sidney Porter, better known today as the short story author O. Henry, rented a space upstairs. Some of the author's greatest short stories were inspired by his experiences here. The second floor of the building houses the O. Henry Nook, where visitors can view his comical land tract maps. The building also houses the State Travel Information Center, which provides guided tours. A Texas-style gift shop is located on the first floor.

The slogan states that "everything is bigger in Texas," and if you look at our Capitol, the phrase rings true. Standing a stately 309 feet and modeled after the nation's Capitol in Washington D.C., this is the nation's tallest. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers and constructed of red granite, the Capitol took more than seven years to complete. It was finished in 1888, at a total cost of more than three million dollars, an extravagant price even by today's standards. The perfectly landscaped grounds reflect the languid pace of life under the Texas sun, inviting you for a quiet stroll or a lazy day under a tree. Tours: Daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day. Allow 30-45 minutes for the tour.

As one of Austin's most important streets, Congress Avenue's entire district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings that frame the street are full of distinctive beauty. The oldest documented building is the Robinson-Rosner Building at 504 Congress (1856). Starting at the Capitol, the street continues south, passing fabulous little shops and eateries. Stop in at Hickory Street for a quick lunch, check out The State Theater or Paramount Theater to see what fantastic production is going on in the evening, or wander into Star bucks for coffee and treats.

View the nocturnal food flights of these furry squeakers as they swarm from caves and bridges around the world.

Here you will find the traditional educational toys, Stieff teddy bears, tin soldiers, art supplies and a wonderful selection of dolls. Then there are mood rings, kaleidoscopes and windup panda drummers. The store is packed full of unique, hard to find gifts and toys. A great place for souvenirs or stocking stuffers, this wide-ranging toy shop will entertain the kids —;and their parents. A notable collection of children's books rounds out the selection.

All restaurants could do with a famous patron so the owners of Güero's Taco Bar proudly say that Bill Clinton ate here. Apart from this bit of information, it is interesting to note that the migas are topnotch with dollops of cheese, peppers and fresh corn tortillas. The restaurant has a couple of dining rooms, one of which is built around the kitchen, giving it a very homely feel. Check out the fish taco and the queso flameado, or the El presiendto, chicken breast taco, a beef taco, tamale and guacamole. Don't forget to chug down the famous margaritas made with fresh lime juice or have a shot of first-class tequila.

Patrons will enjoy a huge variety of activities at Zilker Park. You can check out the hike and bike trails, picnic facilities, Zilker Botanical Garden, canoe rentals, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, riverboat rides on Town Lake, concerts, festivals and even a miniature train. The wide-open stretches of grass in this park are just minutes from the downtown area. There is plenty of room and various diversions for the kids, so you can get a sun tan, take long walks by the river or just curl up with a book down by the river.

As one of Austin's finest attractions, Barton Springs Pool is the perfect outing for those hot Texas days—or even the cool ones. Maintaining a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit year 'round, you will enjoy a 100-percent natural swimming experience with no chlorine. The grassy hillsides and moss-covered rocks are perfect for sunbathing. Diving boards, concession stands and restroom facilities are also available. When the kids get tired of the water, enjoy the playscape to complete the afternoon. Lifeguards are on duty. You are encouraged to call ahead; the pool occasionally closes. This place is open from Monday to Wednesday at 5am and from Friday to Sunday at 5am.

These twenty-two amazing acres overlook the Zilker Park fields bordering Barton Springs Road. The garden is actually comprised of several different gardens, including the Cactus and Succulent, Xeriscape, Herb and Fragrance, Rose, Azalea, Butterfly and Taniguchi Gardens. Taniguchi is a beautiful Japanese landscape with a waterfall, running stream, lily ponds and wooden bridges. The lush, peaceful grounds are commonly perused by artists and writers searching for inspiration, and by others just looking for solitude amid the city. See their website for further information.

Wander through the residential neighborhood behind the busy shops and see some of Austin's most fantastic historical homes. If you are looking for an area that shows off a little bit of every part of Austin's eclectic style, this neighborhood is perfect. You will also find many restaurants to dine in when you take a break from all of the shopping. For many years, this beautiful neighborhood was considered the outskirts of the city. Now, sitting just west of downtown and centrally located, it is a bustling shopping district with fabulous boutiques and wonderful eateries.

A recipient of the Preservation Merit Award (2006), Nau's Enfield Drug has existed since the early 30s. Pharmacist Lambert Labay purchased the store from founders Hylton and Eleanor Nau and has maintained the church pew booths and wooden bar stools. The most treasured relic here is the soda fountain that dispenses the ubiquitous home made malts and shakes. The burgers and sandwiches are also great value for money. Made from fresh ground beef and grilled just right, the buns are topped with melting cheese. It's easy to forget, Nau's Enfield Drug is first and foremost a drugstore!

This Renaissance Market is one of the highlights of the area known as the Drag, located just across the street from the UT campus. It is open year-round and features the handiwork of some great local artisans. There is no set schedule for vendors as far as participation or time slots—a general rule of thumb is that weekends and around the holidays are the most bountiful. Street performers like mimes and jugglers are often around during these heavy traffic times and add to the lively atmosphere. Selections may include handmade jewelry, purses, tie-dyed T-shirts, paintings, prisms, toys, leather goods and more.

Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is the state's largest educational institution. The original campus was laid out as only 40 acres, but today the 50,000-student university encompasses well over 350 acres. This public university has earned numerous honors for both academics and athletics and offers a wide range of area to study. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered from areas including Business, Education, Communication, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture and Law. For a complete list of degree programs, contact the admissions office.

One of the first streets surveyed in Austin, Sixth was originally known as Pecan Street. During the day, shops, restaurants and historic buildings are the main attraction, but by night, the street becomes festive with live music, shows and special events. On Friday and Saturday nights, the blocks are closed to automobile traffic for an all-out street party. Stop by for a beer or a show, or just enjoy watching the eclectic nightlife of Austin. After the bars close at 2a, this can be a dangerous place to hang out alone.