Austin, the capital of Texas, is located on the Colorado River at the edge of the rugged Texas hill country and is one of the fastest-growing, most vibrant cities in the United States. Say the word "Austin" and a myriad of images come to mind: Hip, cool, trendy and high-tech.

Austin is a very green city. With a river running through it and a mild year-round climate, Austin prides itself on natural beauty. Greenbelts, waterways and pockets of undeveloped land create a unique verdant landscape. With constant 68-degree waters, Barton Springs Pool remains the favorite place in town to cool off on a hot summer's day. Swimming, boating and water skiing are popular at many of the local area lakes.

Town Lake, the southernmost in a series of seven manmade lakes along the Lower Colorado River, bisects the heart of downtown. Some 10 miles of hike-and-bike trails encircle the lake. President Bush routinely jogged here while governor of Texas. Farther upstream, Lake Austin and Lake Travis attract boaters, fishermen, water-skiers, windsurfers and scuba divers.

Austin is also home to the University of Texas, one of the largest universities in the U.S.; enrollment is usually around 50,000 students. Having such a large group of young people in the city gives Austin a young, hip feel and guarantees plenty of choices for entertainment.

And finally, Austin is a major cultural hub. It is one of only a handful of U.S. cities with professional ballet, symphony, opera and theater companies. With twenty museums, nearly three dozen galleries and 35 theater companies, the city is experiencing a cultural renaissance.

First thing to do: pick up an Austin Chronicle newspaper. It will be your guide to everything that's going on in Austin from festivals (Spam Festival, Chili Festival, et al.) to music, theatre and food; it's all in there. These are freely available all over town.

How Austin Ranks

Travel + Leisure names Austin among the Top 25 Cities in America. Austin was among the top five in: singles scene, barbecue, people, live music, safety, cheap eats, fun, food/dining (overall), affordability, environmental awareness, cleanliness, public parks, athleticism, attractive people, friendliness, vintage shopping and "wild weekend."

Forbes.com cites Austin's nightlife, culture and low cost of living as major reasons it appears again on Forbes' annual list of Best Places for Singles.

MSN.com gives Austin top billing among America's Greenest Cities, citing the city's green energy program and climate protection plan.

National Geographic Adventure names Austin as Texas' #1 Adventure Town in its list of "50 Best Places to Live & Play."

Latina Magazine ranks Austin 10th among the top 25 healthiest cities. The magazine lauds the city's many public parks, exercise facilities and low stress factor.

Men's Journal names Austin as one of the top five places to "embrace urban life."

Austin ranks #2 on Prevention Magazine's list of the "top ten cities for taking a stroll."

Austin is listed among the top 10 greenest cities in the U.S. according to a survey by Popular Science.

According to MovieMaker magazine, Austin is the #1 city in America to live in and make movies, due to its industry infrastructure and "film friendly" attitude.

Natural Home magazine ranks Austin #2 among America's Top Ten Eco-Friendly Communities. These "neighborhoods you want to live in" feature walkability, green planning and outdoor orientation.

Travel + Leisure named Austin's Lake Austin Spa Resort as one of the top 10 coziest spas with the most inviting treatments in the country.

Austin's perfect weather and great courses helped the city to be named #1 Golf City in America on CNN's golf.com.

Earthtimes.org lists Austin as the 6th best city in the U.S. for people who eat organic food.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport listed among best spots for airport dining around the U.S. on Condé Nast's Portfolio.com.

Austin is one of the top four cities to watch as a retirement-friendly community, according to AARP The Magazine.

Sherman's Travel lists Austin at #5 among its Top Ten Easy Spring Getaways.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was named Best Domestic Airport at the 2006 Airports Council International Airport Service Quality Awards held in Dubai.

Austin is ranked #17 among Cooking Light's Top 20 Healthiest Cities in America. Cities were judged on nutrition, physical health and holistic well-being.

Getting To Know Our Capital City

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Basics
Q: What are the top 10 things to do in Austin?
A:

Barton Springs- Three acres in size, the pool is fed from underground springs and water temperatures remain a constant, cool 68 degrees year-round. 2101 Barton Springs Road (located in Zilker Park) Austin, TX 78704
512-476-9044
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum- From rare artifacts to interactive displays, the Bob Bullock Museum creatively tells the story of Texas. 1800 N. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
1-866-369-7108
http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/

Texas State Capitol- With more than 1 million visitors per year, the Texas State Capitol ranks as one of Austin's most popular attractions. Completed in 1886, the Texas State Capitol is the largest in square footage of all state capitols and surpasses the national Capitol in height by 14 feet. 1100 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0063
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/spb/plan/tours.htm

Warehouse and Sixth Street Entertainment Districts- Four blocks of Fourth and Fifth Streets comprise the Warehouse District. The buildings have been renovated from warehouses to trendy, distinctive hot spots. Austin's Sixth Street is widely known for its unique blend of dance clubs, live music venues, and restaurants.  We don't recommend going to Sixth Street, but just be aware that it's a popular spot in Austin.

Congress Avenue Bats- Only in Austin will you find millions of bats and thousands of humans all hanging out under the same bridge every night. Austin boasts the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tail bats in North America with a population of 1.5 million. The sunset exodus of the bats creates a nightly spectacle from March through October with onlookers watching as the nocturnal creatures emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. First Street & Congress Avenue; Bat Conservation International
512-327-9721
http://www.batcon.org/

Highland Lakes- Austin stands as the gateway to seven Highland Lakes that stairstep 100 miles through the Central Texas Hill Country. Area lakes offer a variety of aquatic adventures, from sailing on Lake Travis to water-skiing on Lake Austin and canoeing along Town Lake.

Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail- Ten miles of trails border Town Lake in downtown Austin and serve as a social hub for runners, walkers and cyclists.

SoCo- One of the hippest Austin hangouts is SoCo, a colorful stretch of Congress Avenue lined with funky shops, trendy dining spots, unique accommodations, art galleries and music venues. On the first Thursday of each month, merchants keep their doors open until 10 p.m., playing host to an array of events and activities.
South of the Congress Avenue Bridge
http://www.firstthursday.info/

Harry Ransom Center- Home to the Gutenberg Bible and the world's first photograph, the HRC also archives 30 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs and more than 100,000 works of art.
471-8944
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library- The life and legacy of LBJ are on exhibit at the nation's most visited presidential library. University of Texas, 2313 Red River Street
512-916-5137
http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/

Austin Weird and Wonderful

Q: When and where can I see the bats?
A: Between April and October, Austin's famous colony of Mexican free-tailed bats departs nightly around dusk from the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge just south of downtown. The ideal time of year for bat viewing is August. One of the most popular vantage points is the bat observation area in the Austin American-Statesman parking lot at 305 South Congress Ave . But be careful! You never want to stand beneath the colony when it flies out -- at least not without an umbrella: Trust us.

For a closer view of the action, take a bat-watching boat cruise on Town Lake. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat both offer cruises that depart approximately 30 minutes before sunset from the boat dock located behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 208 Barton Springs Road . Other prime vantage points are from Shoreline Grill (98 San Jacinto Blvd. ), TGI Fridays at the Radisson Hotel (111 E. Cesar Chavez St.) and the lakeside patio of the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto Blvd. ).

Q: Where are Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool?
A: Zilker Metropolitan Park begins just west of Lamar Blvd. at 2100 Barton Springs Road, and encompasses the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Zilker Playground and the Zilker Zephyr train, The Zilker Botanical Gardens, the Austin Nature & Science Center and Barton Springs Pool.

Q: Where and when can I see wildflowers?
A: Wildflowers in Central Texas are most abundant in March, April and May, and bluebonnet season peaks in April. To see wildflowers and native plants year-round, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. And to learn more about enjoying Central Texas in bloom, click here.

Q: What else is fun to do in Austin?
A: Austin is very family friendly! Some of our favorite recommendations include:
 - The Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
 - The Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Playground and the Zilker Zephyr Train in Zilker Park
 - The dancing water fountains and riverside meadow at the recently revamped Town Lake Park along Lady Bird Lake near Palmer Events Center
 - Feeding the ducks and swans along the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail
 - Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy Pool
 - Interactive exhibits at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Q: Does Austin have a vibrant performing arts scene?
A: Austin's newest cultural landmark, the Long Center for the Performing Arts, opened on March 28, 2008. In addition to serving as a permanent, acoustically perfect performance space for Austin Lyric Opera, Ballet Austin and the Austin Symphony, the Long Center will host touring Broadway shows and big-name concerts.

Q: What is Esther's Follies?
A: Part magic show, part vaudeville review, part improv tour-de-force, Esther's Follies (just Esther's for short) is an Austin Legend. The troupe performs at Esther's Pool at 525 E. Sixth Street (corner of Sixth and Red River) Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Music, Film and Television

Q: Where can I hear live music?
A: This is The Live Music Capital of the World® after all. With nearly 200 live music venues, the sound of Austin is all over town. However, the largest concentration of live music can be found downtown along our famous Sixth Street, the rockin' live music venues on Red River and the eclectic scene down in the Warehouse District.

• The East Sixth Street area runs between IH-35 and Congress Avenue.
• The Red River area runs north from Sixth Street along Red River.
• The Warehouse District encompasses Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, west from Congress Avenue to Guadalupe Street.

Just a mile or two from downtown, you'll find the South Congress Avenue (SoCo) area, centered on the beloved Continental Club at 1315 S. Congress Ave. Off South Lamar in SoLa, there's the renowned honky-tonk called The Broken Spoke at 3201 South Lamar. But that doesn't even scratch the surface -- when you add in all the coffee shops, restaurants, neighborhood hangouts and more, there can be hundreds of opportunities to hear live Austin music on any given night.

Q: How do I see a taping of Austin City Limits?
A: Austin City Limits tapes on an irregular schedule throughout the year, based on the musicians' availability. The taping takes place on the sixth floor of the University of Texas College of Communications Building B at Dean Keeton (26th Street) and Guadalupe. Free tours of the studio are offered every Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Vouchers for admission to the tapings are free, however they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at specific dates, times and locations (which are announced via local radio stations). Possession of a voucher does not guarantee admission -- you will have to wait in line again for your chance to get in for the performance, as seats are limited. Call the Austin City Limits Hotline at 512-475-9077 for more details.

Q: Why is Austin called The Live Music Capital of the World®?
A: With nearly 200 venues, the city has more live music entertainment per capita than any other U.S. city.

Q: I have heard of SXSW; does Austin have other big music festivals?
A: For 10 days each March, the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conferences and Festival bring people from all over the world to Austin. But that's certainly not all. Held in September of each year, the Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music extravaganza: Now in its sixth big year, the ACL Fest spreads over 16 acres in Zilker Park and features hundreds of the best music acts in the world.

Q: Why is Austin referred to as the "Third Coast"?
A: There are a lot of reasons Austin has become a film and TV production mecca: For five years running, Austin has bested all other Texas cities in feature film production budgets. Numerous independent and blockbuster movies have been made here, and the annual Austin Film Festival is one of the top film festivals in the country.
But don't take our word for it. MovieMaker magazine recently named Austin the No. 1 city to live, work and make movies in. In fact, our city was ranked No. 3 on the magazine's "Top 10 Cities for Moviemakers" list in 2007 and No. 2 in 2006.

Q: When are the tours of the Capitol?
A: The Texas Capitol is a National Historic Landmark, and the largest in gross square footage of all statehouses. The striking pink granite dome is actually 14 feet taller than our nation's Capitol! So naturally, we can understand why you might like a tour. In fact, with more than 1 million annual visitors, the Texas State Capitol ranks as one of Austin's most popular attractions.

Standard building hours (may be extended during legislative sessions):
Weekdays 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Capitol Information and Guide Service offers free daily tours, roughly 45 minutes in length, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter. Tour times are available every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends.
Tour Service hours:
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Sunday Noon - 3:30 p.m.
All tours begin in the South Foyer.

Q: When are the tours of the Governor's Mansion?
A: As the oldest building in the Texas Capitol Complex, the Governor's Mansion is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Plans call for these much-needed improvements to be completed in Spring of 2009.

Q: Where is the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum?
A: Located at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the story of Texas.

Q: When are the guided historic walking tours?
A: The ACVB conducts free guided tours year-round, except on major holidays. Reservations are required.
Tour times:

Congress Avenue & East Sixth Street tour
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, 2:00 p.m.

Bremond Block tour
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.

All tours last 90 minutes and depart from the south steps of the Texas State Capitol building. Brochures for self-guided tours can also be obtained at the Austin Visitor Center.

Q: What are other downtown historic attractions?
A: Popular sites include the Capitol Visitors Center in the historic General Land Office Building at 11th & Brazos, the Old Bakery & Emporium at 1006 Congress, the O'Henry Museum at 409 E. Fifth St., and the French Legation Museum at 802 San Marcos.