What is Austin, TX known for?

Austin, TX is known for many things, Capital of Texas, Live Music Capital of the World, Keep Austin Weird, South by Southwest Music Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, etc. I was born and raised in Austin and love it’s fun history. I mean who wouldn’t want to visit this fabulous city?

Did you know that Whole Foods, Schlotzky’s and Dell Computers all originated in Austin? Fun fact, I worked for Dell Computers when I was in High School. This was before the company exploded into the global phenomenon that it is today. I use to ride up in the elevator with Michael Dell.  Just like many other well known technology entrepreneurs, his start up is a fascinating read.

What to Do in Austin?

South by Southwest (SXSW) Annual Music Festival – This historical music festival is great for all ages. It is a 10 day festival that features both local artist and more famous well known artist

The Texas State Capitol: a wonderful tourist attraction and offers both guided and unguided tours. After you finish your tour, I recommend you visit a local café or restaurant nearby, there are several to choose from.

Austin and the Outdoors

If you love to explore the outdoors, then Austin is the perfect place for you and your family. So many lakes and other natural beauties to see. Here are some of my favorite spots from when I was a kid: Zilker Park, Lake Travis, Barton Springs,

Zilker Park - Zilker Park is a 361-acre park nestled in the heart of downtown, right off Lady Bird Lake. The park was founded in 1917 and is home to picnic facilities, bike/canoe rentals, a disc golf course, a large playground for children, the Zilker Zephyr train and Barton Springs Pool, an urban oasis where swimmers plunge into 68-degree, spring-fed waters. The park is also the host to great events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Austin Kite Festival. Zilker Park is also home to Austin’s wonderful trail of lights during the Holidays.

When going to Zilker Park don’t forget to visit Austin’s Nature and Sciene Center - Nature is a hands-on experience at this curiosity shop of scientific and natural artifacts located in west Zilker Park, which has an old-school, natural history museum vibe. Unlike in most museums, though, kids are encouraged to touch stuff, rather than being prohibited from it. Major bonus: It’s free!

Barton Springs – Spring fed pool and it is a MUST if you travel to Austin but be prepared – it is COLD but so worth the experience.

Lakes: Austin is known for many wonderful lakes – here are two of the tops lakes to visit:

InnerSpace Caverns - This natural underground cavern was discovered by construction workers building the I-35 freeway. Choose from one of the guided tours (we like the one-hour version) and learn the difference between stalagmites and stalactites while you explore the cavern’s Ice Age animal fossils.

Mount Bonnell - Head to the 5.1-acre Covert Park at Mount Bonnell for beautiful views at the highest point in the city. Even kids can make the 102-stair climb up to the peak, and the trail to the top is only about a third of a mile

BATS!! – Don’t miss out on this experience. Sounds weird I know, but it is truly awesome. Austin is the seasonal home for the largest population of Mexican free-tailed bats in North America. They winter in Yucatan, Mexico (and sometimes further inland), then fly north each spring to nestle under the Congress Avenue bridge until late fall. Almost every night at sunset—but especially in April-May and late July/early August, they emerge from under the bridge to form a huge, mammalian cloud, heading east to scout for that night’s insect dinner. It is truly an amazing sight, and crowds line up on the east side of the bridge and on a designated watching area just southeast of it, to watch it

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - the state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas.