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Rolling hills, a chain
of lakes 150 miles long, 300 days of sunshine, and acres of parks all
add up to an ideal setting for vacation enjoyment. Austin and the
surrounding Texas Hill Country offer hiking and bike trails, swimming,
and golf. In addition, there is ballooning, bird watching, canoeing,
excellent bass fishing, rock climbing, sailing, scuba diving,
spelunking, and tennis.
The 'Live Music
Capital of the World' as Austin is sometimes known, is situated in
south-central Texas and stretches for 218 square miles. A vibrant and
modern city, Austin was named after Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of
Texas," and was founded in 1838. With good transport links to other
parts of Texas and close proximity to the Mexican border, Austin is a
popular city for business and one of the most thriving commercial areas
in the southern United States.
A good place to begin
a visit to Austin is downtown, where the pink granite Texas State
Capitol, built in 1888, is the most visible structure. The Colorado
River, which slices through Austin, was once an unpredictable waterway,
but has been tamed into a series of picturesque lakes, including two
within the city limits. 22 mile long Lake Austin, which lies in the
western part of the city, flows into Town Lake, a narrow stretch of
water that travels for 5 miles through the center of downtown.
Since the 1960s, this
laid-back and progressive city has been a haven for artists, musicians
and writers. Many visitors come specifically for the music. Local
musicians are known for their innovative re-workings of Texas’ country,
folk and R&B heritage, use Austin’s enthusiastic environment as a
springboard to national recognition.
The grand University
of Texas, one of the largest universities in the United States, flanks
the capitol's north end. Austin has its own professional symphony,
ballet and opera companies; dozens of theaters which combine old
favorites with ground-breaking new drama; dance companies, vocal
ensembles, and orchestras. Art museums, galleries and beautiful gardens
of sculptures further enhance the rich cultural mix.
In recent years the
entertainment industry has discovered this big city with a small-town
atmosphere, and it's not uncommon to see film crews blocking off an
oak-lined street.
High-tech industries
have also migrated to the Austin area, making it Texas's answer to
Silicon Valley. Yet, for all the changes that have occurred in the
capital city, Austin is still very much a town whose roots are buried in
the past; a past the city is proud to preserve and show off to visitors.
Capital Metro is the
city's public bus network, with a solid system of efficient and
inexpensive neighborhood, express and downtown routes. The latter, known
as 'Dillos (short for Armadillo Express), are free.
The Texas Steam Train
Association runs several tours aboard the Hill Country Flyer
steam train into and around Texas Hill Country. The train makes short
half hour trips as well as a 30 mile circuit on weekends March through
December.
Austin operates a free
Yellow Bike Program, which repairs old bicycles, paints them yellow and
makes them available free for public use. When you see a yellow bike you
can pick it up, ride where you are going and leave it there for the next
rider. There are about 150 yellow bikes at present and more are added
all the time.
The winning combination of high tech industry, light manufacturing, and
abundant cultural resources has given Austin the reputation of being one
of the southwest’s most livable cities. It is also one of the most
visited and loved vacation sites. |
