In the heart of Texas where the Hill country meets the coastal plains, you'll find a Texas city like no other. Austin is a unique blend of metropolitan and small town, culture and cowboy. It's just that: the heart of Texas. Austin is the state capital, home to one of the largest universities in the country and the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world. The population is laid back, yet fun-loving and enjoys the city's variety of restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and hotels. Austin has a number of different neighborhoods that each have their own style:

Central Austin is still where most of the city's action occurs. Adjacent to downtown are conducted, are the state capitol and the University of Texas at Austin.

Downtown actually has two distinct faces. During the day, the area is a flurry of business and commerce. After hours, the lights come on and the area becomes a nighttime playground and musical oasis. First there's 6th street, Austin's answer to Bourbon Street. But 6th is no copycat; it's filled with its own live music and unique bars and eateries. From dance clubs like Paradox and Bob Popular to more established bars like Fado's, Logan's, and the Gingerman, there's something for everyone. Holidays like Halloween add to the fun. Each year 200,000 people parade down 6th street displaying some very unusual costumes. In the adjacent warehouse district on 4th and 5th Streets, young professionals sit outside at Cedar Street or sample micro-brews at the Copper Tank. There's also more live music at Stubb's, La Zona Rosa, Austin City Music Hall and the well-known Antone's.

Adjacent to this musical area, a political tune is playing at the state capitol. Established in 1839, today it is still a hotbed of politics, from peaceful protests to staged political events. The complex if filled with historical exhibits and present day government in action. Nearby, Scholz Beer Garten, an Austin Landmark, is known as the place where politicos go to make deals and hash out compromises.

Farther north, the University of Texas accounts for a large part of the city's population. Students from all over the world learn at some of the best facilities anywhere and help make Austin one of the most educated cities in America. UT's Harry Ransom Center houses some spectacular artifacts including an original Guttenberg Bible. Nearby is the West Mall, a great place to see students at work and play. It's a designated free speech area that sees student organizations, musicians, and the occasional peaceful protest. It's a great place to eat a sack lunch and observe student life. Don't forget to take a walk down "The Drag," Guadalupe Street, for more interesting people watching.

Beautiful West Austin is bulging at the seams, for good reason. Hills ebb and flow amidst beautiful homes. Several lakes provide lush scenery, fabulous views and a myriad of water sports. Along Lake Austin is a strip of establishments that provide a beautiful view and some tasty food. Some even have piers on the lake where local boaters dock. Further West, you'll meet the largest lake in the area, Lake Travis. During the day, a number of resorts provide a water sports, tennis and golf. At dusk, slide up to The Oasis for a drink and a magnificent sunset. On your way back, don't forget to stop by the County Line for some all-you-can-eat barbecue.

South Austin has some special sites of its own. On Barton Springs Road is a strip of several restaurants and music venues including Shady Grove and the famous Chuy's Tex-Mex. A few miles farther is the largest park in Austin, Zilker Park, which includes the naturally occurring Barton Springs swimming pool, Zilker Hillside Theater, and a number of sports facilities and hiking trails. Finally, between South Austin and downtown there is a group of bats, one million strong, that flies from under the Congress bridge each night.* It's quite a sight.

To the north, Austin supplies the city with a number of growing suburban neighborhoods and shopping areas. Visit the Arboretum where some of the finest shops in the city can be found. If you have the opportunity, take a drive along Highway 360 and experience some of the most beautiful scenery in Texas.

As Austin grows, so do the suburbs and outlying areas. North of Austin are growing suburbs like Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Leander/ Cedar Park. Many national companies have made a home in Austin, like Dell, Motorola and Sematech in an area some refer to as "The Silicon Prairie." To escape from business, many leave home to enjoy the number of resorts /getaways in the Highland Lakes area.

Austin has been called home by some legendary musicians, like blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn and rocker Will Sexton. Others have followed their lead and come to seek their musical fortunes in every genre from reggae to country. Go to Jazz for great cajun and blues, then head to Maggie Mae's for a beer and some rock and roll. Each March the city hosts the South by Southwest music and movie festival, a two week long onslaught of live music and independent films. The festival has grown each year and is becoming famous throughout the country.

For the sports enthusiast, Austin has teams to rival any so-called "big city." University of Texas football games are always popular events for alumni and football fans alike. The Texas U.I.L. high school state championships in basketball and baseball are held in Austin each year in March and May, respectively. Austin also has a semipro hockey team, the Austin Ice Bats and a semipro soccer team, the Lone Stars.

If dining is your sport, then you'll enjoy the tastes of Austin. The general flavor is Tex-Mex, as chips and salsa aren't always an appetizer, but sometimes an entree. Austin barbecue is also famous. Just ask patrons of the Salt Lick, County Line, Earl Campbell's, and Iron Works. If you prefer ambience to appetite, the downtown area offers Sullivan's, Meza Luna, Dan McKlusky's, City Grill and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, just to name a few.

Vacationers have excellent lodging choices, including the oldest and most famous hotel, The Driskill. The hundred year old, five star hotel was recently renovated. Other lodgings include the Four Seasons Hotel, the Hyatt on Town Lake** and other nice accommodations within walking distance from downtown. The surrounding areas are home to many popular bed and breakfasts, as well as excellent resorts in the outlying lake areas. For culture, there are a number of museums in the downtown area, such as the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas. The Blanton Museum houses 12,000 works of art and has temporary exhibitions year around. The Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria is known for its diverse art exhibitions and sculpture gardens and is the home of the acclaimed Art School. There is also an Austin History Center on Guadalupe Street which holds the Austin Public Library's local history.