Thanks to a roster of high-profile festivals, you might first think “music” when Austin comes to mind. And you wouldn’t be amiss: The city is known, after all, as “The Live Music Capital of the World.” But Austin, the fast-growing state capital of Texas, is much more than its rich music scene. It’s an eclectic college town, a haven for independently owned businesses, a liberal pulse in a conservative state. Populated by a colorful, dynamic mix of longtime locals and newer transplants who strive to “Keep Austin Weird,” the city is perhaps less eccentric than it wishes it were—especially given all the new high-rise condos around—but the point is that it strives to be different, thereby attracting interesting new businesses, ideas, and people. (Plus, it is still home to “chicken sh*t bingo.”)
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Austin Food + Travel Guide
Essential Dishes
What to Eat in Austin
Activity Tips
How to Burn It Off in Austin
HIKE
A handful of big, centrally located parks makes downtown Austin ideal for hiking. First and foremost, there’s the eight miles of (main) trail in the sprawling Barton Creek Greenbelt (map), all limestone cliffs and dense foliage along a rocky creek bed (the creek has popular swimming holes…when there’s water in it, which most often happens in the spring/summer, but depends on rainfall). You can access the greenbelt at a couple of points—the northern Spyglass trail entrance is right across from Tacodeli, if you wish to hike post-breakfast tacos, though we preferred to start further south, at the Gaines Creek/Twin Falls trail entrance (to get there, take the southbound Mopac frontage road south of 360; just before the frontage road loops under the expressway, you’ll see cars and parking spots on the right; map).
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Where to Stay in Austin
Named, appropriately, for the patron saint of music and poetry, the eclectic Hotel Saint Cecilia (112 Academy Dr., map) aims to artistically inspire with its five suites, six poolside bungalows, and three studios (it is also rumored to attract visiting rock stars). Fittingly, the fun boutique amenities here include a Geneva sound system in each room, with turntable and iPod hookup; an onsite library of vinyl records, books, and films; minibars with cool local and global goodies, a lap pool, and free bikes for borrowing. Despite the secluded feel of the wooded, dog-friendly property, the hotel is walking distance to the shops, restaurants, and live-music clubs of South Congress Avenue (including the awesome and historic Continental Club). Studios start at $295.
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