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Come visit Austin

Austin is live music, high tech, politics, the University of Texas, and a whole lot more.

Say the word "Austin" and a myriad of images come to mind. The capital of Texas. Most recent home of President George W. Bush. Heart of the technology industry's Silicon Hills. Live Music Capital of the World. Longhorn football. Rolling landscapes and sparkling lakes. Hip, cool, trendy, young, historic, vibrant.

 

Austin's skyline Photo by J. Griffis Smith

Austin offers everything from chic sophistication to a laid-back attitude. At the most elegant restaurants in town, diners show up in everything from haute couture to t-shirts and shorts. A mecca for the cultural arts, the city also protects its outdoor treasures such as Barton Springs Pool. In downtown, ultra-modern office towers rise high above century-old historic landmarks. It's still a small town at heart that has grown into a big city over the past two decades.

Naturally Beautiful
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. Although Austin will experience a true change of seasons, the temperature is generally mild.

With constant 68-degree waters, Barton Springs Pool remains the favorite place in town to cool off on a hot summer's day. 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. Pres. Bush routinely jogged here while still governor of Texas. Farther upstream, Lake Austin and Lake Travis attract boaters, fishermen, water-skiers, windsurfers and even scuba divers.  It is no wonder Austin is a favorite for the outdoor lover.

Historically Rich
Originally a buffalo hunting ground favored by Tonkawa Indians, Austin was originally named Waterloo for all the springs and creeks. Now more than a million people live in the city renamed to honor Stephen F. Austin, known as the "Father of Texas."

The city's historical importance is remarkable and comes alive in such places as the Texas State Cemetery, the final resting place of many prominent Texans; Bremond Block, an area of stately 19th century mansions; the antebellum Governor's Mansion; and more than 220 other landmarks. The new Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (opening April 21) chronicles the colorful history of Texas.

Culturally Appealing
Austin is one of a handful of U.S. cities with professional ballet, symphony, opera and theater companies. With 20 museums, nearly three dozen galleries and as many as 35 theater companies, the city is experiencing a cultural renaissance.

Along with the Texas State History Museum, other exciting new projects are also in the works. The $60 million, Austin Museum of Art is expected to open downtown in 2003. A massive renovation will convert Palmer Auditorium into the Long Center for the Performing Arts by early 2004. The University of Texas plans to bring all of its art collections under one roof at the new Blanton Museum of Art by 2004.

Ethnically Diverse
Historic structures, ethnic foods, outdoor festivals and a variety of musical styles blend together to reflect Austin's multicultural diversity.

Austin stands as the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, where thousands of German immigrants settled in the 19th century and left behind a legacy of food, music and unique architectural styles.

Musically Inclined
In the early 1970s, Austin birthed a distinct music genre at a now defunct music emporium known as the Armadillo World Headquarters. Here, the kickers met the hippies to produce a fusion of music-country, blues, rock and roll, jazz and folk-that evolved into the "Austin sound."

Today more than 100 live music venues offer performances on any given evening, making Austin the "Live Music Capital of the World." Many of those venues are clustered downtown along Sixth Street and in the downtown Warehouse District. All over the world, viewers tune in weekly to Austin City Limits, PBS's longest running series. Tours of the studio on the University of Texas campus are available each Friday.