Austin

This funky town sways to its own beat. Get those hips moving and join in!

Don’t let the geography fool you. Austin isn’t just cowboy hats, belt buckles, and huge hair. It’s something altogether different—progressive, tongue-in-cheek hipster, and all about having a good time.

While the capital city of Texas is known for its nightlife, that doesn’t mean there are no things to do in Austin when the sun is up. Want to know why everyone looks so happy and fit? It’s because they spend their days doing yoga in the park, dominating bendy trails at Barton Creek Greenbelt, and kayaking on Ladybird Johnson Lake. Come on, you know you want to visit for that name alone.

Need your caffeine fix before giving that warrior pose a try at 6:30 in the morning? If you’re downtown, close your eyes, point in a random direction, and you’ll have chosen a great coffee shop. This town likes its coffee and its live music, which is why you’ll find both on nearly every corner. When it comes time to put something more substantial in your belly, don’t pass up the food trucks. There’s a reason they seem to be everywhere—some of the city’s best food is literally parked next to the curb right in front of you!

Okay, the sun is going down, so it’s time to get serious. What to do in Austin comes down to one thing: live music. Nearly every bar, coffee shop, and street corner offers live music in a wide array of genres. True live music gluttons can’t afford to miss the monstrous SXSW Music Festival in March (hint: extent your trip to also include the massive SXSW Film Festival, also in March).

Austin is a town that is unafraid to sing its own song, so hum your way over to our Austin vacation packages and find some sweet savings along with your awesome tunes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Austin

What makes Austin unique?

You'll see quite a few "Keep Austin Weird" bumper stickers in Austin, as the city strives to maintain its reputation as fun, quirky, and progressive. But guess what-Austin really is all of these things. Be sure to swing by the Cathedral of Junk and the Carousel Lounge to get a taste of that unique Austin flavor.

What is SXSW® in Austin?

SXSW® stands for South by Southwest®, an annual 9-day event featuring films, interactive media, conferences, and music festivals. Based in Austin, SXSW® is usually held in mid-March each year and draws enormous crowds-and enormous revenue-to the region.

What is Austin famous for?

In addition to being the capital city of Texas, Austin holds the title of Live Music Capital of the World®, boasting nearly 250 live music venues and more than 1,900 bands and performing artists in the vicinity. The city is also known for the enormous colony of bats residing in the Congress Avenue Bridge, as well as the numerous offbeat eateries and shops along South Congress Avenue (SoCo).