If you find yourself in Austin, Texas, you'll discover a multi-faceted city with a never-ending supply of sights, sounds, and activities. Austin is the Capital of the Lone Star state and offers both the locals and visitors culture, history, music, scenery, and a laid-back attitude.

For a taste of history and a feel for the pride that all Texans feel for their state, start with a visit to the Texas State Capital. This pink granite giant was completed in 1888 and is 302 feet high, 14 feet taller than the Nation's capital. Just two blocks away you'll find the Texas State History Museum, constructed from the same pink granite. Walk across the street from there to the Blanton Museum of Art for a taste of art and culture.

Austin is in the heart of the Texas Hill country, which is home to several beautiful lakes. Lake Travis, just North of Austin is a Mecca for water sports. The Colorado River runs through Austin. Right in the heart of the city is a portion of the river that is known as Lady Bird Lake, named for Lady Bird Johnson who was a fixture in Austin for years. A 10.1-mile hike and bike trail borders both sides of the lake, offering great views of downtown Austin.

Lady Bird Johnson was responsible for the construction and development of the Wildflower Center named for her that provides examples of the beauty of the Texas' Hill Country. It is full of wildflower planting areas, meadows, and native landscaping exhibits.

Austin's official slogan refers to the city as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Over the years, Austin has been known as a place where up-and-coming musicians could get their start. This includes the famous blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn who has statue commemorating him along the trail at Lady Bird Lake. Austin has over 60 music venues, making it easy to see any style of live music any night of the week.

A site that Austin is quickly becoming famous for is the spectacle of the Congress Avenue Bats. The largest urban population of bats, 1.5 million strong, lives under a bridge in downtown Austin from April through October. Every evening at sunset these bats take off to feed, providing an amazing sight.

After the bats have taken off on their nightly flight, walk a little farther south on Congress Avenue to the area known as SoCo to shop in eclectic stores or choose one of their many trendy restaurants for dinner.