"The University of Texas is one of the country’s great institutions of learning. And the education doesn’t stop with the registered students. The Ransom Center is one of several arms of the university that extend to the public. Visiting scholars and the public turn to the research center’s wealth of resources and archives to learn about everything from ancient Mexico to the works of great artists and writers like David Foster Wallace and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. The Ransom Center is also home to one of only five complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible in the United States. Take a tour of the center orcome to see any of theongoing exhibitions, lectures, and events."

"Austin is known as a music, outdoors, and food town,so the visual arts can sometimes get short shrift, especially when compared to Texas towns like Fort Worth and Houston. Located on the University of Texas campus, the Blanton makes the case that more people should be paying attention to what the state’s capital city has to offer. With 18,000 works in its collection, the Blanton is the centerpiece of the art world in Austin . Regular and rotating exhibits feature works that span from ancient India to modern North American art. Admission is free on the third Thursday of each month."

"You’ll find landmarks and historical buildings in states around the country named after presidents, historic figures, and governors, but finding one named after a lieutenant governor is pretty rare. But Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock was a pretty rare character and power broker. The history museum named in his honor is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and hosts regular exhibits on state history and rotatingshows that highlight cultural institutions like Texas high school football (yes, the state takes its high school football veryseriously). The museum is also home to an IMAX theater that screens educational and nature documentaries as well as select first-run features. The grounds also host concerts and events throughout the year."

"University of Texas Tower Along with the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas Tower is probably one of the most distinguishing (and visible) landmarks in the city. The 307-foot tower was erected in 1937. Thoughunfortunately infamousasthe locationfrom which Charles Whitman opened fire on campus in 1966, the tower nonethelessholds a place of pride for Longhorns. If you’re visiting town and you look up and see the tower illuminated with an orange light, it means that one of the University of Texas athletic teams has recently won a game. The university also lights the tower orange when certain alumni achieve major accomplishments, aswhen golfers Ben Crenshaw and Jordan Spieth won the Masters."

"Central Texas is revered for natural swimming holes like the one at Krause Springs, about 30 miles west of Austin. The swimming hole and campgrounds have been privately owned by the Krause family since 1955, and the site islisted on the National Register of Historic Places. The spring-fedpool is surrounded by knobby, towering oak trees. Swing outon a ropeand drop in ordive in from boulders. There is also a swimming pool on-site.Krause Springs accepts reservations for RV camping; tent camping is permitted on a first-come, first-served basis."

"The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria The Laguna Gloria campus of the Contemporary art museum, on the shores of Lake Austin, offersa wonderful blend of nature and human achievement (the museum has another location downtown). The Italianate villawas built following the original owner’s trip to Lake Como, Italy, more than a century ago. In addition to galleries, Laguna Gloria features an amphitheater for events and film screenings, an art school, and a sculpture garden. The museum hasexhibited works by artists such as Ai Weiwei, Anya Gallaccio, Nancy Holt, and many others. Itsgrounds simultaneously feel likea garden, a lakeside estate, and a barely tamed rain forest, with pieces ofsculpture almost hidden throughout."

"Since everything seems bigger in Texas, it's no surprise that the Texas State Capitolholds the title for largest state capitol building in the union (360,000 square feet of floor space in the main building!). The building is alsoquite beautiful and houses some historical paintings. The inside of the capitol dome, with a lone star at the apex, is an impressive sight.Stroll the groundsto see fountains, old trees, and sculpturesof historical Texas figures. The capitol grounds also offer a great view of downtown to the south and the University of Texas to the north. The Texas landmark is definitely worth a visit on a trip to Austin ."

"From music to dance to cuisine, the influence of Mexicois strong inthe culture ofTexas and Austin . This center—dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and other Latino cultures—is run by the city of Austin. Two free exhibitions feature art by local, regional, and national Latino artists, and the MACC offers arts classes and camps for both adults and children. The building,near the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, also hosts regular events and concerts, including five annual festivals like the Día de Los Muertos celebration."

"This impressive modernist building, designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, houses the legacy of the 36th president of the United States of America. Central Texas native Lyndon Baines Johnson was one of the most colorful and powerful men in the history of the state of Texas. This 10-story library was dedicated in 1971 and contains 45 million pages of historical documents, 650,000 photos, and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson's long political career, during which he was involved in highs and lows includinglandmark achievements in civil rights as well as U.S. military action inSoutheast Asia. The library also features exhibits in collaboration with other institutions that touch on other parts of Texas and U.S. history."

"Texas summers are hot! When the heat hits, the people of Austin flock to the Barton Springs Pool to cool off and chill out. The $8 summer entrance fee(for nonresidents)buys you a whole day of fun. Get your hand stamped for reentry if you need to head out to hit one of the many restaurantsalong Barton Springs Road (food anddrinks are not permittedat the springs). The pool is popular year-round because the water temperatureremains a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). The people-watching at the free-spirited pool is spectacular, and you can count on hearing acoustic music and drumming on the lawn."

"Butler Park Pitch and Putt When the only serious requirement for play is that golfers have a putter and at least one other club, you know a course is more about fun than rules. Butler Park Pitch and Putt has been a pleasant destination since it opened in 1949, giving Austin a chance for a walk under the shade of pecan trees and some low-key exercise. Much is made of famous golfers who've spent time on the nine-hole course, like Ben Crenshaw (who played when he was an undergrad at UT), but you'll find the challenge of play is within your reach. And your kid's."

"The Hamilton Pool, this beautiful collapsed grotto, is a perfect place to go when needing to chill in some cold water. Linger in the pool andenjoy the clouds gliding across the sky and the cooling sight of water trickling down from the trees andlimestone roof ledge. It's a shortbut slightly ruggedtrailfrom the parking area down to the Hamilton Pool, and from there you can hike to other lakes. But be advised:The pool is limited to 20 people, and most mornings there's a line of 10 cars waiting to get in before the gates open at 9 a.m. (Call before you head out to be sure that the trail and poolare open, especially after heavy rain.)"

"It might be a part of the Colorado River—a man-made reservoir carved out of the river in 1960—but everyone calls the body of water bisecting Austin Lady Bird Lake. On hot summer days, scores of walkers and joggersmove alongthe lakeside paths through nearby Zilker Park, but you can also take to the water by canoe, kayak, water bike, or stand-up paddleboard. You can't swim here, but the left fork (heading west) in the river will take you to Barton Springs Pool, a popular Austin hangout,where you can splash in the water to your heart's—and body temperature's—delight."

"Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is truly a mystical place, filled with Native American folklore. The Tonkawa people who inhabited the area in the 16th century thought it was special because they thought they saw ghost fires flickering at the top of the pink granite dome and heard creaking and groaning that they couldn't explain. (Modern geologists attribute the noise to the rock's contraction at night after being heated by the daytime sun, and the ghost flames may have been the reflection of the moon on rainwater trapped in depressions in the granite.) If you're a geology buff, then the place will be reallycool because this batholith (a huge igneous rock mass that is the result ofmagma pushingintoearth's crust and cooling underground) was formed some 6million years ago. The hiking, camping, and cycling around this area arespectacular,especially in cooler months."

"A comedian once said thatcomedy is when you"put the ha ha where the ouchie is." That linesums up the backstory of this theater. The founders evacuated to Austin from New Orleans in the face of Hurricane Katrinain 2005.Obviously, laughter can be curative. Abedrock ofthe Austin comedy community,the theater is home to the team of founding improvisers and serves as a training ground and school for those looking to both write and perform. Many of Austin’s best performers and comedians have passed through ColdTowne."

"Alamo Drafthouse When husband-and-wife team Tim and Karrie League opened the Alamo Drafthousein 1997, the idea of serving beer and food inside a movietheater felt revolutionary. You can now find locations of the Drafthouse from California to New York. The growth was built not just on the food-and-beverage concept but on the strength of the theater’s programming andalove of film that permeates every aspect of the operation. In addition tocommercial movie screenings, Alamo Drafthouse theaters feature repertory screenings, quote-alongs, sing-alongs, and other playful events, and the South Lamar location also hosts the country’s biggest genre film festival, Fantastic Fest."

"Scary Movies at the Drive-In You might associate the old-fashioned drive-in movie theater with warm summer nights, but this is Texas, where the summer heat wilts you even after the sun goes down. The Blue Starlite doesn't even start the season until after Labor Day, and it really gets going come October, when they host a month's worth of scary movies. The rest of the season (which runs until late spring or so) they have a range of indie, cult, and classic films, with occasional special events with actors and directors. Without wheels? You can walk in with your own seating and listen to the movie on your own radio or borrow a pair of vintage speakers (first come, first serve), but isn't that missing the point of the drive-in? This is your excuse to rent the biggest car you can afford, pick up a s'mores kit at the concession stand, and snuggle up in the backseat with your honey (keep it clean, folks) for a night at the movies. This is a "mini" drive-in with limited spots, so be sure to book tickets in advance and arrive early. ."

"In the heart of the Second Street District, Violet Crown Cinema makes dinner and a movie an experience worth checking out, withfour screens devoted to independent, documentary, andforeign films, great food and cocktails,and super-comfortable seats. Sit at the bar if you must discuss the film afterward (parking's free for four hours!), or stroll throughthe Warehouse District if your legs need some stretching. Great beerandwine selection."

"Cloudlike whites andearthybrown tonesmake this day spa feellike a sanctuary amid the hustle and bustle of downtown. Milk + Honey’s various locations provide spa treatments, including facials, massages, waxes, manicures, and pedicures, and offer a menu of treatments specifically for children and teens. The interior waiting room, with its minimalist Japanese design, is a soothing spot to rest and relax before treatments.A shop offers an array of specialty products, from ylang-ylang-scented body oil to sandalwood bath salts, so you can take the spa experience home."

"Dancehall Dreams This Texas Dancehall will have you two stepping the night away, in the the spirit of the musical history that dates back to Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys. There's traditional country music played by true country musicians and autographed photos all over the walls in the built-in museum. This is the real deal and a chance to go back in Texas time. Even if you're in Austin for work and you only have one evening of free time, make the Broken Spoke your chance definitive Austin experience. As they say, when you walk underneath that big old oak tree out front, you throw that front door open on this red rustic old building, you're at the Broken Spoke, the last of the true Texas dancehalls."

"Find a Music Legend at the Continental Club "Everyone from the late blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan to the Butthole Surfers has played at the Continental Club. Musicians who do big gigs in Austin like to play small shows here afterward," says Liz Lambert."

"Bat Exodus in Austin If you haven't before seen 1.5 million bats flying out for their nightly feeding at once, now's your chance. The largest urban bat colony in North America, Austin 's Congress Avenue Bridge is the home to hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tail bats from mid-March to mid-October. Every night around sunset, the colony emerges like a black cloud from the crevices underneath the bridge, heading out to feed on millions of bugs around Austin. A beloved tourist attraction since the bats made their home in the bridge during the 1980 renovations, crowds pack the east-facing sidewalk and the park to the south side of the river to watch the nightly exodus. Want more details? Call the Bat Hotline at 416-5700, extension 3636, for exact exodus times. Christian Bale may or may not answer."