Austin Things to Do Tips by ATXtraveler Top 5 Page for this destination

Music Fans can't Miss this one... Vaughn Statue Review

Stevie Ray Vaughn (1954-1990) was one of the greatest guitarists to ever play for a crowd, as evidenced by how many fans come to see his statue that is dedicated to his memory in Austin. Austin was the place where Stevie got his start, and one of the main reasons Austin today is considered the "Live Music Capital of the World".

On the link below, you can learn more about Stevie Ray....if you would like to see the statue, it is at the Hyatt on Town Lake. If you need the address, it will be on my Hyatt tip under hotels.

Address: Hyatt Hotel on Town Lake

Texas Governor's Mansion Governor Mansion Review

Due to the new Security restrictions of the post Sept. 11th world, if you wish to come visit the Governor's mansion in person, you will have to submit a request 24 hours in advance. I guess this is enough time for them to run a full background check!

One of the more recent reasons this place is important is because it was where George Bush was when he was elected President.

Address: 11th and Colorado

Phone: 512-463-5516

Website: http://www.txfgm.org/

Gethsemane Church

During the building and rebuilding of the Capitol buildings, alot of the unused brick was recycled into other facilities. One of the industrious groups of people in Austin at the time were the Swedish Lutherans, who were able to completely construct their church from the brick of the original Capitol. Now thats ingenuity!

Address: 16th and Congress

Phone: 512-463-5753

Website: http://www.photohome.com/photos/texas-pictures/hill-country/gethsemane-church-1.html

UT's Frank Erwin Center University of Texas Review

Its Saturday Afternoon in the winter, not cold enough to stay home, not warm enough to go swimming... what to do?

Head out to Austin's Frank Erwin Center, the home court of UT's Mens and Womens Basketball teams.

Out in front of the Erwin Center, you will see UT's Longhorn mascot. Here Sarah is sticking her tongue out since she went to UT's rival school, Texas A&M.

Address: 1701 Red River

Phone: (512) 471-7744

Website: http://www.uterwincenter.com

Austin City Limits

One of the most famous PBS shows on television is a music program that originated here in Austin, TX. Because of our title as "Live Music Capital of the World", even PBS gets some of the best acts in the country and the world to perform for its popular show.

Tickets are NOT easy to come by for this event, so please make sure you plan well ahead of time if this will be a must do thing on your agenda.

Website: http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/about/index.html

Single? Go to Austin's type of pickup bar! Lake Travis Review

Lake Travis is one of the 7 lakes in the Highland Lake Chain, which is also the Lower Colorado River. (This is the end of the historical documentation).

From this point on, I will be discussing things that pertain to being single in Austin.... most importantly, where to find the other singles in Austin.

Give your best boat pickup line on Lake Travis, in Devil's Cove (across from Carlos and Charlies) on any of the major event weekends. There are thousands of boats that pull in there on weekends, and it is nothing but a pure party.

Address: Lake Travis Austin

Website: http://www.laketravis.com/

"The Story of Texas" Bob Bullock museum Review

Approved in 1997 by the 75th Texas Legislature, The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum opened on April 21, 2001 at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and North Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, Texas.

This museum shows the history of Texas, one of the greatest nations on Earth!

I would highly recommend learning about Texas through this great medium!

Directions: Intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and North Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, Texas.

Phone: (512) 936-4602

Website: http://www.thestoryoftexas.com

SXSW Media Festival

If you are a fan of music, garage band to well established mid market bands, you will be coming to mecca when you are in Austin in March. Check out the stats below, courtesy of sxsw.com and find out why it is the best music festival to attend in the country!

South by Southwest Music and Media Conference (SXSW) 2005, in its nineteenth year, will take place March 16 - 20, 2005 The SXSW Film Conference and SXSW Interactive Festival, both in their twelfth year, will take place March 11 - 15, 2005 with the Film Festival running from March 11 - 19, 2005.

Music
• Showcasing Acts: 1279
• Music Venues Participating: 60
• Music Conference Participants: 7,213 (with band registrations 8,195)
• Approximate Number of Music Media in Attendance: 1,595
• Approximate Number of Music Trade Show Attendees: 10,000
• Number of Music Trade Show Exhibitors: 175

Film/Interactive
• Number of Films Screened: 180
• Film Conference Participants: 3,667
• Approximate Number of Film Media in Attendance: 352
• Interactive Conference Participants: 3,270
• Approximate Number of Interactive Media in Attendance: 288
• Approximate Number of Film/Interactive Trade Show Attendees: 7,000
• Number of Film/Interactive Trade Show Exhibitors: 121

Address: Austin, TX (all over the city)!

Directions: Just come to Austin... you can not miss it ANYWHERE you go!

Phone: 512/467-7979

Website: http://www.sxsw.com

Mount Bonnell Mount Bonnell Review

Austin's Mount Bonnell is one of Austin's oldest tourist attractions being documented as far back as 1850. It is the highest point within Austin City Limits at 785 feet, but is actually smaller than Mt. Larson directly across from Mt. Bonnell but located in West Lake Hills. A wonderful place to picnic in the sun, Mt. Bonnell contains views of Town Lake and the Pennybacker Bridge as well as wonderful vistas of downtown. The area is a short hike from the road and there is no entrance fee.

Directions: Mt Bonnell is located off FM 2222 on the West side of Mopac. Head West from Mopac on FM 2222 until you reach Mt. Bonnell Road and turn left.

Website: http://austin.about.com/cs/photogallery/l/bl_wherebonnell.htm