Austin, Texas, is one of the fasted growing cities in the US according CNN’s Money Magazine. As of 2006, it is the 16th largest city in the US, and the fourth largest in Texas. It is quickly becoming the hub of commerce combined with a high quality of life.
With an above average income, and relatively low housing costs, in the last few years there has been a land rush for stake in this No. 2 “Best Places to Live” (also according to Money Magazine). Below are seven attractions in Austin divided into three categories: music, museums, and bat bridge (a category of its own). If you live in Texas, take a weekend trip and enjoy what Austin has to offer.
Music Festivals in Austin
Learn more attractions in Austin.
Austin is known as the “Music Capital of the World,” with the most famous of festivals carrying on that tradition. Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three day art and musical festival with more than 130 bands and 65,000 visitors daily. The festival has put Austin back on the map after a ten year hiatus out of the public music lovers’ eye. Many acts have been taped live and then shown on PBS including Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Tori Amos, Cold Play, and many others. On any given night the popular 6th Street hosts 100s of bands that play nightly in the bars. South by Southwest is another annual event brings original bands and music producers together in the hopes that that deal will be made.
Museums in Austin
Many of the most popular museums in Austin have only opened within the last ten years including the Texas Memorial Museum located in the main exhibit hall of the Texas Natural Science Center at the University of Texas at Austin. It houses 5.7 million specimens in the fields of geology, ichthyology, herpetology, biology, entomology, and paleontology, and boasts 75,000 visitors yearly. The Blanton Museum of Art, which was expanded in 2006, is the largest university art museum in the United States. It holds 12 million in fine art from the Houston Endowment. Last, but not least of museums to see in Austin — Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. It has three floors of interactive sites devoted to tell the story of Texas.
Bat Bridge in Austin
Up to 1.5 million bats hang out under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. This is the largest urban population of bats in the world. Every evening these Mexican Free Tail bats surface to seek out insects and bugs. This curiously attracts 100,000 viewers annually. After harboring under the bridge for the summer, spring, and fall months, the bats head toward Mexico in the winter, which is even a more amazing site to see. I highly recommend watching the bats whether you live in Austin, or are just visiting.
If you love Texas as much as I do and would like to celebrate it through colorful original Texas art on your wall now or in the future, add The Texas Artist, my father, Larry Lemons to your group of friends. You can also follow him on Twitter @TheTexasArtist. By adding him, you’ll also receive weekly updates on art shows, new Texas-inspired paintings, and other interesting and valuable facts about Texas. For more Texas travel stories, tips, and adventures like this one check my blog, www.NeilLemons.com.