| If you asked Austinites what is special about their city, | | | | Metropolitan Park is Austin's most beloved park and is |
| you would get a potpourri of answers. For those who | | | | located here. It consists of 351 acres and offers a |
| like live music, Austin calls itself the "Live Music Capital | | | | variety of recreational opportunities and family events. |
| of the World. There is more live music here than in | | | | Barton Springs pool is a natural spring fed pool with a |
| New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. In early spring, | | | | year round temperature of 68 degrees. It also contains |
| musicians and independent film makers come from all | | | | the Zilker Botanical Gardens and Austin Nature and |
| over the world to be a part of South by Southwest | | | | Science Center. Every spring kids of all ages gather |
| Music and Film Festival. The festival has gained | | | | for the Zilker Park Kite Festival. Zilker Park also has a |
| international attention and is a fun place to see new | | | | miniature train ride and canoe rentals. There are also |
| talent as well as seasoned performers. Even if you | | | | many hiking trails throughout the park. In the summer, |
| miss getting a badge to the fifty stages for live music | | | | the Zilker Hillside Theater hosts concerts ranging from |
| performances, you can still be part of the fun by | | | | Jazz to Country. Also, it is the site of the Zilker |
| walking around the downtown area and hearing the | | | | Summer Musical and Shakespeare in the Park. Pack a |
| music wafting from the different clubs. | | | | picnic dinner and bring a blanket to sit on the hillside and |
| Austin is also known as "Silicon Hills" because of the | | | | enjoy the show. |
| many major technology corporations that have located | | | | The Downtown District stretches from the Texas |
| here. Many new residents have moved here because | | | | State Capitol to the Congress Avenue bridge. Each |
| of the job opportunities associated with these | | | | evening from March through November, you can |
| high-tech companies. | | | | watch a million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from |
| New arrivals to Austin have fun exploring the different | | | | beneath the bridge. It's quite the social event every |
| areas of town. Just south of the River is called SoCo | | | | evening. You can watch from the Four Seasons Hotel |
| for South Congress. It is an eclectic collection of | | | | or Shoreline Grill or join the crowd on and under the |
| antique and artsy shops and places to eat and listen to | | | | bridge. |
| music. It's not unusual to see bumper stickers that | | | | Austin has a couple of campaigns, one for supporting |
| promote 'Keep Austin Weird' in this part of town. The | | | | local businesses and the other for keeping Austin |
| residents consist of politicians, old hippies, cowboys, | | | | beautiful. Don't be caught throwing your trash on these |
| bubbas, and tekkies. They all seem to get along just | | | | streets. They mean it here when they say 'Don't Mess |
| fine. | | | | with Texas.' Believe me when I tell you that it will cost |
| A little West is an area known as Barton Hills. Zilker | | | | you if you get caught. |