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