Discovering Austin, Texas As A Vacation Destination

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There is much to see and do when visiting Austin, Texas. It is a historical city first established as an Anglo settlement in 1821. The city has a population of about 760,000 residents, with about 19 million visitors every year. There are a number of events and historical venues to keep tourists and locals busy throughout the year.

Bats
One of the most notorious sights to see in Austin is the Congress Avenue bats. The largest urban bat colony in North America, they have taken to the structure underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. There are 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats during their peak population in mid-summer. Crowds gather every night to see them fly out at dusk in groups. The event takes anywhere from 20 or 30 minutes to an hour. The tiny bats are up to 5 inches long and take to the sky, feeding on mosquitoes and small bugs, but never people. Most of the bats leave in early fall to migrate to their Mexican home for the winter.

Austin City Limits Festival
This musical celebration takes place every fall at Zilker Park. The festival features more than 100 musical acts on multiple stages. Tickets sell out fast and well in advance, so some prior planning is necessary. Shuttle buses run to satellite lots for parking convenience. It is a family-friendly event.

University of Texas
The city is home to the University of Texas-Austin. The Longhorns compete in the Big 12 Athletic Conference in several sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, swimming and soccer. Vacationers and visitors may want to watch the four-time national football champs and try their hand at tailgating Longhorn-style amidst the many fans clad in burnt orange.

Golf
Austin is a golfing community, and has been named The Best
Golfing City in America. There are about 40 courses in the area, each with its own special features. About one-fourth of the country's new golf courses built within the last five years have been in the Austin area.

Accommodations
There are a number of hotels and places to stay in Downtown Austin and the surrounding areas. Ranging from the affordable to the extravagant, they fill up during events like national rodeos, Longhorns football games, the Austin City Limits Festival and around the holidays.

Dining
Offering more than the typical southwestern fare, Austin has a wide range of restaurants. From barbecue and pizza, to Thai and fine dining, visitors will find something to their liking.

Outdoor Activities
There are many other activities and facilities in the area, depending on the weather and time of year. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, tennis and picnicking.

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