Austin - The Eclectic Capitol of Texas

Austin is the cultural mecca of Texas, a place everyone wants to live and to enjoy.  But last night, as I was thinking about all the great places I wanted to recommend for new visitors, I found myself trying to find a good stopping point. It’s just too hard to account for all of the great attractions in this terrific city. But here I've done my best to include the most popular of Austin activities and attractions.

1. Watch the Sunset at the Oasis

The Oasis is an Austin institution, but one with a recent history of misfortune. It is know for its beautiful Lake Travis views. Sittings high on a bluff overlooking the lake, with an extensive network of hundreds of decks, the Oasis offers a wonderful back to nature getaway within the city; a place where you can sit, eat and drink, and watch the sun set over the lake.

2. Get Out on The Lake

Visit Lake Travis. A dammed lake where the Texas Colorado river flows into offers a great many activities for Austin residents. The lake is 63 miles long and 4.5 miles wide, making it ideal for boaters, fishing and skiing.  A day at Lake Travis can be relaxing and fun

3. The Bats

Austin has the largest urban bat colony in the United States. In 1980, when the Congress Avenue bridge was being reconstructed, engineers built expansion joints into the bridge (a series of narrow crevices underneath the bridge). Little did they know that 1.5 million Mexican freetail bats would eventually call those crevices  their "home away from home."

Every year, these Mexican freetail bats migrate here from Mexico, first arriving around mid-March. This makes the summer and fall prime bat-viewing time. If you go down to Congress Avenue bridge at dusk on any summer night, you'll be among hundreds (possibly thousands) of people who have lined up to see Austin's bats take to the sky like clockwork. Watching the bats take flight is one of the most popular things to do in Austin, Texas (view photos), especially for people who have never seen it before. In fact, every time I have guests from out of town, I usually put the bats on my list of things to do in Austin.

4. The Texas State Capitol

If you travel down Congress Avenue you’ll come to the Texas State Capitol. The expression "things are bigger in Texas" holds true here, for the Texas State Capitol is even taller than the U.S. Capitol building. But that's just one reason to visit this architectural wonder.

5. Downtown Austin

Spending time downtown Austin is another "must" for your list of things to do in Austin. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird," which is symbolic of Austin's easygoing nature, eclectic mix of people, and cultural uniqueness.