Take a free tour: the red granite dome, topped by the Goddess of Liberty, is 6 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol. The best photo opportunities are sunrise and sunset.
Built in 1915, this classic theater has hosted performers from Houdini to Foo Fighters. Don’t let a long movie line scare you away: the Paramount holds 1,200 people.
Founded in 1911, the Symphony is Austin’s oldest performing arts group. The Halloween Children’s Concert and Christmas Sing-Along are local family faves.
Based on all the hype, this is some of the best BBQ in the country. Believe the hype. Three-hour lines for the 15-hour-smoked brisket are routine. They open at 11. Get in line by 8.
As seen in the Austin-based classic Dazed and Confused: Moonlight Towers were used in the old days to illuminate city streets and scare away late-night muggers.
A big dance floor and a brass band. Old-school cowboys and young hipsters. Get ready to two-step. Austin favorite Bomb Tacos has a trailer on the back patio.
Austin’s oldest standing frame structure was built in 1841 to represent France in the new Republic of Texas. Now it’s a museum and concert venue selling "J'Adore Texas" t-shirts.
A crafty Brooklyn-esque speakeasy with a French-Tex menu, tucked into Austin’s up-and-coming East Side. Sample artisanal cocktails from the city’s best mixologists.
The oddball collection includes a Fiji mermaid, the Minnesota Iceman, and shrunken heads. Take the $4 tour and learn your future from the resident fortune teller.
The cottage home of the famed “Gift of the Magi” writer displays many of the writer's belongings, including an unpublished short story.
Sample Texas' vibrant Mexican culture. Mexic-Arte features both contemporary and historical art, with a focus on local artists.
Chef Tim Love's rarified bistro rewards the adventurous. Try the rabbit-rattlesnake sausage, wild boar ribs and elk with huckleberries. And those are just the appetizers.
This open-air market features locally grown produce and deliciously healthy snacks. Enjoy an organic tamale, and wash it down with a green smoothie from the juice stand next door.
Before you hit your next shot on the road again, tip your cap to the red-headed stranger. Willie is immortalized in this 8-foot bronze statue. You’re also steps away from Austin City Limits.
This luxe Mexican beauty reflects the culinary trends of Mexico City's hip neighborhood Colonia Condesa. Try the 4-guac sampler and the chapulines, a Oaxacan specialty of fried grasshoppers.
Simply the best bookstore in town, possibly in state. This large indie boasts a vast selection, spot-on staff recs and great author events.
What BookPeople is to print, Waterloo is to vinyl. The staff helps you navigate their impressive selection without the snarky “High Fidelity” attitude.
Before: An unfinished building. After: A three-story open air art gallery, featuring the best local muralists and street artists. Wear good climbing shoes and trek to the top for great city views.
