Overview of Austin

Austin is the U.S. state of Texas capital and the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Austin encompasses 272 square miles along the Colorado River in central Texas, 200 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The capital city is 200 miles Southwest of Dallas, 162 miles west of Houston, and 90 miles north of San Antonio. It is the center of the central metropolitan area of Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos.

Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World®. Besides being the state capital of Texas, Austin is also the hub for creative culture in the state. It’s home to the University of Texas at Austin and is as well-known for live music as for Tex-Mex cuisine. South by Southwest (also known as SXSW) and Austin City Limits (ACL) music festivals take over the city each spring and fall. They each provide unique opportunities to experience some of the best touring musical acts in the world while also bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors into the city, making everyday life more challenging for residents.

Austin’s key culinary exports include Tex-Mex items like queso dip and breakfast tacos, Texas-style barbecue, and locally brewed beer. But like any hip city, there is a wide variety of cuisines and price points, so you can find restaurants that suit your taste, whether from an inventive food truck or a high-end sushi restaurant.

Besides food and music, Austin has plenty of parks and outdoor spaces. Known as the city’s crown jewel, the Barton Springs Pool is a must-visit outdoor swimming pool fed by natural springs and is three acres in size.