Austin Insider Blog

This blog, written and curated by Visit Austin staff, shares the things that visitors love and locals can't get enough of.

Viva la Vida Festival & Parade

Each year, Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates the tradition of Día de los Muertos in Austin. During Viva la Vida Festival & Parade, the city's largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos event, visitors will experience a street festival and a parade down the iconic Congress Avenue, bringing together a…

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Visiting the Austin Nature & Science Center

If you are a parent to a budding naturalist or future environmentalist, a trip to the Austin Nature & Science Center is a must. Within the boundaries of Zilker Park, this ecological refuge lets kids explore and discover the natural Austin environment and learn about geology, animals, paleontology…

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Visiting Austin's Brush Square Museums

Once Brush Square was a bustling cotton market, but now it's home to the Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig House Museum and the O. Henry House Museum, located between Trinity and Neches on East Fifth Street. Nestled in the heart of downtown Austin, the museums are tucked behind heritage trees in…

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Day Trip Destination: Lockhart

Lockhart has long been known as the barbecue capital of Texas. Way before Franklin was a whisper in the wind, Texans from all over have flocked to this city to get their carnivore on. There’s more than meets (or meats) the eye here though—a fascinating history, adorable shops, live music, golfing…

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Visiting the Blanton Museum of Art

There's so much to explore during a visit to the Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas at Austin campus. With nearly 21,000 works ranging from Greek pottery to Latin American modern art, you can spend the entire day at the museum and want to come back for more! If you don’t have all day…

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Historic Austin: Hyde Park

The National Register of Historic Places lists more than 3,000 sites in Austin and 17 National Register historic districts. Located in Central Austin, just north of the University of Texas campus, the Hyde Park Historic District is Austin's oldest suburb and was once home to the State Fair of Texas…

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50 Cheap & Free Things to Do in Austin, TX

Experience the best of Austin—without putting a serious dent in your wallet—with our suggestions for 50 free and cheap things to do while you’re here. Stretch your travel dollars with everything from affordable food truck eats and outdoor adventures to free live music and fun tours. Texas State…

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Day Trip Destination: Johnson City

Just an hour west of Austin, Johnson City is a perfect day trip destination. Whether you are interested in the story of LBJ, outdoor adventures, wineries, art, or science, this area of the Texas Hill Country has a lot to offer. History The town is named after the ancestors of the 36 th President of…

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Historic Austin: West Austin

West Austin is a National Register Historic District, positioned north of Lady Bird Lake and west of downtown. Established in 1853, the district is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Texas Governor Elisha Peace owned several plantations in the region which he later sold to former enslaved…

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