Austin

The permanent collection of more than 13,000 works here ranges from ancient to contemporary art. — Michelin Guide

Dominating Austin's skyline, the Renaissance Revival-style capitol was built in 1888 (Elijah E. Myers) of red granite and limestone. — Michelin Guide

A municipal park located on the western edge of the city above Town Lake... making it a popular spot for surveying the surrounding area. — Travel + Leisure

More than 45 million pages, an extensive collection of audio recordings, and 2,000 interviews fill a four-story glass-encased research room from floor to ceiling. — Travel + Leisure

Enjoy the native gardens and plants. The center uses solar power, has a green roof, and offers community outreach programs to restore the environment. — Travel + Leisure

This 744-acre state park is 13 miles southeast of downtown Austin. — Fodor's

While you’re waiting for the bats, make sure not to miss the view to the West as the sun drops below the jagged skyline of the Texas Hill Country. — Fodor's

Pack your picnic baskets and head out to Zilker Park for an evening of live, local music. — Afar Magazine

The Harry Ransom Center’s holdings are vast, varied and ever-growing, from Frida Kahlo paintings to Woodward and Bernstein’s Watergate notes to Robert De Niro’s papers. — Travel + Leisure

Named after an illustrious Texas lieutenant governor, this sunset-red expanse of granite, framed by a 35ft-tall bronze star and the six flags of Texas, has three floors of exhibits. — Michelin Guide

This museum will be of interest to children up to 12 years old...Tots enjoy the low-tech but creative playscapes; older kids take on a variety of "creation stations." — Frommer's

The German portrait sculptor Elisabet Ney made Austin her home in 1892. The studio and home became a museum after her death. — Condé Nast Traveler

The Austin Nature & Science Center, located in Zilker Park, has a range of family friendly activities and hands-on exhibits. — Travel + Leisure

Emma Long Metropolitan Park is the only city-owned park that offers camping—and the only one that has a beach. — Time Out

Nature, organized. Japanese garden and roses are must-sees. — Not For Tourists

You'll find a quiet, beautiful garden that's home to works by the 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf, who taught for many years at UT. — Travel + Leisure

A gleaming copper dome, a soaring rotunda, and a 35-foot-tall bronze star out front set the tone for this museum, devoted to Texas boosterism; it’s as bold as the state itself, and loads of fun — Frommer's