It may sound a bit strange, but Austin’s biggest attraction is the city itself. Austin has always been a bit of an aberration as far as the rest of the state goes. It is a far more liberal and open minded spot than you might imagine. In fact, the unofficial motto of the town is “Keep Austin Weird.” Most cities would never embrace such a slogan, but in Austin, it is embraced. Why is the city so odd compared with the area around it? The root of Austin’s oddness can be traced to the founding of the University of Texas. UT is one of the largest universities in the country, and with a university comes free thinkers who aren’t as bound by conservative principals as others might be. The city has not only embraced the university but also the students and the football team.
Without a doubt, the single biggest attraction in the Austin area is University of Texas football games. Unfortunately, the home schedule for the Longhorns just ended, which means if you want your fix of top flight college athletics, you are going to have to go with men’s and women’s basketball. These games don’t quite have the excitement and magic of the football games, but they are worth attending.
The city also contains many beautiful parks that are worth visiting. In fact, the city won a major award a few years ago for how nice the park system here is. There are a plethora of public pools and quiet walks all right in the middle of the city. There is even a clothing optional park right in the middle of the city known as Hippie Hollow Park. This park is just one of the reasons why people from all over Texas consider Austin to be a bit strange.
The city also has its share of historic monuments, buildings, museums and lots of other things, too. Austin is a city where old meets new, where tradition bumps up against new ideas and free thought. There is a reason why many residents here say they wouldn’t live anywhere else. Austin is just that special.
