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.

One of the truly great things about living in the Austin area is that there is always plenty of great sports action nearby. Now that winter is here, you have world class college basketball at the university to go see every few days. Upcoming games for the men include shootouts against Michigan State on December 22, Gardner Webb on December 29 and Texas A&M on January 2.

If women’s hoops is more your speed, you also have a great selection of home game coming up. The Lady Horns will play host to Texas Southern on December 20, Arkansas Pine-Bluff on January 2 and Texas-Arlington on January 5. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the door. UT men’s and woman’s basketball is an affordable night out for the whole family.

If hockey is more your speed, the Texas Stars are in action all winter long and tickets are super affordable. The team plays just north of Austin in Cedar Park. The Stars are the minor league affiliate of the Dallas Stars, so you’ll be able to catch rising stars and established veterans each night right here in the Austin area. Upcoming games include tilts against the Grand Rapid Griffins, the Syracuse Crunch and more. Hockey is one of those sports that has to be seen in person to be genuinely enjoyed, and the Stars are one of the most exciting teams in the league.

This is also college bowl season for all of you football fans out there. While there aren’t any bowl games in the greater Austin area, there is a dandy of a match up down in San Antonio. The Alamo Bowl features a Texas-sized matchup this year between Texas Tech and Michigan State. Witness the high flying offense of Texas Tech and the size and power of Big Ten stalwart Michigan State go head to head. Kickoff is set for January 2 at 8pm and tickets are affordable enough for the whole family. Pick up your tix on Ticketmaster. College football is the shortest of all the sports seasons, so don’t miss your last chance to see some high flying action.

When the temperatures drop in Austin, the court at the Frank Erwin Center heats up, so grab your tickets today for another successful season of University of Texas basketball. Both the men’s team and the women’s team play over the holidays and tickets are so affordable, you can take the whole family. Here are just a few upcoming games for you to enjoy.

Saturday, December 19 sees a battle for court supremacy over in Arlington as the Longhorns men’s team take on North Carolina. This is a battle of the heavyweights as both Texas and North Carolina are often considered two of the best teams in the country in men’s basketball.

The schedule for the men’s team doesn’t get any easier. On December 22, they take on Michigan State at home. The Spartans are often the class of the Big Ten and they are sure to provide a challenge to a well coached and prepared Longhorns team.

The Longhorns men’s team has an easier go of it come December 29 as they take on Gardner Webb. In previous years, GW hasn’t quite been in the class that UT is in, and no one is really predicting anything different for this match up. If you want to ensure a Longhorn victory, this is the game you want to attend.

The women are in action over the holiday season, too. They play Sunday, December 20 at home against Texas Southern. This is a solid interstate rivalry that showcases a smaller Texas school stepping up to take on the legendary women’s Longhorns. While it is safe to say that UT will be a heavy favourite in this game, you don’t want to overlook anyone in the NCAA.

The women are back on the court at home for three in a row at the beginning of January. They take on Arkansas Pine Bluff, Texas-Arlington and Texas A&M on January 2, 5 and 9^th respectively. Games against A&M are always very competitive and the game versus Arlington is yet another chance for a smaller Texas program to step up and give their best shot to the kings of the state.  Don’t miss a second of action this season.