Austin’s not your average concrete jungle; it’s a city with an abundance of nature, both within the city limits and its surroundings. The combination of great weather and excellent nature spots makes it the ideal city for outdoor enthusiasts. A good selection of children’s attractions makes it a family-friendly destination too. On a hot summer’s day, Zilker Metropolitan Park is the place to head for fun in the sun or relaxation in the shade if you prefer.

Austin’s Park
Austin’s Park is one of the city’s finest family visitor centres and offers an excellent selection of attractions, with something to suit kids of all ages. Indoor attractions include a rock-climbing wall, laser tag and a video games arcade, while outdoor attractions include mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats and battling cages. 
Phone: +1 512 670 9600; www.austinspark.com  

Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary
This non-profit making visitor centre was founded in 1990 by Jim and Cindy Carroccio and opened its doors to the public for the first time about 18 months later. The zoo is home to around 300 animals representing more than 100 different species and is the ideal location for a relaxed family day out. 
Phone: +1 512 288 1490; www.austinzoo.org/

Golf
Austin has a number of facilities for fans of the game and with the fantastic climate that the city enjoys, chances are you’ll be playing in glorious sunshine for the length of the course. Courses open to the public include the Jimmy Clay-Ray Kizer Municipal Golf Courses (phone: +1 512 444 0999), the Lion's Municipal Golf Course (phone: +1 512 477 6963) and the Bluebonnet Hill Golf Course (phone: +1 512 272 4228).

Kiddie Acres
Kiddie Acres is a modest theme park offering old-fashioned attractions such as a Ferris wheel, a traditional carousel, a train ride and a miniature golf course. The park is aimed primarily at children under 10 years old and promises a fun day out in a safe and family-friendly environment. 
Phone: +1 512 255 4131; www.kiddieacres.com/

Mountain Biking
If single-track action is your bag, then head to the Greenbelt, a well-established trail that can be accessed from an entrance close to the Barton Spring or any of several other entrances along its route. The nearly 13-kilometre track features flats, inclines and technically challenging terrain, so has something to offer riders of all abilities.

Zilker Metropolitan Park
This 351-acre large nature area is popularly considered the city’s finest public park and is the perfect place to head on a warm sunny day in the pursuit of relaxation or any of a variety of outdoor activities. The Barton Springs Pool, a natural body of water within the park, has an average temperature of 68°F, so is suitable for swimming all year. Also within the park are hiking and biking trails, volleyball courts, soccer and rugby pitches and a lake on which canoeing is possible. 
Phone: +1 512 477 8672; www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/

If you’re an art enthusiast or just someone who appreciates aesthetics in general, then Austin is a good destination for a vacation as it’s teeming with museums and galleries featuring the works of local and international artists from all eras. If history is more your bag, then a trip to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is a must, while for lovers of the stage the city’s collection of theatres is sure to satisfy.

Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria
The artworks of 20th-century artists from not only Austin but also countries around the world are on display at this reputable gallery space housed in a pretty Mediterranean-style villa that dates to 1916. The museum’s permanent collection includes pieces by Ed Ruscha, Chuck Close and Robert Rauschenberg. The museum also houses visiting exhibitions and in the past has featured the illustrations of Dr Seuss and the photographic works of Annie Leibovitz. A second branch can be found in the downtown area. 
Phone: +1 512 458 8191; www.amoa.org

Blanton Museum of Art
The largest university art museum in the US, Blanton Museum of Art has a permanent collection containing over 17,000 artworks and antiquities in a vast range of media. Significant areas of the collection include the works of American, Latin American and European artists in media such as paint, print, pencil and charcoal drawing. The museum regularly adds contemporary pieces to its collection. 
Phone: +1 512 471 7324; www.blantonmuseum.org

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Get the lowdown on key events in the history of Austin and Texas at this fascinating visitor centre in the heart of the downtown area. The three-storey museum tells the story of Texas through a range of displays and interactive exhibits. The highlight is ‘The Star of Destiny’ a special effects show held in the museum’s very own Imax theatre. 
Phone: +1 512 936 8746; www.thestoryoftexas.com/

South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
Not the most famous museum in the city, this museum is nevertheless worth a visit for its collection of Pop Art that dates from the 1960s and covers all eras up to contemporary times. The gallery’s main exhibition focuses on the work of artists from Austin and examines their influence on rock art of the past and their continuing influence on contemporary global popular culture. 
Phone: +1 512 440 8318; www.samopc.org/

Stage Productions and Performance Art
The city has a good selection of traditional theatre venues that between them showcase classics as well as the works of contemporary US playwrights. For high quality professional productions, the Live Oak Theatre with its resident State Theatre Company is one of the best places to head. Alternatively, check out the VORTEX Repertory Company at Planet Theatre or the Third Coast Repertory Theatre Company at the John Henry Faulk Theatre.

The cuisine of Texas is reputedly one of the nation’s most distinctive, having benefited from the influences of Spain, France and Mexico, as well as those that shaped it during its Confederate and Republic years. Though Austin has not really developed any unique dishes or cooking styles to call its own, it offers all the state’s most popular culinary creations including Tex-Mex and beef barbecue.

A vast selection of restaurants can be found across the city in every district and choosing one among the many can be something of a mission. If, however, you want to sample Tex-Mex at its best, then Matt's El Rancho on South Lamar is reputedly the joint to head for. If its barbecue that takes your fancy, then Stubb's Bar-B-Q in the Red River Entertainment District is where the locals recommend.

The city’s shopping scene is extensive and you can find everything from small select strips with independent boutiques to mega malls with all of the US’s biggest chain stores. In the latter category, the best venues to visit include the Highland Mall, the Barton Creek Square Mall and the Dobie Mall. Each location features an extensive selection of retailers plus dining and entertainment outlets.

For something a little smaller and less generic, try 26 Doors Shopping Centre in the downtown area, the Arboretum Market in Northwest Austin or the Antique Marketplace in the north of the city. Also notable is the huge Austin Chinatown Centre, an open-air mall that’s home to a plethora of Chinese and Vietnamese businesses.