5 Attractions Of Austin You Won't Want To Miss

Despite being the fastest growing large city in the US, attracting 150 new residents and countless new businesses daily, this quirky city retains its “Keep Austin Weird” motto a slogan adopted to represent the city’s ongoing support for local artists and businesses however unique, along with the iconic SXSW festival.

From pristine natural springs to two-stepping dance halls, we’ve rounded up the must-visit attractions that make Austin what it is. Whether you’re playing tourist in your own city, or in town looking for things to do during one of Austin’s many festivals, here are 5 things you won’t want to miss.

Franklin Barbecue

Austin’s legendary barbecue joint, Franklin Barbecue, has a major reputation and the epically long three-hour lines to prove it. Nonetheless, head chef and much-loved local celebrity Aaron Franklin cooks up some of the most succulent sausages and beef ribs you’ve ever tasted, so the wait is well worth it. Make like a local and bring a folding chair, a deck of cards and a cooler full of Lone Star tallboys to make the time pass faster.

Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum recently debuted their monthly “after dark” program, with free admission after hours from 6pm-8pm. The program returns in May and will repeat every first Tuesday of the month, offering visitors a chance to experience the special evening environment of the sculpture garden, featured gallery exhibitions, plus monthly themed activities, food and entertainment. During the May dates, there will be free evening yoga classes and local refreshments.

Texas State Capitol

Not only will a visit here put you in one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Texas with some of the richest history it’s also free to enter. You can take one of the Capitol tours that run every 20 to 30 minutes; the tour guides are extremely knowledgable and will gladly answer questions related to the building or Texas history. If you don’t have time for one of those, you can also just take a self-guided tour through the various rooms and halls that make up the stunning building.

Austin's Blanton Museum of Art

As Austin’s premier art museum, the Blanton has an impressive, dizzyingly genre-spanning collection that includes almost 18,000 works – we’re talking early Renaissance paintings, modern Native American works, a massive prints collection, Roman-era pottery and one of the best Latin American collections in the country. And, don’t miss Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, a 2,715-square-foot (250-square-meter) stone chapel with colored glass windows and black-and-white marble panels that’s said to be one of his most notable works.

Broken Spoke

This little Texas dive bar advertises itself as the “last of the true Texas dance halls and damn sure proud of it!” For over 50 years, the Broken Spoke has offered live music and boot-scootin’, plus beer and classic chicken-fried steak. Join in the fun – this is the place to learn the traditional two-step, Western Swing, and the Cotton-Eyed Joe, and classes are offered from Wednesday to Saturday, so you can learn the steps before rocking out to the live band.