By: Allen Shaw



What better way to get away from it all in the Lone Star State than to take a weekend getaway to the state capital in Austin. With fine dining, vibrant culture and a never-ending nightlife, Austin is one of the most easily accessible and inexpensive getaways in the state.

If you are into sports, Austin is the home to the Texas Longhorns. If you hope to become the next Julia Roberts, Austin could be the location where you will finally be discovered (Austin is considered the Hollywood of the Southwest). And if you are into the New York art scene but that pesky "New York" part is keeping you from letting your inner Picasso out, Austin is home to one of the Lone Star State's most eclectic artist communities.

But the best part of Austin is, of course, the restaurants. If you are into barbecue, Italian or French cuisine…it is all part of the Austin dining experience.

Austin Culture

Austin's official slogan is the "Live Music Capital of the World." Though the scene revolves around the many nightclubs on the world famous Sixth Street, Austin is also home to the annual film and music festival South by Southwest. The state capital is also home to the longest-running concert music program on American Television…Austin City Limits. And at the end of long night hearing some of the best music Texas has to offer, why not cap it off with some good ole fashioned Texas eatin'?

For a Chinese cuisine dining experience that will go down in the annals of your life as the best Chinese food West of Beijing, take the time to dine at Chinatown. With a choice of four main styles of regional Chinese dining, there is sure to be something there for even the most particular of fine dining connoisseurs.

Buca di Beppo is probably the best Italian dining the entire state of Texas has to offer. And the best part…"It's meant to be shared! Whether you get the Chicken Marsala or the Fettuccine Alfredo, pass it around the table and share with the whole family.

Do you want to travel back in time to the early 20th Century? How about a trip down your grandparent's memory lane at Judge's Hill Restaurant & 1900 Bar? You will feel like a Golden Age actor in a dining room that feels like it was pulled directly out of the early days of the silver screen.

Austin Sports

Though Austin may be the largest city in the United States not to have a professional sports team in at least one of the big four (NFL, NBA, NHL or the MLB), sports is still a strong tourist draw for the state capital. Austin sports fans, as well as fellow Texans from across the state, enthusiastically support the Texas Longhorns football, baseball and basketball teams. And what goes better with sports than barbeque?

Austin is home to some of the best Texas barbeque in the world. The best of the best though can be found at County Line Legendary Barbeque. The roadhouse ambience lends itself well to the Texas motto when it comes to good ole fashioned Bar-B-Q…Get it all over ya!

So as you can see, taking a weekend getaway to Austin could be one of the best investments of your life. From the elegant art of New York to the live music usually associated with Nashville, Austin has it all and then some. And best of all, you will not leave the city hungry.