Austin Travel Guide Destination Guides > North America > USA > Texas > Central Texas > Austin •  Top Rated Attractions   · Halina European Skin Care · Austin Bats · Lyndon Baines Johnson Library And Museum · Zilker Botanical Gardens · Elisabet Ney Museum · University Of Texas At Austin · The Driskill · Governor's Mansion · Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum · Continental Club •  Top Rated Restaurants   · Uchi · Home Slice Pizza · Amy's · Eddie V's Edgewater Grille · Fogo De Chao · Hudson's On The Bend · Wink Restaurant · Chez Nous · Flip Happy Crepes · Torchy's Taco's •  Traveler Photos •  Hotels in Austin     Austin Overview Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest,[7] it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 15th-largest in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation from 2000 to 2006.[8] According to the 2009 U.S. Census estimate, Austin had a population of 757,688.[4] The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock Metropolitan Area, with a population of approximately 1,660,000 as of the July 2009 U.S. Census estimate, making it the 36th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. The area was settled in the 1830s on the banks of the Colorado River by pioneers who named the village Waterloo.[9] In 1839, Waterloo was chosen to become the capital of the newly independent Republic of Texas. The city was renamed after Stephen F. Austin, known as the father of Texas.[9] The city grew throughout the 19th century and became a center for government and education with the construction of the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas.[10] After a lull in growth from the Great Depression, Austin resumed its development into a major city and emerged as a center for technology and business.[9] Today, Austin is home to many companies, high-tech and otherwise, including the headquarters of three Fortune 500 corporations, Dell, Whole Foods Market, and Freescale Semiconductor.[11] Austin was selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006, and No. 3 in 2009, also the "Greenest City in America" by MSN.[12][13] According to CNN Headline News and Travel & Leisure magazine, Austin ranks No. 2 on the list of cities with the best people, referring to the personalities and attributes of the citizens.[14] Austin was also voted America's #1 College Town by the Travel Channel.[15] Austin was ranked the fifth-safest city in part because there are fewer than 3 murders per 100,000 people annually.[16][17] Furthermore, in 2009, Austin was determined to be the least stressful large metro area by Forbes magazine.[18] Residents of Austin are known as "Austinites" and include a diverse mix of university professors, students, politicians, musicians, state employees, high-tech workers, blue-collar workers, and white-collar workers. The main campus of the University of Texas is located in Austin. The city is home to enough large sites of major technology corporations to have earned it the nickname "Silicon Hills." Austin's official slogan promotes the city as "The Live Music Capital of the World," a reference to its status as home to many musicians and music venues.[1][2] In recent years, many Austinites have also adopted the unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird"; this refers partly to the eclectic and liberal lifestyle of many Austin residents but is also the slogan for a campaign to preserve smaller local businesses and resist excessive commercialization.[19] Hotel Deals in Austin Travel Deals and Offers 4-star hotels at 2 star prices! Up to 60% off Coupon Codes for lowest air fare tickets Find rental cars from $13.95 a day Top 25 Flight Deals cheap ticket fares Save up to 50% on Last Minute Fares Top 25 Weekly Flight Deals Top Flight Deals Under $199

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Valentine's Day Travel Gift Guide
(Ideas to Inspire Your Next Trip Together)
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas to Inspire Your Next Trip Together


Girl Getaways for Foodies and Wine Lovers
(The Lost Girls' Picks for Culinary-Focused Travel)
Check out The Lost Girls' picks for the best culinary-focused tours around the world.


April 2011 Travel Planner
(April 2011 Travel Planner)
Travel Channel's top picks for April 2011 vacations.


Romantic Bed and Breakfasts
(Recharge Your Romance at an Elegant Inn)
Recharge your romance at these bed and breakfasts where doting innkeepers pamper lovebirds.


Best Beaches in South Carolina
(Visit South Carolina's Beaches)
With miles of seashore, sprawling resorts and offshore fun, South Carolina is the perfect destination for beach lovers.


Charleston Weekend Guide
(Soak in the Southern Hospitality)
Charleston is home to charming bed and breakfasts, boutique shopping and world-class restaurants; it's a perfect stateside getaway for a long weekend.


Best Bachelorette Party Spots
(Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)
With so many destinations to paint red, we have a few ideas for where to gather the girls.


Women's Travel Groups and Tours
(Female Bonding at Its Best)
Women-only tour operators organize cool adventures from surfing in Bali to trekking through the Himalayas.


Offbeat Shopping Streets
(Eclectic Boutiques Abound)
Here are four offbeat shopping streets, where you can set your sights on retail therapy of the non-chain genre.


Early Check-In: Free National Parks Days
(Roam the Range for Free)
More than 100 of America’s best national parks offer free entrance days. Mark your calendars for some of nature-loving fun -- free of charge.


Oscar-Nominated Destinations
(Oyster.com’s Hotel Picks to Live Like a Star)
View Oyster.com's hotel picks for how you can live like the characters or stars in Oscar-nominated films, including The Descendants and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.


London Myths
(5 London Myths Debunked)
England has the reputation for getting rainy weather, but is it true? Travel Channel debunks that myth and more.


Australia 2012 Events Calendar
()
Check out some of the events happening in Australia this year.


Travel Trend: Medical Tourism
(Top Spots to Go Under the Knife)
Low labor costs and quality medical schools are transforming many parts of the world into medical tourism hotspots.


Best Places to Propose on Valentine’s Day
(Oyster.com's Recommendations for Romantic Spots)
Spring Creek Ranch and Travaasa Hana are just a couple of Oyster.com's recommendations for romantic spots to propose on Valentine's Day.


Best “Unplugged” Vacations
(7 Getaway Spots for a Digital Detox)
Find yourself texting while on a sunset cruise or sneaking away from the beach to check your emails? Plan a “digital detox” at one of these 6 getaway spots.


5 Best Workout Spots for Celebrity Sightings
(Oyster.com's Hotel Picks: Stay Fit and See Celebs)
Stargazers can stay at these Oyster.com-recommended hotels to catch celebrities working out in public places, including Central Park and Runyon Canyon Park.


Hong Kong: Top 5 Attractions
(Savor These Top Spots on Your Next Business Trip)
Get Travel Channel's top picks for Hong Kong attractions to see during your business trip.


Weight-Loss Resorts
(Best Body-Slimming Getaways)
If you want to use your vacation as an opportunity to lose weight or learn healthy lifestyle choices, there are clinics, resorts, and spas to cater to your wellness goals.


Hotel Guide to the Sundance Film Festival
(Oyster.com's Top Hotel Picks in Park City, Utah)
Oyster.com has hotel recommendations and hotel reviews to help you plan your stay in Park City, UT, for the annual Sundance Film Festival.