Austin is the Capitol of this Great State of Texas, It’s also home to UT Austin and the South by Southwest Music Festival. It is well known as the live music capitol of Texas if not the world. It has a unique geographic location in the Texas Hill Country some say it is in the Heart of Texas and the Heart of Austin has to be Barton Springs in Zilker Park it’s a spring fed pool that is 68 degrees year round, the City itself is laid back and unpretentious.

From Splash days (beginning of summer and the end of summer) at Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis, I can recommend the Oasis Restaurant atop of the cliffs of Lake Travis. If you want to be a little more adventurous head out Hwy. 71 about 40 minutes outside Austin you will find a Texas Treasure it’s a collapsed river that formed a Grotto that is a secluded paradise with its spring fed blue water the Grotto has created its own ecosystem with lush ferns and fauna, it makes you feel like your in Hawaii instead of Texas the park only holds 100 cars then it closes so get there early.

In Austin its also fun to watch the millions of bats fly out from the Congress Street Bridge that spans Town Lake in Downtown(Mid March to November) and there are fabulous nightclubs and restaurants in Austin you’re sure to find something exciting to do.

Just south of Austin and north of San Antonio is a Texas favorite The Guadalupe River at New Braunfels just below the Canyon Lake dam is a favorite of whitewater rafters, canoeist and kayakers. I prefer to get a group of friends together and rent inner tubes and float down the cool water surrounded by towering cypress and pecan trees,  it’s a wonderful experience. There is also a Schlitterbahn Water Park voted best in America!

Austin Businesses Amber Waves Design a website & graphic design company Vicki McKinney-Archer www.amberwavesdesign.com Skivies 1114 W. 5th Street 512-472-0844 Tape Lenders 1114 W. 5th Street 512-472-0844 Lazy J Paradise 270 Hidden Path (CR 303 ) Lockhart TX. 210-863-9314 lazyjparadise.com Lesbian & Gay Jeep Association       TexasRainbowWranglers.com   Austin Clubs Black & Tan Lounge Dance Club 405 E. 7th 512-482-9002 Bout Time 9601 N. IH. 35 512-832-5339 Chain Drive 504 Willow 512-480-9017 Charlie’s 1301 La Vaca 512-474-6481 Cockpit 113 San Jacinto 512-457-8010 Oilcan Harry’s 211 W. 4th 512-320-8823 Rain 217-B W. 4th 512-494-1150 Rainbow Cattle Co 305 W. 5th 512-472-5288 Rusty Spurs Saloon 405 E. 7th 512-482-9000   Austin Organizations Capitol City Men Chorus 512-477-7464 Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce 512-574-4422   Austin Restaurants     Austin Spa’s-Fitness Midtown Spa 5815 Airport Blvd. 512-302-9696