Capital of Texas, the city of Austin lies almost in the centre of the state, a big city with a small town feel, young population, casual lifestyle and reputation as a Mecca for live music shows.

Home of the University of Texas campus, Austin life is closely entwined with the energy and enthusiasm of its students, but this city that has been a state capital since 1838 does not ignore its history. Young people are drawn here too by the array of live concerts that are held frequently around the shores of Town Lake. Most famous of these events is the annual South by Southwest music festival-conference held each March. Visitors wanting to tune in to Austin's live musical repertoire, which spans everything from blues and country to reggae, simply have to drift down the famous Sixth Street strip of pubs and clubs any night of the week.

Austin's laid-back attitude lends itself to the great outdoors, and the city has miles of hiking and biking trails linking parks, preserves and greenbelts adding to the ambience of its leafy streets.

Texas State Capitol

Address: Congress Avenue between 11th Street and 14th Street Austin

Admission: Monday to Friday 7am to 10pm, weekends 9am to 8pm

Telephone: (512) 463 0063 (Tour Guide Office) or (512) 305 8400 (Visitors Centre)

Zilker Park

Address: 2100 Barton Springs Road Austin

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Address: 4801 LaCrosse Avenue Austin

Admission: $8 (adults); $7 (seniors aged 65 and older); $7 (students aged 13 and older); $3 (children 5-12); free for members and children under 4 years old Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm; Sundays 12pm to 5.30pm. From March 14 2011, the Center will be open every day.

Telephone: (512) 232-0100

Governor's Mansion

Address: Colorado Street Austin

Admission: Due to structural restoration, the Governor's Mansion is currently closed to visitors. Information for tourists will appear here as soon as tours resume.

Telephone: Reservations: (512) 463 5516; Capitol Complex Visitors Center: (512) 305 8400

Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art

Address: University of Texas (at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue) Austin

Admission: $9 (adults), $7 (seniors of 65 years and older), children under 12 are free. Other concessions available. Admission is free on Thursdays Tuesdays to Fridays 10am to 5pm (9pm on Thursdays), Saturdays 11am to 5pm, Sundays 1pm to 5pm. Closed on major public holidays

Telephone: (512) 471 7324

Congress Avenue Bridge

Address: Congress Bridge Austin

Admission: Dusk daily. Bat season is mid-March to beginning of November, but the best months are July and August

Telephone: (512) 416 5700 (Bat Hot Line)

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Address: Austin

Admission: $5 per adult for a seven-day pass The park is open year round. The Headquarters Visitors Center opens 8am to 4.30pm (until 6pm in summer).

Telephone: Headquarters Visitors Center (915) 828 3251

South by Southwest

Where: Austin Convention Center,Austin

When: 13 - 18 March 2012

Carnaval Brasileiro

Where: Palmer Events Centre,Austin

When: 4 February 2012

Texas Hill Country Food and Wine Festival

Where: Main venue: Four Season's Hotel, downtown Austin,Austin

When: 31 March to 3 April 2011

Old Pecan Street Festival

Where: East 6th Street,Austin

When: 7 - 8 May 2011 (Spring festival); 24 - 25 September (Fall festival)

Austin City Limits Music Festival

Where: Zilker Park,Austin

When: 16 - 18 September 2011