2.
"The Live Music Capital of the World" has been home to numerous famous musicians: Joe Ely, Shawn Colvin, Roky Erickson, Janis Joplin, James McMurtry, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Nanci Griffith to name just a few.
3.
Austin is the only remaining US city with operational "moonlight towers." Popular in the late 1800s, these massive structures were designed to illuminate nighttime streets with a 3000-foot circle of light. Today, the 17 remaining moonlight towers are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and one of them is used as the base for the Zilker Park Christmas tree.
4.
For some real honky-tonk fun, a visit to the Broken Spoke is a must! Willie Nelson has called this Texas Tradition his "favorite watering hole." The Broken Spoke has been featured in a number of movies, films, documentaries and commercials including one for Fosters Beer. Called the best country dance hall in the U.S. by Entertainment Weekly, you can bet your bottom dollar you'll have some down-home fun Texas style!
5.
Austin has ten "official" sister cities: Adelaide, Australia; Koblenz, Germany; Lima, Peru; Maseru, Lesotho; Oita, Japan; Saltillo, Mexico; Taichung, Taiwan; Old Orlu, Nigeria; Gwangmyeong, S. Korea; and Xishuangbanna, China. "Unofficial" sister cities include Edmonton, AB, Canada; Antalya, Turkey; Toronto, ON, Canada; and Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, Brazil.
6.
Now that's a swimming hole! Barton Springs Pool, known as the "soul of Austin", is a 1000-by-125 foot unchlorinated swimming pool. Fed by natural spring waters that fizz at a rate of 35 million gallons of water each day, the pool can be enjoyed year round. The water temperature averages between 67 and 70 degrees even in the winter!
7.
Austin has its fair share of musician residents, of course. But it's been a popular home-base for lots of other well-known folks as well. The list of hometown heroes includes former and current residents such as cyclist Lance Armstrong; actors Renee Zellweger, Owen Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke and Sandra Bullock; cartoonists Berkeley Breathed and Mike Judge; authors Kinky Friedman, O. Henry and Bruce Sterling; and film directors Tobe Hooper, Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez.
8.
In 2006, Money magazine dubbed Austin the second best big city on its list of "Best Places to Live," and The Travel Channel calls Austin the #1 college town in the United States.
9.
Visitors from all over the world have visited the magnificent building that houses the State Capitol of Texas. The Rotunda rises 311 feet higher than our nation's Capitol and houses portraits of every President and Governor of Texas beginning with the current chief executive. Each time a new governor is elected every portrait has to be moved back one space.
10.
Austin supports four minor league professional sports teams: The Ice Bats (hockey), Round Rock Express (baseball), Wranglers (arena football), Toros (basketball).
