Austin

The granite Texas statehouse stands as a testament to the history of the Lone Star State. The Texas Capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Free, guided tours. Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 9:30-3:30 p.m.; Sun. noon-3:30 p.m. — www.austintexas.org

Named after the wife of President Lyndon Johnson, Lady Bird Lake is actually a section of the Colorado River. This flowing reservoir covers 416 acres and has become one of the city’s top recreation areas.

Although lined with hotels and residential complexes, the majority of its shoreline is open to the public, with miles of excellent trails for pedestrians and cyclists. The main pedestrian path along the shores is the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the river and connects downtown Austin with the southern shore. — www.planetware.com

Within Zilker Park’s 358 acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin: Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size, and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, ideal for year-round swimming. — www.austintexas.gov

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Austin and boasts more than 45 million pages of historical documents and papers from President LBJ’s lengthy career.

The museum, dedicated in 1971 and refurbished in 2013, contains exhibits relating to the president’s time in office, as well as important issues of the day, including the rise of the civil rights movement. — www.planetware.com

The Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the state’s story through a variety of interesting interactive exhibits, along with audio-visual displays and film.

The permanent Story of Texas exhibit is home to artifacts and displays that feature defining events in the state’s history. Artifacts include the preserved hull of the 17th-century La Belle, which was shipwrecked at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Other exhibits and presentations include the fall of the Alamo, Tejano culture, and the history of the Texas oil industry. — www.planetware.com

The 351-acre Zilker Park is Austin’s most popular green space and recreation area. The park’s grassy expanses and picnic space sit alongside Lady Bird Lake and are ideal for lazy afternoons, but there are also many recreational facilities for the public to enjoy. Riverside walking trails, volleyball courts, and a disc golf course are all within park boundaries. — www.planetware.com

Listen to Onion Creek flowing over limestone ledges and splashing into pools. Follow trails winding through the Hill Country woods. Explore the remains of an early Texas homestead and a very old rock shelter. All of this lies within Austin’s city limits at McKinney Falls State Park – what are you waiting for? — tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls

Bonnell Mountain is a great landmark and one of the most visited sites and tourist attractions in Austin. The limestone height stands at 775 ft above sea level and is considered to be the highest point within Austin City Limits. It has been a popular sightseeing destination since the mid-19th century and continues to attract tourists and locals for mountain biking, hiking, and more on the Mount Bonnel hiking trail. — www.mountbonnell.com

Long lines form early for brisket, pulled pork & other smoked meats at this bustling spot.

Elizabeth Street Café is a neighborhood Vietnamese café and French bakery in South Austin. The restaurant boasts sunny dining rooms, a shady garden patio, and serves fresh breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner as well as takeout. Known for our great croissants, bánh mì served on fresh baked baguettes, spring rolls, steaming bowls of pho, spicy curries, house cocktails & boozy punches, and tropical-flavored macarons. The adjacent Croissant Room is available for private events. — elizabethstreetcafe.com

The sister restaurant to Austin fine dining institution Jeffrey’s, offering breakfast, lunch, brunch, happy hour, dinner & Monday night steak frites. The Clarksville cottage features a small marble bar for coffee or cocktails, intimate tables in the dining room, shady nooks on our patio and a grassy front lawn for lounging. Serving an eclectic daily menu featuring the best locally sourced products. Reservations are recommended. — josephineofaustin.com

Since opening in 2012 in the Old West Austin neighborhood near downtown, Clark’s Austin has become an Austin institution for all things seafood: freshly shucked oysters, crudo, lobster roll, daily fish specials, caviar and blini, and bowls of chowder and cioppino. Inspired by the New England Coast (with a nod to a few California classics), Clark’s features a see and be seen patio and large, marble oyster bar popular for after work martinis and a Gruyere-topped burger, long, lazy Champagne-filled lunches, and bustling dinners. The design is light, bright, and airy with nautically-themed touches including a saltwater fish tank, teak wood furniture, bright white walls, and blue and turquoise tones. — clarksoysterbar.com

At Este, you’ll find a vibrant menu full of fresh seafood and Mexican-style cuisine, with most menu items prepared with rustic charcoal cooking. Native-born Mexican Chef Fermin Nunez continually finds ways to allow his heritage to influence his cooking and surprise his customers. Chef Nunez and his restaurant have been the recipient of many awards and recognition since the restaurant’s inception in late 2022. — www.austintexas.org

Lutie’s, a garden restaurant. Revel in a convivial atmosphere surrounded by contemporary design, all overlooking our immaculate grounds. — www.luties.com

Much like the ancient tradition itself, Maie Day is a daily festival of food + community. It is all the things we love about steakhouses and always a party. — www.maieday.com

Traditional meets modern in this new age Caribbean restaurant, tucked away on the east side of Austin. Named after the Canje pheasant, national bird of Guyana, Canje pulls inspiration not just from mainland Guyana, but from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, and all the islands in between.

The space boasts a stunning bar, a robust cocktail program and fun wine list focusing on small producers, built to pair with Caribbean flavors. — canjeatx.com

We’re serving up Central Texas barbecue with recipes exclusive to la Barbecue. Owner LeAnn Mueller hates the sweet stuff, so you’ll find special blends of salty and savory rubs, absolutely no sugar added to our coleslaw, and throwback dishes inspired by LeAnn and Ali’s travels around the world. Don’t forget the pickles! — www.labarbecue.com

Foodie hot spot serving a fixed-price menu with seasonal American small plates & a deep beer list.

The Diner Bar is a full-service restaurant and bar with a lively, convivial spirit adjacent to the Thompson Austin’s lobby. Under the guidance of Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano, the menu features a range of seasonal Southern dishes layered with local Texan inspiration, such as Chicken Fried Quail with regionally ground grits and Clams and Chorizo with garlic trencher. Our bar also features an extensive oyster program. — thedinerbar-austin.com