Austin, TX Guides, Vacations, Tourism

Austin was a tiny community on the verdant banks of the (Texas) Colorado River when Mirabeau B. Lamar, president of the Republic, suggested in 1839 that it would make a better capital than swampy and disease-ridden Houston. Early building had to be done under armed guard, while angry Comanche watched from the surrounding hills, but despite its perilous location, the city thrived. These days it wears its status as state capital lightly. Since the 1960s, this laid-back and progressive city – an anomaly in Texas – has been a haven for artists, musicians, and writers, and many visitors come … more »