Romantic Austin
by Paris Permenter & John Bigley, Editors of Lovetripper.com

Like the familiar tune goes, the stars at night really are big and bright “deep in the heart of Texas.” In the middle of the Lone Star State, just an hour north of San Antonio, lies "the live music capital of the world," better known as the state capital of Austin.

This central Texas city is a favorite with lovers thanks not only to its top-notch nightlife but also to its natural beauty. Perched at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, a region dotted by live oaks and punctuated by rolling hills, the city is also etched by the waters of Town Lake and Lake Austin.

Music lovers flock to the capital city during March to take part in South By Southwest. This nationally-known event draws 15,000 participants from the world of music as well as film and the internet. The festival spans the city, encompassing over 50 venues that fill nightly with the sounds of live music and feature films; during the day, the Austin Convention Center serves as the focal point of the action.

Whenever you visit Austin, however, you'll find that the city lives up to its music moniker. The heart of the nightlife scene is Sixth Street, an east-west thoroughfare tucked between the State Capitol and Town Lake. Nightclubs and restaurants tempt the steady pedestrian stream with music ranging from blues to country to alternative.

But you'll also find plenty of reasons for a daytime look at Austin as well. You can't miss the State Capitol, taller than its national counterpart and packed with history and legend. Guided tours as well as display cases share the story. A block south of the Capitol stands the Governor's Mansion, the grand building that Texas governors have called long home.

Just a block north of the Capitol, you'll find the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, a must-see for everyone interested in history. The museum offers 41,253 square feet of space for wedding receptions including the domed lobby with a seating capacity for 725 persons or a 1,500-person reception.

Fall and spring visitors should head to the south side of the city for an afternoon at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The center emphasizes local plants and wildflowers; during the spring months, Texas bluebonnets dot the fields. Stroll hand-in-hand along flower-lined paths and admire the many types of Texas wildflowers.

Austin's love of nature can be seen throughout the city, even in its downtown. Crossing Town Lake, the Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the nation's largest urban colony of bats, and the lakeshore fills with onlookers every evening from March through October. At sunset over 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats make their nightly exodus at sunset to feed on the insects of central Texas.

Just minutes from Town Lake lies the Inter-Continental Stephen F. Austin, an historic landmark that has been renovated to its 1920s appearance. Along with activities in the nightclub district, hotel guests can also make use of the hotel's ticket service to check out a performance at next door's Paramount Theater or other facilities in town. And at Sixth and Congress, the Driskell Hotel is Austin's oldest hotel, dating back to 1886, and still one of its most romantic.

Couples will also find several romantic resorts surrounding the city. Recently Barton Creek Resort and Spa, located just 15 minutes from downtown, hosted the wedding reception of singers Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey; the elegant resort is a favorite for wedding receptions as well as romantic getaways. Active couples find that the resort is home to four championship golf courses including the number one and two courses in the state: Fazio Canyons and Fazio Foothills. After a round, the two of you can pamper yourselves in the full-service spa or relax with a gourmet meal.

On the northwest side of town, Lakeway Inn and Resort offers great golf and a huge menu of water activities. For tennis buffs, the resort is home to Lakeway World of Tennis, considered one of the best facilities in the Southwest. And it's easy to pamper yourself at Lake Austin Spa Resort.Wildflowers fill the grounds of this beautiful resort, recently named the number five spa in the country by the Zagat Survey. The resort takes advantage of its location on the shores of Lake Austin with relaxing boat rides and spa picnics.

For more on Austin, call the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-926-ACVB or see www.austintexas.org.