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South Central
Road TripsA Modern City With Southwestern Charm
Deep in the heart of Texas lies a city that calls itself “The Live Music Capital of the World,” where bumper stickers say “Keep Austin Weird,” and more than a million insect-eating bats descend at twilight. University of Texas students thrive on the local music scene, and high-tech companies including Apple, IBM and Samsung provide another nickname, Silicon Hills. In Austin, you'll see well-worn cowboy boots with faded jeans or a business suit.
The city buzzes and hums (loudly) as live rock, country, Western swing, blues and Tejano music blares from honky-tonks and nightclubs in the 6th Street and Warehouse districts where there are plenty of things to do. On the flip side, Austin's symphony and opera appeal to lovers of classical music.
Glass and steel office buildings back Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River popular with rowing teams. Another prized natural asset is 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park, where visitors can cool off in chilly Barton Springs.
AAA/Photo submitted by Maria White
Art devotees will appreciate The Contemporary Austin—Laguna Gloria, the Mexic-Arte Museum and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, while history buffs will cotton to the Texas State Capitol and The Bullock Texas State History Museum. Building up an appetite shouldn't be difficult in this energetic city, and when hunger strikes, you'll find not only the expected Tex-Mex and barbecue, but more sophisticated local restaurants.
Whatever your tastes, there's practically no limit to fun things to do in Austin, a city that's far from ordinary but close to perfect when it comes to having a good ol' time.
Austin, TX
Top AAA Diamond Hotels
AAA’s in-person hotel evaluations are unscheduled to ensure the inspector has an experience similar to that of members. To pass inspection, all hotels must meet the same rigorous standards for cleanliness, comfort and hospitality. These hotels receive a AAA Diamond designation that tells members what type of experience to expect.
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Austin Marriott Downtown304 E Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78701
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Members save up to 10% and earn Honors points when booking AAA/CAA rates!
Hilton Austin500 E 4th St. Austin, TX 78701
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Members save up to 10% and earn World of Hyatt points when booking AAA/CAA rates! Members also receive free breakfast at Hyatt Place/Hyatt House with their World of Hyatt membership!
Hyatt Place Austin Downtown211 E 3rd St. Austin, TX 78701
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City population
790,390
Elevation
521 ft.
Sales Tax
Municipalities may impose additional rates of up to 2 percent on the statewide 6.25 percent sales tax. Sales tax in the city of Austin is 8.25 percent. A 15 percent tax is levied on hotel rooms.
Emergency
911
Police (non-emergency)
311 or (512) 974-2000
Hospitals
Dell Children’s Medical of Central Texas, (512) 324-0000; St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, (512) 901-1000; St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, (512) 447-2211; Seton Medical Center Austin, (512) 324-1000
Visitor Information
602 E. 4th St. Austin, TX 78701. Phone:(512)474-5171 or (866)462-8784
Air Travel
Austin is served by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), about 5 miles southeast of Downtown Austin. Minimum fare for taxis leaving the airport is $12.30 for up to 4 passengers.
Rental Cars
Austin is served by major car rental agencies. Arrangements should be made before you leave on your trip; your local AAA club can provide this assistance or additional information. Hertz, (512) 247-7250 or (800) 654-3080, offers discounts to AAA members.
Rail Service
Amtrak train service is provided out of Austin Station at 250 N. Lamar Blvd.; phone (800) 872-7245. Austin is a stop on Amtrak's route known as “The Texas Eagle,” which connects Chicago with San Antonio.
Buses
The Greyhound Lines Inc. bus station, (512) 458-3823 or (800) 231-2222, is at 916 E. Koenig Ln.
Taxis
Taxi companies serving Austin include ATX Co Op (512) 333-5555, Austin Cab (512) 478-2222, Lone Star Cab (512) 836-4900 and Yellow Cab (512) 452-9999.
Public Transportation
Bus and rail service is provided by Capital Metro; phone (512) 474-1200 for information on routes and schedules.
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