Austin

Austin, Texas long been an cultural oasis of tall, leafy trees, incredible spring fed swimming holes, and parks surrounded by hundreds of live music venues, museums and great restaurants. Home at various times to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson and other country music greats, the city also features a thriving punk rock and jazz scene. On a warm evening -- and most evenings in this town are suitable for walking around without a jacket, since winters are mild -- anyone in search of a good time can head down to Sixth Street and stroll from club to bar to restaurant amid throngs of ecstatic partygoers. Most clubs have low admissions prices, if any, and all offer that staple of Texas culture, Lone Star Beer. When your stomach starts rumbling, there's no better place in Texas to look for a good meal, whether it's the southern-fried deliciousness of Threadgills, which offers chicken fried steak with jalapeño peppers, oyster po boys, sweet tea and several types of cobbler, or the meaty goodness of the town's many taquerias, you'll have no trouble finding something good to eat. In the morning, Austinites love to work off their decadence with a run around Town Lake, in the greenbelt, or a swim in icy, spring fed Barton Springs pool, which has a natural limestone bottom and even a few fish swimming about. For the less intrepid, there are other pools fed from warm water springs. Then its off to work at one of Austin's many high-tech companies, like Dell Industries, or for the Whole Foods chain, which is headquartered in town. Or maybe shopping is your thing, in which case the numerous trendy boutiques around The University of Texas will satisfy any cravings not met by Austin's awesome malls.