DESTINATION
FACTS

Austin

• Live Music Capital of the World: Austin has more live music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. Popular areas include Sixth Street, South Congress, and The Red River District.
• Keep Austin Weird: The city embraces creativity and individuality, with quirky shops, street art, and festivals celebrating its unique vibe.
• Austin hosts SXSW (South by Southwest), Austin City Limits Music Festival, and many indie film events.
• Lady Bird Lake is a popular spot for kayaking, paddleboarding, and walking or biking the trail that circles it.
• Barton Springs Pool: A natural spring-fed pool that stays at a refreshing 68–70°F year-round.
• Miles of hiking, swimming holes, and rock climbing right within the city's Greenbelt
• Austin is home to world-famous barbecue, with spots like Franklin Barbecue drawing hours-long lines.
• Breakfast tacos are an Austin staple
• The city boasts a thriving brewery and coffeehouse scene.
• Fast-Growing Tech Hub: Sometimes called “Silicon Hills,” Austin has become a major tech and startup center.
• University of Texas at Austin is a central part of the city’s culture, with sports, research, and arts.
• South Congress (SoCo), Rainey Street, and East Austin are popular for food, nightlife, and shopping - all walkable districts!
  

BASTROP

• Known for the unique "Lost Pines" forest, a pocket of loblolly pines separated from East Texas Piney Woods by more than 100 miles
• Bastrop State Park is a National Historic Landmark, with trails, camping, and CCC-built facilities from the 1930s
• The Colorado River runs through Bastrop, popular for kayaking, fishing, and riverside dining
• Incorporated in 1832, making it one of the oldest towns in Texas
• Downtown has over 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places
• Home to the Lost Pines Art Center, one of the largest regional art galleries, set in a repurposed gas station
• Filming location for movies such as Hope Floats, Friday the 13th (2009), and The Tree of Life
• Hosts events like the Bastrop Music Festival and Patriot Day Celebration
• Officially recognized by the Texas Legislature as the "Most Historic Small Town in Texas"
• Pine Street is the main hub, lined with antique shops, restaurants, and live music venues
• Close to a Buc-ee’s travel center, a Texas roadside icon
• Maintains a small-town feel while being just 30 miles from Austin
• Site of major 2011 wildfires, now a model for forest restoration and community resilience

LOCKHART

• Known as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” home to famous spots like Kreuz Market, Black’s Barbecue, Smitty’s Market, and Chisholm Trail BBQ
• Featured in multiple films and TV shows, including What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Waiting for Guffman, and The Leftovers
• The Caldwell County Courthouse, built in 1894, is one of the most photographed courthouses in Texas
• The town was named after Byrd Lockhart, one of the earliest Anglo-American settlers in Texas
• Lockhart State Park offers golfing, camping, hiking, and a spring-fed swimming pool
• Downtown Lockhart is a designated Texas Main Street City, known for its historic architecture and charm
• Hosts the annual Chisholm Trail Roundup, a celebration of cowboy heritage with a rodeo, parade, and live music
• Known for a strong German and Czech cultural influence, reflected in food, music, and local traditions
• Located about 30 miles south of Austin, often considered part of the greater Austin metro area
• Officially recognized by the Texas Legislature in 1999 as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas”