Texas is one of the biggest states in the entire United States, so it should come as no surprise that there are a ton of cities that offer a wide variety of attractions for tourists. Be it Huston or Dallas, there are plenty of Texas destinations to choose from.. But for this article, we are going to focus on Austin, the capital of the Lone Star State. Austin is an extremely eclectic city with a vibrant downtown scene, so it shouldn’t be too shocking that there are many things to do while you are there. And MetroFlats.com, a new vacation rental website that I represent, is your stop for great Austin vacation rentals. So if you want a good deal, be sure to check out our site!

1. South by Southwest: Of all the top Austin attractions, South by Southwest (SXSW) is the one that produces the most money annually for the city. Of course, that doesn’t automatically mean an event is great but thankfully, SXSW is that and more. Started in 1987, it is a series of film and music festivals that take place in downtown Austin. It hosts more than 2,000 performers every year, taking place in various venues in the downtown area. Although this year’s SXSW has already taken place, it’s never too early to begin preparing for the next one, which will begin on March 11th, 2011 (ending on March 20th).

2. The Texas State Capitol: Standing at 302 feet high, this massive building is actually 14 feet higher than the Nation’s capitol building! It’s one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of the state of Texas (the Alamo might just beat it out) and is a must see attraction. There are guided tours available, and you will be greeted by folks dressed in authentic Texas garb. Pretty cool, if you ask me!

3. The LBJ Library and Museum: This is another fabulous attraction that Austin has to offer. As the name suggests, this is the official library and museum of the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson. It contains documents from throughout his presidency, as well as a scale model of the oval office that he used. That I would definitely recommend checking out, it’s quite a sight to see. I would also check out the First Lady’s gallery, which contains all of the work of LBJ’s wife, Lady Bird Johnson. What also makes this place unique is that it’s the only one of the presidential libraries not to charge admission. So not only will you learn a lot, it won’t leave a dent in your wallet!

4. Barton Springs Pool: Located in beautiful Zilker Park, Barton Springs is a man-made recreational pool that is filled by water from Main Barton Spring, which is the fourth largest spring in Texas. The water temperature is a refreshing 68 degrees, making it a perfect way to escape that famous Texas heat. It’s also an affordable $3 for admission, so you can have great fun in the water for a very cheap price. And while you are there, keep an eye out for the Barton Springs Salamander! This endangered creature lives only in the Barton Springs area, and 10% of all admission proceeds go to research on it.

5. Blanton Museum of Art: This beautiful art museum is located on the campus of the University of Texas, and is actually fairly new in the grand scheme of things (it was built only a few years ago). But even in that short time, it has become a very popular attraction with plenty of paintings from throughout history to see. The most impressive of all of their collection, however, has to be the Suida-Manning Collection. This exhibit contains paintings from various Renaissance painters, including Reubens. This exhibit was highly sought after by various museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. I may be a tad biased here because I love Renaissance paintings, but this is definitely an exhibit you should not miss.

Of course, there are plenty of other attractions in Austin aside from these five, but these are the ones that I think are the best of the best. So definitely feel free to use your imagination while you are there.. And again, we hope that you choose MetroFlats.com when you plan your Austin vacation!