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Austin nightlife by district: Red River, East Sixth, Rainey, Dirty Sixth, West Sixth, South Congress and South Lamar, plus speakeasies, rooftops, breweries, dancing, the 2 a.m. rule and getting home safely.
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The best things to do in Austin with kids, ranked by age: the Thinkery, the free Nature & Science Center, the Zilker Eagle, Barton Springs, the bats and more, with heat and rain plans, prices and car-seat rules.
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The best day trips from Austin, ranked: Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock, Wimberley, Lockhart, San Antonio, Pedernales Falls and more, with honest drive times, reservations, swim seasons and closures.
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Where to hear live music in Austin: 15 venues ranked, from the Continental Club and Antone’s to the Broken Spoke and Red River, with covers, age rules, set times, dance lessons and heritage stops.
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When to visit Austin, month by month: NOAA weather normals, days over 90 and 100 degrees, rain, festival crowds, prices, bluebonnet and bat seasons, weather risks and what to pack.
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Austin’s festival and event calendar, month by month: SXSW, ACL, Formula 1, Rodeo Austin, the Marathon, Pride, the Film and Book festivals and the Trail of Lights, with dates, transport and where to stay.
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Timed Austin itineraries for one to seven days, plus music, family, outdoors, rainy-day and car-free plans, with realistic drive times, Monday closures, sunset timing and what to book ahead.
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Where to eat in Austin: 15 restaurants ranked, from Michelin-starred barbecue and tasting menus to breakfast tacos and Tex-Mex, plus how barbecue lines, food trucks, reservations and dietary needs work.
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Downtown, South Congress, Rainey, East Austin, Zilker, UT, the Domain, Lake Travis or the airport: which Austin area suits your trip, which hotels are open, and how to plan around ACL, F1 and SXSW.
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How many days to spend in Austin, when to go, what a trip really costs, getting around without a car, what to book ahead and how to handle the heat, checked against official sources in September 2026.