Austin is the capital city of
Texas, in the United States. It serves as the Travis County’s seat, with slight extensions into the counties of Hays and Williamson. Austin is fourth in the most populated cities of Texas and eleventh in the most populated cities of the United States. Recently, Austin has been pronounced the fastest growing city in the US.
Austin is conveniently located in the heart of Texas, within the broader geographic region of Texas Hill Country. The city is crowned with many lakes like the Lady Bird Lake and the Lake Travis, numerous rivers like the Colorado River and Lake Walter Long River, and many waterways like the Barton Springs and the ever-scenic McKinney Falls.
On top of the many water bodies in the city, there are numerous natural parks and amazing white sand beaches. Activities include swimming, boating, hiking in the multiple park trails, biking, photography, and picnicking. Austin remains an active live music scene, and it attracts crowds from across the globe.
Austin experiences a humid subtropical climate of Köppen classification Cfa. This climate is a result of the location of Austin between two extremely different geographical areas; the desert region in the American Southwest region and the more humid, lush, and greener part of the American Southeast. The weather of Austin is characterized by long, scorching, and humid summers and mildly pleasant winters. The spring and autumn seasons are warm and pleasant and remain preferable for travel seasons.
Summer is hot and extremely scorching, with the mercury stretching to the extreme highs of between 93.2°F (34°C) and 100.4°F (38°C)! No wonder the summers do not receive as many visitors as should. Extremely hot days have been recorded in the past, with the temperature going as high as 111.2°F (44°C)! The lows average 72.7°F (22.6°C), and visitors prefer to tour Austin at night during summer as opposed to the oppressive heat during the day.
Spring is the best time to visit Austin, seeing that the national flower blossoms and fills the days with fresh scents under the warm and pleasant weather. Autumn is another excellent time to tour Austin to enjoy picnicking under the stunning fall foliage. Both seasons are devoid of the extreme summer heat, and the days are dry to allow for a perfect outdoor venture in the city.
The travel period to Austin peaks during spring, autumn, and winter, specifically between
March and
April, and from
October through mid-
December. Summer is considered hostile as the weather becomes too hot to bear, minimizing outdoor activities. The month of
May might have more visitors than usual because most colleges hold their graduations then, and visitors are warned of the congestions and sold-out hotel rooms.
The SXSW (South by Southwest), Music and Film Festival, is one of the major events in Austin and is held in March alongside the Festival of the Blooming of the Bluebonnet, which takes place from mid-March to mid-April, to celebrate the official flower of the State of Texas. Another event is the Austin City Limits Music Festival, usually held during autumn in
September amid numerous performances, shows, and concerts. Then there is the Austin Film Festival in October, which crowns the relevant performers within the industry.