Austin is located in southern Texas and, therefore, will be very sunny.

It rains more often than other parts of Texas, still less than the US average, and can be quite humid, especially in May and June.

The average summer temperature is 30 °C whilst the average winter temperature is 11 °C.

For the most reasonable weather, visit in the just before or just after the height of summer.

Dress and plan accordingly.

Be prepared for heat!

Austin is in South Texas which means the summers are dry and hot whilst the winters are- at coldest- mild. In summer, temperatures can remain around 30°C all day with clear blue skies. As idyllic as that sounds, it also means you must remember to bring with you sufficient water for any outing you plan (or at least know where you can get a refill) and be applying (and reapplying) sun cream all day! Also, make sure you have snacks on you as you burn more calories in heat than you would think.

Remember: nothing ruins a holiday like sunburn and heatstroke!

Austin is a fairly safe city as American cities go but it still has areas that should be avoided, especially at night. The Pleasant Valley area, the Montopolis and the Martin Luther King area, in addition to Lamar Boulevard, all have higher crime rates than the rest of Austin. If you need to go through these places, make sure you don’t draw too much attention to yourself and drive rather than walk if you can. Use a trusted taxi service, such as Pronto Rides or Yellow Cab Austin, to travel around.

6^th street (also known as Dirty 6^th) is a street of bars and clubs that are central to Austin’s nightlife. Of course, any big night out comes with certain risk factors but the later it gets the more chaotic it can be and 6^th streets’ reputation has a pretty firm foundation.

Stay as a group and try not to become too intoxicated.

Have a pre-made/pre-agreed time and method for getting home. Booking a taxi in advance is always a good idea.

Walk around in the day time so you have a well lit and sober mental picture of where everything is.

Keep an eye on your drinks and who is near them.

George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center

Austin is full of unique and interesting museums! The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center is certainly one of the more significant ones. This museum is dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the achievements of African-Americans- both local and global. Free to enter, this establishment has a range of exhibits for a range of ages. There is a children’s exhibit about African-American scientists and inventors whilst there are also art galleries and a genealogy centre. The genealogy centre is coupled with an extensive public database where visitors are encouraged to research their own family histories. There is no doubt you will learn something new, be it about yourself or history, when you visit.

Mexic-Arte Museum

The Mexic-Arte Museum is a dazzling fine arts museum that showcases both traditional and contemporary Latino and Mexican art and culture. It is a beautiful and colourful scene in which to immerse and educate yourself about the intersection of Latino, Mexican and American culture. They also offer tours if you wish to get the most out of the experience and come away with new knowledge and appreciation for art that is typically not under the spotlight. This is one of a very small number of Mexican art museums in the whole country so it will be a valuable and unique experience.

Here is a list created by the city of Austin that contains every music festival that happens in a normal year. There are simply too many to put on this page, but the highlights include South by SouthWest, the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Austin Reggae Festival. There is a festival at least once a month and some months have up to 5 different events. There is even a rodeo event coupled with a music festival in which the riders spend the day performing and then trade off with music artists in the evening.

They really do have a music festival for as many genres as you can think of!

Founded in 1948 and ran by the same local family for generations, the Peter Pan Mini Golf course is a gem in Austin’s weird collection. It is made up of two wacky 18 hole courses that feature obstacles in the shapes of dinosaurs, pirates and armadillos- all brightly painted, of course. Depending on your situation, it can be a jolly family day out or an antic filled day with your mates. The website states that you can even bring your own booze (no glass containers allowed though!) so you have something to blame your bad shot on.

Lady Bird Lake is a reservoir created in 1960 out of the Colorado river that runs through Austin. The lake is a centre of recreational activity. It has a large hiking and bike trail that creates a circuit around the water that does not allow access to motorised traffic- a very popular and scenic way to exercise. There are various vendors around the lake to rent boats from if you wish to spend a warm afternoon on the water. You can even fish in the lake, however you are advised not to eat anything you catch.

The banks of the lake are also home to various musical events throughout the year.