Equal parts college town, state capital and never-ending music festival, Austin, Texas is one of the most eclectic and exciting cities in the country. Located on Interstate 35 along the Colorado River, locals love Austin for its lush parks, miles of running and biking trails, and gorgeous natural swimming holes. And with its low cost of living and a live music venue on almost every corner, it's become one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

Austin Live Music

With more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the nation, and home to world-class music festivals like South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. While the music scene mostly revolves around blues, rock and country, you'll have no problem finding venues that cater to all musical tastes.

Austin Neighborhoods

Here are just a few of the neighborhoods you'll want to check out when you're in Austin:

Downtown

Downtown Austin is teeming with life almost every night of the week. With the aforementioned wealth of music options, a thriving arts scene and some of the best restaurants in town, it's where Austin residents (and a lot of visitors during festival season) go to let their hair down.

University of Texas

You can't talk about Austin without mentioning the University of Texas, one of the largest universities in the country. Students and faculty mostly make up the neighborhood that surrounds the campus, sometimes known as West Campus, which can make for a boisterous weekend atmosphere.

Hyde Park

Just north of the University of Texas campus, Hyde Park is home to idyllic bungalows and perfectly manicured lawns. With its small-town charm and tree-lined streets, it's a nice counterpoint to the raucous bars and noisy energy of the downtown area.

South Congress Avenue

Known for its eclectic mix of small funky shops, hip restaurants and music venues, the South Congress neighborhood is doing its best to Keep Austin Weird. But those with a phobia of bats beware. The world's largest urban bat colony is located beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Austin Jobs

Austin has a wide mix of employment options, even outside its trademark industries of entertainment and recreation. While it's home to national brands—such as Dell, Whole Foods Market and National Instruments—it also has a flourishing technology start-up scene.

Austin Housing

With the influx of jobs and new residents, the Austin housing market has begun to heat up over the past few years. But thanks to its sprawling size and variety of housing options (from large ranch-style houses to modern apartments), you'll still be able to find a home that fits your budget and lifestyle.