By Danno Wise
Texas Travel Expert, about.com
Austin is more than the capital city of Texas, it is also one of the state's most scenic cities, home to a tremendous live music scene, popular tourist stop, destination for outdoor recreation, and more. Because of its central location and diverse offerings, there's never a bad time to visit Austin. However, the holiday season is always a little bit more special in Austin.
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Located right in the heart of the
scenic Texas Hill Country region, Austin affords a great many outdoor
recreational opportunities during late fall and winter. The relatively
mild temperatures during this time of year are inviting to outdoor
enthusiasts, as are the changing colors of the leaves and landscape.
During November and December, hiking, bird watching, canoeing, kayaking,
rock climbing, fishing and hunting are all popular activities around
Austin, and in many instances, holiday traditions.
From a purely holiday season perspective, the holiday season in Austin has traditionally kicked off with the Chuy's Christmas Parade, which is always held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Like it's home city, Chuy's Christmas Parade is
quite unique in a variety of manners. While it offers up the traditional
holiday parade fare of giant balloon characters and elaborate floats,
it also offers up some unique and unusual spectacles each year. But, as
entertaining and unique as it is, the primary purpose of Chuy's
Christmas Parade is to serve as a fundraiser for Austin's "Operation
Blue," which provides toys to needy children throughout Austin during
the Christmas season. The parade route begins at the State Capitol at
11th and Congress and proceeds south along Congress to Cesar Chavez.
With the State Capitol serving as its backdrop, Chuy's Christmas Parade
is certainly a sight worth seeing.
[post_ads]Those willing to tour the immediate Hill Country area just outside Austin may enjoy taking in the annual Hill Country Holiday Wine Trail.
The Texas Holiday Wine Trail is held throughout the Texas Hill Country.
A total of 24 independent wineries are involved, covering a geographic
region stretching roughly from New Braunfels to Lampasas and from
Fredericksburg to Dripping Springs. While out and about the Hill
Country, visitors can also take in the Hill Country Regional Lighting
Trail, which encompasses the Texas Hill Country communities of Boerne,
Burnet, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Goldwaite, Johnson City,
Llano, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Round Mountain and Wimberley.
As
New Year's draws near, the Capital City prepares itself to ring in the
New Year in proper fashion. One of Austin's best known New Year's
celebrations is First Night Austin.
Held each year on New Year's Eve, First Night Austin includes an
afternoon family festival, a procession down Congress Avenue, and a
night-time art show and festival which features street corners and
storefronts converted into art galleries and stages. In addition to
First Night Austin, there are a variety of New Year's Eve parties held
at Austin's many clubs, restaurants, hotels and bars - notable those on
Austin's famed 6th Street. Visitors can also view fireworks over
Auditorium Shores as well as downtown Austin as the clock strikes
midnight.
