Style Encore North Austin

The breathtaking beauty and unusual construction of the Texas Capitol are the stuff of legends in the Lone Star State. View artifacts of Texas history, including the original flag from the Battle of San Jacinto, historical paintings, and some of the original Senator desks from 1888. Take a guided tour through the Capitol Building, which has 400 rooms and more than 900 windows. Then check out the Capitol Grounds, which spans 22 acres featuring historical buildings, 17 monuments, and beautifully landscaped lawns.

Explore the "jewel in the heart of Austin," also known as the Zilker Botanical Garden. The garden was established in 1995 and sprawls through 31 acres of downtown Austin, offering a sweet escape from city streets and greeting more than 400,000 visitors annually. Themes among the gardens are as varied as nature itself. There's a Japanese garden and koi pond, a rose garden, an herb garden, a butterfly trail and garden, and a cactus garden among the selections to tour. Another unique feature is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which recreates the habitat of local dinosaurs. Visitors can tour the gardens for free and take home a Texas succulent or majestic orchid among the many offerings.

Of all the ways to get around Austin, Barton Springs Bike Rental offers plenty of choices. Rent a bike for the day or week, or reserve a spot on one of their many downtown bike tours.

It's known as the people's mansion, so take a tour of your home-away-from-home at The Governor's Mansion, which is fully furnished with exquisite antiques and artwork. The historic home was built in 1856 and is the oldest continuously occupied executive residence west of the Mississippi. The building is designated a National Historic Landmark.