This is similar to an article that  appears on my Associated Content Website:

"Austin is the capitol city of Texas. Located in the heart of Texas between San Antonio and Dallas, the city of Austin is a popular place to live or visit.

Austin bills itself as the 'Live Music Capitol of the World' and that title is not unwarranted. The city of Austin has a rich, eclectic history and lays claim to be the hometown of a multitude of noted artist, writers, musicians and actors, both of the past and in the present. "

There are to many things to do and see in and around the surrounding areas to list. Especially In today's economy, a vacation or even a day out on the town may be hard to come by for a lot of families. Here is a list of things to do in Austin that won't cost you a dime:

1. Visit the capitol building. The capitol offers free guided tours, a restaurant, gift shop and is fully handicap accessible. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday 8:30am -4:30pm, Saturday 9:30-3:30 and on Sunday's. The Capitol is located at 1100 Congress Ave. Call 512-463-0063 for more information.

2. See the Texas Memorial Museum. Located on the University of Texas campus at 2400 Trinity Street and open year round except for Christmas. One of their most impressive exhibits and my personal favorite is the full scale Teradactyl skeleton that is suspended from the high ceiling in the main entrance hall. Call 512-471-1604 for more info

3. Relax at Bull Creek. Located at the corner of Spicewood Springs Road and Loop 360. Here, you can explore the hill country, go hiking, have a picnic, and wade or swim in the creek for a relaxing afternoon. Bring your dog, they're welcome to join in the fun.

4. Hike or bike on the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail at the First Street Bridge. don't forget to stop by Auditorium Shores and see the memorial statue of the great Stevie Ray Vaghan.

5. Tour the Blanton Museum of Art located at 200 E. MLK Blvd. They are open Tuesday thru Sunday, but only Thursdays have free admission. Call 512-471-7324 or visit www.blantonmuseum.org for more information."