Austin, the Texas state capital, is known as the live music capital of the world for country, blues, and rock styles. Explore the unique historical museums, the parks and lakes, the inspiring food culture, wineries, breweries, cultural arts, and robust nightlife. Austin maintains a “Keep Austin Weird” campaign to support local businesses. Austin is a logical starting point for these 11 unique Hill Country day trips.

Bee Cave gets the name from the colonies of Mexican honeybees that lived in the banks of Barton Creek, 25 miles west of Austin.

For shoppers, you can spend all day at Hill Country Galleria, a giant lifestyle center at Bee Cave Road and Hwy. 71, west of Austin. The Galleria is half retail space and half apartments, condominiums, and office space.

Barton Creek Habitat Preserve protects water quality and migratory habitats of songbirds in the 4,000-acre Barton Creek watershed, part of the larger Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.

Escape to tropical flavors at Café Blue for Caribbean-inspired cocktails, margaritas, freshly shucked oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktails, and crab-stuffed flounder.

Pro Tip: Save room for the freshly squeezed key lime pie. 

Find more day trip destinations and the full article here.