The rapidly growing capital of Texas has always been a haven for independent thinkers. First came the frontiersmen and women. Then the intellectuals of its large state university. Then the hippies. Then the slackers. Then the music scenesters. Then the hipsters. And finally the international companies that were birthed here such as Dell and Whole Foods. Each new group has brought waves of change and a wide liberal streak to this sometimes conservative state. These days, visitors find that what once was a sleepy, leafy college town with its taco stands and spring-fed swimming pools is a thriving cultural destination. But for all the hype, Austin’s charms don't sit obviously at the surface. We’re here to help suss out the latest hip hidden finds while paying homage to the classic places so undeniably Texan that you’ll be able to understand why the state was once its own republic.