5 Best Sights in Austin, Texas

This sleek modern-day art gallery celebrates everything that rocks—both in terms of beautiful geologic finds and of some of the world's most iconic rock and roll performers, who are featured in the gallery of fine art photography. The marriage of the two is truly a sight to behold. While walking the whitewashed halls of this contemporary domain, you'll see beautiful displays of geodes, crystals, minerals, and other forms of natural history as well as never-before-seen images of the likes of Miles Davis, David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Austin's own son, Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Decidedly un-artsy in its former incarnation as an auto-body shop, this space now hosts an exciting, artist-managed gallery that has launched many a contemporary artist onto the scene. In addition to the 1,500 square feet of gallery space, there are several project studios where local and national artists create new works in a variety of media, making for a singularly unique gallery experience for visitors. MASS also has a lively program of seasonal film screenings, musical performances, artist talks, and community outreach activities.

In 1851, the general Edward Burleson was the first person to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery. Today it’s the final resting place of some of the state's most important figures, including Stephen F. Austin, John Connally, Darrell K Royal, Ann Richards, and Bob Bullock. Inside the cemetery, you'll find monuments dedicated to September 11th, the Vietnam War, and the War of 1812; you'll also find special headstones for the mothers who have lost sons and daughters in wars and a Purple Heart monument.

In 2013, the former Austin Children's Museum moved into a new state-of-the-art building and evolved into Thinkery, where kids (and kids at heart) can find fun exhibits brimming with opportunities to learn something new. Light Lab lets you play architect and build light structures; the Let's Grow exhibit aims to get kids moving and teach them the benefits of eating locally grown foods; and an Innovators' Workshop puts inquiring minds to work on creative problem-solving. All the exhibits blend education and recreation with ease; to utilize physical energy, there's a superb climbing and water play-area out in the backyard.

After nearly 25 years on South Congress Avenue, this contemporary folk art, fine art, and pop art gallery moved its wares to the Canopy artist studios on the city's east side. Founded in 1995, the local gallery features works by artists from the great American South, in addition to Canada and Europe. The modest space is open afternoons (Thursday–Saturday) as well as by appointment.