Austin

Austin needs 2 days: the Texas State Capitol and downtown on one, the live-music nightlife of Sixth Street and the walk along Lady Bird Lake on the other. March-May and October-November avoid the extreme Texan summer heat, which tops 38°C. It's cheaper than New York or San Francisco, though prices have risen sharply over the past decade with the influx of tech companies. It's the capital of Texas and calls itself «the live music capital of the world», with over 250 venues offering free shows almost every night, and the birthplace of the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.