Located on the Colorado River, Austin is the state capital of Texas and the seat of Travis County. It covers approximately 260 square miles and lies on the Balcones Fault. Its eastern part is plains-like, while the western section consists of gently rolling hills that lead into the Texas Hill Country. The city's population is almost 750,000, while its metropolitan area numbers approximately 1.6 million people. Major employers include the state, the University of Texas - Austin, and high-tech companies like Dell, IBM, Apple and Hewlett-Packard. The city is in the Central Standard time zone. In season, it observes daylight saving time. The city's sales tax is 8.25%. Its lodging tax is calculated at 15%.

Occupying land that was once Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the city's impressive aviation facility. Open since 1999, ABIA (identifier code AUS) lies only 8 miles from downtown and hosts carriers like American, Continental and Southwest. The airport features 25 gates, along with a stage where local musicians often perform. ABIA is served by taxi, bus and limousine service. Rental car desks are available as well. Typically, a taxi ride from the airport to downtown will run around $20. For a more leisurely, group-oriented commute, consider SuperShuttle (512-258-3826), a van service that transports passengers to and from homes and hotels. Catching a ride from the airport doesn't require reservations, but if you need to schedule a shuttle into ABIA, it's best to book in advance. One-way trips range from $10-15, depending on where you're going in the city; round-trip journeys range from $18-26.

While the original part of Austin was conceived of as a grid, since the city expanded, that pattern has not continued. Even so, the downtown area is relatively easy to navigate, and even on foot, it's pleasantly maneuverable. Major north-south thoroughfares in Austin include I-35 (also known as NAFTA Highway since it runs down to Mexico) and its counterpart to the west, Loop 1 (more familiarly called the Mo-Pac Expressway since it traces a path similar to the Missouri-Pacific railway). Prominent routes moving east to west through the city include Highway 290, Highway 183 and State Highway 71. Since driving and parking in Austin, particularly downtown, can be trying, it's recommended that visitors make the most of public transportation. Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates dozens of buses with affordable fares ($1 or less, exact change required). They can be reached at www.capmetro.org or at 512-474-1200. Better yet, Capital Metro runs a host of color-designated buses and trolleys known as the 'Dillo system that deliver visitors to many of downtown and central Austin's best sights, attractions, shops and more ­ all for free! Check with them to see which bus corresponds to what you want to see or do.

If you're trying to get immediate, written insight into Austin, a variety of publications helps keep folks abreast of the latest goings-on.

The major daily publication is the Austin America-Statesman, which covers both news and entertainment. Its weekly adjunct, XL, focuses largely on entertainment matters. So, too, does The Austin Chronicle, an independent that tracks city life on a weekly basis.

For news with a collegiate slant, pick up a copy of the UT's Daily Texan.

As much as you plan a trip, you can never hope to know a city like locals do. That's why visitors centers are such a great resource. Check them out for recommendations on lodging, dining and local attractions. Their collection of resources is sure to give you a leg up on everything you need to do and see. The Austin Visitor Center distributes brochures, helps book events and tours, and offers free Internet access. It's located at 209 East Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701 (866-462-8784). This downtown office is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; it's accessible online at http://www.austintexas.org/visitors/center.

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab. Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1-2 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).