The Texas Capitol

With the music, the barbecue, the outdoors, and everything else amazing going in Austin, it's easy to forget that there's a pretty important building located on Congress and 11th Streets.

But with 22 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns, 17 monuments, and stunning historical buildings, a visit to the Texas Capitol in downtown Austin offers an exciting glimpse into Texas history and politics. The Visitors Center offers an array of exhibits and a gift shop, and the Capitol building itself displays stunning period architecture and the inner-workings of the Texas legislature. The Capitol grounds are a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic or long stroll.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting the largest Capitol in the nation:

The building is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and true to it's Texas hospitality, you can simply walk in anytime within those hours. You can also take a free, guided tour. You may want to find out about some secret spots before you visit, that you may need to take a detour for.

If you're a non-Texan however, you may want to visit soon before these people do something crazy, and you aren't permitted to enter without some form of Texas ID!