Coming to Austin for SXSW? Before you book the flight, here’s what you should know about navigating the crowds, the chaos, the networking, and the city-wide energy shift that takes over every spring.

Thinking about catching one of Austin’s famous Congress Avenue Bridge bats? Don’t. Here’s what visitors need to know about the city’s 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats — and why they belong in the sky, not your suitcase.

Zilker Park isn’t just green space, it’s Austin’s common ground. From its origins along the cool waters of Barton Springs to its evolution into the city’s cultural front yard, the park has grown alongside Austin itself. What began as a philanthropic gift became the backdrop for generations of music, movement, and memory, a place where the skyline may change, but the springs stay 68 degrees.