Sixth Street between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35 has traditionally been considered the epicenter of Austin's legendary live music scene, but the district locals know as "the Strip" isn't for everyone. Most of the bars and restaurants in the area now cater to a college-age crowd, and the beer-soaked atmosphere may not appeal to party animals on the high side of 30. Sixth Street also tends to lose much of its vitality during school breaks when University of Texas students are not around to build up the critical mass of revelers.

If your sense of style and your taste in music are not in line with what the Strip has to offer, check out the nearby Warehouse District, centered along Fourth Street west of Congress Avenue. This more recently developed entertainment zone tends to cater to a more mature crowd. Or head down to South Congress Avenue (or "SoCo"), which offers a more bohemian lineup of shops, clubs and restaurants, with musical offerings tending more toward Texas country, honky-tonk and "y'alternative" rock.

Part of the appeal of Sixth Street and the Warehouse District is that you can spend a whole evening, from cocktails on through dinner and after hours bar-hopping, without getting behind the wheel or hailing a cab. But some of Austin's better music venues fall outside of these zones, so before heading out on the town, spend some time studying the nightlife listings and reviews in the Austin Chronicle (www.austinchronicle.com) and the Austin American-Statesman (www.statesman.com).