Welcome to AUSTIN

This Texan city is a real must-visit...

- Claire Isaac

There are many things that Austin, the capital of Texas, is well-known for, but one reigns supreme - barbecue. Indeed, the whole state is obsessed with the stuff, and Texans really do it bigger and better than anyone!

That's why, on a 35-degree day, we've joined a long queue at famous food joint Franklin Barbecue to get our hands on their brisket. Shuffling slowly towards the door, we can see people coming out with trays of meat, coleslaw and potato salad, and it looks delicious.

Finally it's our turn and the food does not disappoint - the brisket is cooked for hours in the restaurant's smoker, it falls apart as you touch it and tastes amazing. We add a pork rib and some turkey to the mix (well, we had to try it, right?) and all of it was sublime.

Stuffed full, we step back out into the heat to head towards some more of the Austin landmarks - although we're taking them in from the comfort of a bus with Austin Detours' The Real Austin tour. Our driver takes us to the imposing pink granite Texas Capitol building, and we head inside to see the impressive and historic place for ourselves.

A drive around some other hotspots - including the famous Greetings From Austin mural, food trucks and well-known stores - gives us a great overview of the city and introduces us to yet another Austin must-see - the bats! Every summer night at sundown, thousands of bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, and tourists flock to see the spectacle - it's certainly impressive!