Meeting in Texas Overview and Prairies & Lakes

ContinuEd From PAgE 8 Thirty minutes by plane from Dallas and

Houston, Austin hosts groups in high-tech facilities including the Austin Convention Center, as well as in off-site venues, such as pit-barbecue establishments. The Austin Convention Center has 900,000 square feet of meeting space with state-of-the-art AV and Internet capabilities, and is within walking distance of nearly 6,000 downtown hotel rooms and distinct entertainment districts. As the Live Music Capital of the

World®, Austin treats visitors to the sounds of rock, blues, jazz, and country from nearly 200 venues nightly. History- buff delegates can take in the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. A bit farther from downtown, nearly a dozen wineries offer tours and tastings to

Waco Wild About Waco Hotel rooms: 4,000+

Convention facilities: The Waco Convention Center is newly renovated with $17.5 million in improvements. It has more than 113,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, 26 breakout rooms, a new balcony overlooking the Brazos River, and generous prefunction areas.

Attractions: Waco Mammoth site, Texas Rang- er Hall of Fame & Museum, Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Mayborn Museum

For more information: Carla Pendergraft, Waco CVB; phone: (254) 750-5806; e-mail: carlap@ci.waco.tx.us; website: www.Waco CVB.com

the public as well as special-events venues. Nearby is San Marcos, which has

been recognized for its commitment to community-preservation efforts. While on the one hand it is the nation’s largest outlet-shopping destination, its ecotour- ism offerings take advantage of its natural

beauty, including the pure, spring-fed wa- ters of the San Marcos River. Groups of up to 3,000 can meet in the new San Marcos Conference Center, with 78,800 square feet of conference space, while smaller events can be accommodated in a variety of venues, including the local university. Just north of San Marcos in the town

of Buda lies Cabela’s, a renowned outdoor recreation mega-store with a two-story mountain and gigantic fresh-water aquar- ium. Antique stores await in cities like Burnet, Wimberley, and Dripping Springs. For a true taste of Texas, less than an

hour from San Antonio is a small town with a big title: Bandera, Cowboy Capital of the World. A strong rodeo tradition,

Continental Club in austin

dude ranches, horseback riding, trail rides, ContinuEd on PAgE 28

RenoVatinG: The Waco Convention Center will complete a $17.5-million renovation in summer 2011.

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