Host to some of the best live music in the country, great architecture and interior design, and a population of youthful free spirits, Austin, Texas, is a favorite stomping ground of our editors. With its great shops, restaurants, and bar scene Austin could be come a favorite vacation spot for many people.No one knows Lone Star State shopping better than Country Home contributor Joetta Moulden, a Texas native. She loves to pull on her cowgirl boots and hit the streets in downtown Austin , where she samples a melting pot of cuisines and finds great home and garden accessories.

Uchi
The interior of this Austin restaurant is as artful as the imaginative sushi.
801 S. Lamar Blvd., 512/916-4808; www.uchiaustin.com

Architects & Heroes
This Texas shop carries more than 2,000 pulls and knobs, plus a colorful array of Turkish lanterns and hard-to-find pulley sconces.
1809 W. 35th St., 512/467-9393

Four Hands Home
This bold new retail venue offers distinctive imports from China, India, and the Philippines. There are some surprising country modern finds, too.
2090 Woodward St., 512/225-0333; www.fourhandshome.com

Uncommon Objects
A quirky Texas store that carries everything from old cowboy boots to vintage postcards and paint-by-numbers. "Must be seen to be believed," says Joetta.
1512 S. Congress Ave., 512/442-4000

Sabia
Sabia pampers weathered Texas skin with such skin-care brands as Kiehl's, Jurlique, and Dr. Hauschka.
1100 S. First St., 512/469-0447; www.sabia.com

Gardens
This combination retail nursery and home store offers exotic tropical plants and Texas favorites like wisteria, plus eclectic artisan-made furniture.
1818 W. 35th St., 512/451-5490;
www.gardens-austin.com

Other notable shops

Yard Dog Folk Art
1510 S. Congress Ave., 512/912-1613

Central Homegoods (vintage and country modern furnishings),
512 Rio Grande, 512/476-1010

Tesoros Trading Company (Latin-American imports),
209 Congress Ave., 512/479-8377;
www.tesoros.com

Big Red Sun (garden, gifts, children's boutique),
1102 E. Cesar Chavez, 512/480-0688

Napa Home (candles and vases),
103 W. 5th St., 512/447-1000;
www.napahome.com

Good restaurants

Wink Restaurant (American-style bistro),
1014 N. Lamar Blvd., 512/482-8868

Fonda San Miguel (Mexican),
2230 W. North Loop Blvd., 512/459-4121

Cipollina's Italian Bistro,
1213 W. Lynn, 512/477-5211

South Congress Cafe (southwestern),
1600 S. Congress, 512/447-3905

Cafe Caprice (American-style bistro),
900 W. 10th St., 512/477-5576

Gene's New Orleans Style Poboys & Deli,
1209 E. 11th St., 512/477-6600;
www.genesrestaurant.com

Live music

The Continental Club,
1315 S. Congress Ave., 512/441-2444;
www.continentalclub.com

Stubb's Bar-B-Q,
801 Red River, 512/480-8341;
www.stubbsaustin.com

Antone's,
213 W. 5th St., 512/320-8424

The Backyard,
13101 W. Hwy. 71, 512/263-4146;
www.thebackyard.net

Broken Spoke,
3201 S. Lamar Blvd., 512/442-6189; www.brokenspokeaustintx.com

Saxon Pub,
1320 S. Lamar Blvd., 512/448-2552

Accommodations

Hotel San Jose,
1316 S. Congress Ave., 512/444-7322;
www.sanjosehotel.com

The Driskill,
604 Brazos St., 512/474-5911;
www.driskillhotel.com

InterContinental Stephen F. Austin,
701 Congress Ave., 512/457-8800;
www.intercontinental.com