Located in central Texas, otherwise known as Texas Hill Country, Austin marches to a different beat from the rest of the state despite being the state capital. Forget the image of Texas you may have in your mind, you won't see tumbleweeds or brown fields in Austin. It is a verdant green paradise surrounded by rolling hills and pristine lakes. Forget too the conservative character and reputation of the rest of Texas, Austin residents seem to be to be closer to New Yorkers and Californians in terms of their progressive ideas.