Book fast to get a ticket to Austin for spring break. People from all over will flood Austin for the South by Southwest music festival. And Austin won’t let you down. With plenty of restaurants, a fun bar scene, shopping and warm temperatures, you’ll have more to enjoy than just the SXSW scene.

Travel

The cheapest way to get from D.C. to Austin requires a connecting flight, but even with the layover, it will only take you about five hours to kick off your Texan spring break. The cost for a Delta flight (leaving March 11 and returning March 16) is $259.

Lodging

Many hotels in Austin are already completely booked due to the influx of music-lovers attending SXSW. However, you can still book a four-person room at the Super 8 Hotel near the Austin Convention Center, where you’ll be close to all the SXSW action. For a four-person room, six days will cost $316 per person.

Activities

SXSW, which takes place at Austin’s Convention Center, offers a massive, weeklong lineup of concerts, film screenings and more. Hundreds of musical acts play each year, and this year’s lineup includes many up-and-coming bands, as well as bigger names like Vampire Weekend and Tegan and Sarah. A music badge is $750 if you buy now, but the price will bump up to $795 by Feb. 8. Austin’s nightlife is also worth exploring if the music festival doesn’t tire you out. The Sixth Street district in downtown Austin transforms into one giant party on weekend nights, when traffic is blocked off and wild bar hopping takes over the streets.

Activities

When you need relief from the heat, check out Amy’s Ice Creams. This chain has locations all over Austin and serves up eclectic flavors like honey, bourbon custard, Mexican vanilla and pecan pie a la mode.

You can’t leave Austin without some Tex-Mex, and there are plenty of places to get your fill. Polvos Mexican Restaurant boasts its own salsa bar, and Kirby Lane Café has eateries scattered across the city.