Austin
Thrills & Chills
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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UNIVERSITY AREA. With luck, music lovers can catch a live taping of the most popular public access music series to date. The legendary show, which has been on the air since 1974, features established artists like Willie Nelson and Ray Charles alongside present-day, emerging musicians. Obtaining free tickets is not easy, so be prepared for a scavenger hunt-like experience.
DOWNTOWN. Downtown Austin has a sordid past that many locals aren't even aware of, but with the help of these detailed walking tours, interested parties can learn all about the area's paranormal activity. Trace the steps of America's first serial killer (deemed the Servant Girl Annihilator), visit Sixth Street bars said to have telltale ghosts, or hear all about phantoms haunting the Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, and the Driskill Hotel. Tours depart from 304 Red River at Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill.
DOWNTOWN. Standing alongside tranquil Town Lake at dusk may seem dull until 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats suddenly flood the sky on a quest for mosquito and insect sustenance. From March through October, the largest urban bat colony in North America makes its home beneath this otherwise average bridge, giving hundreds of nightly visitors a hair-raising encounter.
BARTON SPRINGS DISTRICT. One weekend each month, resale vendors and savvy shoppers collide in a whirlwind of excellent deals, great merchandise, and price negotiation. Among the unique items at large are estate jewelry, period collectibles, vintage clothing, and gently used furniture. For the best finds, show up early and bring cash for more bargaining power. If you're searching for large items, be prepared to take your steals home immediately.
6TH STREET. Sixth Street revelers and wandering, wide-eyed tourists become unwitting participants in shows at this comedy club, thanks to the oversized window that serves as the venue's peculiar backdrop. Since the late '70s, this part-improv, part-vaudeville, part-magic extravaganza has incorporated current headlines, pop culture personalities, and impromptu audience participation to create unforgettable, side-splitting performances that always lead to someone's embarrassment. Only the brave should sit front row.
LAKE TRAVIS. Modesty is not an option at Texas's only clothing-optional public park. Throughout the 109 acres that skirt Lake Travis, open-minded visitors sunbathe, swim, hike, or even bird-watch (several species, including the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped viero, are protected here under the Endangered Species Act). The gay and lesbian community hosts semi-annual festivals here as well.
Chosen by the Travel Channel as the #1 water park in the US, this sprawling 65-acre attraction features innovative thrill rides like Dragon Blaster (the first uphill water coaster) alongside classic water rides, kid-friendly activity pools, and lazy lagoons. The world's longest tube chute and the Master Blaster (voted best US water ride five years running) are visitor favorites. N.B. The water park is roughly an hour's drive from Austin.
6TH STREET. The seven blocks from Congress Avenue to IH-35 – lined with restaurants, live music venues, tattoo parlors, cafes, bars, and more – is known for wild debauchery and non-stop entertainment. This hub of social activity and host to annual events like the South by Southwest Music Festival is the ultimate destination for bachelor/bachelorette parties, rambunctious college students, and singles on the prowl.
Fans of extreme sports, look no further. Less than an hour away from Austin lies a 70-acre complex riddled with edge-of-your-seat entertainment. All skill levels can enjoy wakeboarding along Texas's only cableway, skateboarding through the 15,000-square-foot, street course-style park, or rock climbing indoors. Folks interested in the motocross track will have to indulge in a membership first.
Both nervous newbies and skilled skydivers trust this local outfit to oversee the exhilarating experience of plummeting from a plane. Select your jump of choice – be it via automatic static line, tandem freefall, or more adventurous accelerated freefall – and follow an informative course presented by certified USPA instructors. Before long, you'll be appreciating a bird's-eye view of Central Texas. Big or small, these selections make a city exciting. They include stomach-churning rides at amusement parks, river action-packed rafting trips, and even festivals that titillate the senses. You might also find places that offer once-in-a-lifetime memories, breathtaking views, or unbeatable draws. We'll chime in to let you know what the city holds that you may not have considered at first glance.
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Big or small, these selections make a city exciting. They include stomach-churning rides at amusement parks, river action-packed rafting trips, and even festivals that titillate the senses. You might also find places that offer once-in-a-lifetime memories, breathtaking views, or unbeatable draws. We'll chime in to let you know what the city holds that you may not have considered at first glance.
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