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Bats of the Congress Avenue Bridge
Address: over Town Lake, Austin, TX
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Between March and November, more than a million-and-a-half free-tail bats spend their summer days under this prominent bridge (whose structure facilitates their habitats) and come out in the darkness to catch and eat thousands of pounds of insects nightly. It's quite an awe-inspiring spectacle to behold and can take...
Address: 1010 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
Built around 1856, this Greek Revival mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This grand structure has served as home to Texas governors since its construction. It boasts 29-foot fluted columns with Greek ionic capitals along its roof line, and its interior is filled with priceless antiques and...
Address: Austin Steam Train Association, Austin, TX
A half-day trip aboard the Hill Country Flyer steam train, along the Austin and Texas Central Railroad lines, takes you into and around the Texas hill country. There are also 90-minute rides aboard the River City Flyer and the Bertram Flyer, and special dinner runs on the Twilight Flyer. Offices are located in...
Address: I-35, exit 259, 20 miles north of Austin, Georgetown, TX 78627
Discovered in 1963 by crews preparing the way for highway-building, this previously unknown cavern is now a destination for people mesmerized by earth's geological past. Descend into it via cable cars, and then take a paved hike through various rooms, checking out rock formations, noting the role of water in its...
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Address: 4801 LaCrosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
Attuned to the belief that human health is connected intrinsically to the health of the land and the environment, this 279-acre center was founded by the former First Lady and by actress Helen Hayes. It promotes the use and restoration of native plants in the landscape and teaches visitors the beauty and utility of...
Address: 1100 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
A grand, red-granite edifice befitting the Lone Star state, this building was completed in 1888 in Renaissance Revival style. The nation's largest state capitol, Austin's landmark can be seen from throughout the city, and its visual prominence is protected by law. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the...
Address: 901 Navasota St, Austin, TX 78702
This 22-acre cemetery, a popular place to visit, offers a glimpse into the state's colorful history. Many famous Texas sons and daughters have been laid to rest here, including former Governor John Connelly, Barbara Jordan, and Stephen F. Austin, the father of Texas. Beautifully landscaped and shaded, it's an...
Address: University of Texas campus, Austin, TX
This 307-foot Spanish Renaissance landmark at the heart of campus has four clock faces (each measuring 12 feet in diameter) and chimes on the quarter-hour and hour. After some three decades and following renovations, the Tower's observation deck has been reopened to visitors who want to catch a terrific glimpse of...
Address: Baylor St, between 5th and 6th, Austin, TX
Here's another sad-yet-inspiring Texas tale. This majestic oak, listed in the Hall of Fame of Forestry, is estimated to be between 500 and 600 years old. At one time, it stood three stories high with limbs spanning more than a half acre, but in 1989, a man (later sentenced to nine years in prison) poisoned the mighty...
Address: 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Zilker Metropolitan Park, Austin, TX 78746
Situated on 31 acres within Zilker Metropolitan Park, this wonderful series of gardens on the Colorado River attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Highlights include a rose garden, a cacti and succulent garden, a xeriscape garden, and the breathtaking Tanaguchi Oriental Garden. The garden is generally...
