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Austin Maps & Attractions Guide
Austin maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Austin
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Austin
Attractions - Things to do
1. State Capitol
Congress Avenue between 11th Street and 14th
Street
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What is it? Austin's impressive pink granite capitol
building is rivalled only by that of the US Capitol in Washington,
DC. Encircled by its original wrought-iron fence topped with gold
Lone Stars and standing proudly in a hectare (three acres) of
ground, the domed building was constructed in 1882 out of granite
quarried from Granite Mountain 75 miles (121km) away. Visitors can
take guided tours of this interestingly designed building, or
attend legislative sessions, which are open to the
public.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 7am to 10pm, weekends 9am to 8pm.
Tours leave Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Saturday and Sunday
9.30am to 4.30pm (every 15 minutes)
Phone:(512) 463 0063 (Tour Guide Office) or (512) 305 8400
(Visitors Center) |
2. Zilker Park
2100 Barton Springs Road
www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker |
What is it? The 140-hectare (347-acre) Zilker Park,
donated to the city by the German immigrant who gave it its name,
is Austin's most popular public recreational area, dominated by its
ancient spring-fed natural swimming pool, known as Barton Springs,
which Native Americans believed to have healing properties. The
pool is about the size of a football field with water at a constant
warm temperature all year round. Zilker Park has other attractions,
too, including a botanical garden which features dinosaur tracks, a
nature preserve, the Umlauf Sculpture garden and museum, and eight
miles (13km) of biking and walking trails. There are sports
facilities aplenty and amusements for children like the Zilker
Zephyr miniature train and paddleboat
rides.
Hours of Operation: 7am to dusk
Phone:(512) 478 8286 |
3. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Avenue
www.wildflower.org |
What is it? Texas hill country is renowned for its
glorious spring blooms, and former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson,
founded this centre dedicated to the study and preservation of
native plants in 1982. There are 72 hectares (178 acres) of
wildflowers in display gardens, which includes a garden designed to
attract butterflies. There are also some interesting indoor
displays featuring some novelties, and the centre offers free
lectures and guided walks at weekends.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm; Sundays 12pm to
5.30pm; daily in spring (13 March to 30 April)
Phone:(512) 292 4100 |
4. Governor's Mansion
Colorado Street
www.txfgm.org |
What is it? The opulent plantation-style mansion that is
home to the Texas State governor is one of the oldest buildings in
the city, dating from 1856. Although it is still very much lived in
when the governor is in town, the mansion is open to the public for
limited hours each day and many historical artefacts are on
display, including portraits of Davy Crockett and Sam Houston, and
a collection of mementoes from each administration. Guided tours
are offered every 20 minutes during which interesting anecdotes are
related about previous governors.
Hours of Operation: Generally open Monday to Thursday 10am to 12pm. Last
tour starts at 11.40am and advance reservations are
required
Phone:(512) 463 5516 |
5. Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
University of Texas
www.blantonmuseum.org |
What is it? A major stop on national art circuit tours,
the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas in Austin is
ranked among the top 10 university art museums in the country.
Highlights here are the Suida-Manning Collection of European
paintings that features 250 works by the Continental masters and
the collection of 20th-century American Art assembled by novelist
James A. Michener. There is also a large collection of Latin
American Art consisting of more than 500 key
works.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (until 8pm on
Thursdays), Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closed on major public
holidays
Phone:(512) 471 7324 |
6. Congress Avenue Bridge
www.batcon.org |
What is it? One of the more unusual tourist attractions
in Austin, or in fact anywhere, is the nightly flight of millions
of Mexican free-tailed bats when they emerge from their roosts
under the Congress Avenue Bridge. The bat colony takes up residence
under the bridge in mid-March each year and returns to Mexico in
early November. During their sojourn in Austin visitors are amazed
by their mass evening emergence from their roost, which generally
takes place at dusk. The Congress Avenue Bridge is 10 blocks south
of the State Capitol building, spanning Town Lake. A Bat
Observation Center is located on the southeast side. During bat
season hundreds of people gather on and around the bridge each
evening to witness the spectacle.
Hours of Operation:
Phone:(512) 416 5700 (Bat Hot Line) |
7. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm |
What is it? The rugged wilderness of the Guadalupe
Mountains in west Texas was originally a barrier reef under the
waters of an ancient sea. Today fir trees and pockets of lush
vegetation cling to this mountain range rising from the desert.
Formerly the home of the Apache nation the National Park is now
occupied by hundreds of plant and bird species, 60 species of
mammals and 55 varieties of reptiles and amphibians. Visitors can
traverse more than 80 miles (129km) of trails on foot or horseback,
or take the 4WD route provided. There are several historic sites in
the park including Frijole Ranch History Museum and the ruins of a
stagecoach station. McKittrick Canyon in the northeast corner of
the park is regarded as the most beautiful spot in Texas, where
oaks and maples make a colourful display in
fall.
Hours of Operation: The park is open year round. The Headquarters
Visitors Center opens 8am to 4.30pm
Phone:Headquarters Visitors Center (915) 828 3251 |
Austin Holidays guide
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Transport -The excellent public transport system in
Austin provides cheap public buses and vans that cover all
neighbourhoods, downtown and the university campus for a flat fare.
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