 Austin |
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Austin
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Capital of the Lone Star State, and the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is full of heart and soul. Home to the prestigious University of Texas, the city is a hub for both educational and recreational pursuits. Nearly 200 live music venues welcome visitors to experience a vibrant nightlife. During the day, visitors can tour the Texas Capitol, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, or boutiques along South Congress Avenue. Those who love the outdoors will be delighted by Barton Springs, a natural spring-fed swimming hole, and the city’s extensive network of greenbelts, parks, and natural preserves.
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ATTRACTIONS
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Austin Children’s Museum
201 Colorado St. Austin, TX 78701
512-472-2499
http://www.austinkids.org
| Hands-on exhibits and programs in a stimulating and interactive environment engage children’s senses and imagination. Kids can shop at the Global Grocery, check out the Bat Hangout in the Global Cityworks storefronts, and become engineers at the Tinkerer’s Workshop. The museum is available for field trips. Call or visit website for hours, fees, and group rates. |
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Austin Museum of Art
Laguna Gloria, 2809 West 35th St. Austin, TX 78703
512-495-9224
http://www.amoa.org
| In the heart of downtown, AMOA hosts changing exhibits in 5,000 square feet of gallery space. Visitors will find plenty of goodies at the museum shop. The museum’s original home at Laguna Gloria, the 1916 Driscoll villa, is also worth a visit. Call or visit website for hours, fees, and group tours. |
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Blanton Museum of Art
200 E. MLK Blvd. at Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701
512-471-7324
http://www.blantonmuseum.org
| Explore the notable permanent collection of more than 17,000 works, old master paintings, American and Latin American art, and an encyclopedic collection of prints and drawings. Call or visit website for fees, group or bus rates, and guided tours. |
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Congress Avenue Bridge (Ann Richards Bridge) Bat Colony and South Congress Avenue
Bridge: Congress Ave. between Cesar Chavez and Riverside Sts
Congress Ave. from Lady Bird Lake to E. Live Oak Austin, TX
512-416-5700, ext. 3636 (Bat Hot Line)
http://www.batcon.org
| From roughly April through late September, Austin hosts North America’s largest urban bat colony, as 1 million bats migrate north from central Mexico to their favorite roost in the city—underneath the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. The show begins at dusk, when these creatures take flight in search of the evening’s food. Farther south down the avenue are funky shops, trendy dining spots, unique accommodations, galleries, and music venues. The first Thursday of each month, merchants of the pedestrian-friendly avenue keep their doors open until 10 p.m. Apr.–Sept., sunset at the Bat Observation Area (west parking lot of the Austin American-Statesman building). |
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Harry Ransom Center
University of Texas
Northeast corner of 21st and Guadalupe Sts. Austin, TX 78713
512-471-8944
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu
| One of the world’s finest cultural archives, the Ransom Center houses 36 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs, and more than 100,000 works of art. Highlights include the Gutenberg Bible (ca. 1450), the world’s first photograph (ca. 1826), and major manuscript collections of James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, T. S. Eliot, and D. H. Lawrence, to name but a few. Open Tue.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thu. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat.–Sun. Noon–5 p.m. Admission: Free. |
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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave. Austin, TX 78739
512-232-0100
http://www.wildflower.org
| The only facility of its kind in the country, this native plant center is dedicated to educating people about environmental necessity, economic value, and natural beauty. Highlights include native plants, an unparalleled rainwater-collection system, and educational facilities. Visit our store and pause for lunch at the Wildflower Cafe. Call or visit website for hours and fees. |
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Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
University of Texas
2313 Red River St. Austin, TX 78705
512-721-0200
http://www.lbjlibrary.org
| This stately library and museum complex on the eastern edge of the University of Texas campus houses the presidential papers of Texas native son Lyndon B. Johnson. Permanent exhibits include audiovisual presentations, historical displays, gifts from foreign dignitaries, and a replica of the Oval Office. Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed Christmas). Admission: Free. Call or visit website for group tours or children’s guided tours. |
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Sixth Street and the Warehouse District
Five blocks south of the Texas State Capitol, between Congress Ave. and I-35 Austin, TX
http://www.6street.com
| Being within walking distance of downtown hotels makes Sixth Street, known for its dance clubs, live-music venues, and bars, one of the city’s most popular destinations. Just a few steps west, two blocks of Fourth and Fifth Streets constitute the Warehouse District, where warehouses have been transformed into restaurants, clubs, and bars. |
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State Capitol and Capitol Visitors Center
State Capitol: E. 11th St. and Congress Ave. Capitol Visitors Center: 112 E. 11th St. Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0063 (Capitol)
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us
| Fourteen feet higher than the nation’s capitol, the Texas Capitol presides over downtown Austin from atop a gentle hill. The visitors center offers exhibits and short videos about the history of the Capitol and a gift shop. Admission: Free. Call or visit website for hours and tours. |
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The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Dr. Austin, TX 78704
512-457-5100
http://www.thelongcenter.org
| One of Austin’s premiere cultural arts venues features the largest stage in Texas and a large-scale performance hall with nearly perfect acoustics. The Austin Symphony, the Austin Lyric Opera, and Ballet Austin all stage their performances here, and the center also hosts touring Broadway shows and performances by the city’s many independent theatrical and comedy groups. Box office hours: Mon.– Fri. 10 a.m.– 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Call or visit website for fees. |
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Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
605 Robert E. Lee Rd. Austin, TX 78704
512-445-5582
http://www.umlaufsculpture.org
| The life and work of Austin sculptor Charles Umlauf are chronicled in this museum and tranquil outdoor sculpture garden, where you can walk by a sculpture or walk all the way around it. The museum offers touch tours for the visually impaired and captioned video for the hearing-impaired. Call or visit website for hours, fees, and call for guided tours. |
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Zilker Park, Zilker Botanical Garden, and Barton Springs Pool
2220 Barton Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78746
512-974-1255 (info) 512-974-3888 (nature center)
http://www. ci.austin.tx.us/zilker, ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm, zilkergarden.org,
| This huge city park is the site of the invigorating 68-degree spring-fed Barton Springs Pool. There are lots of other good reasons to hang out here too: a playscape, a miniature train, an amphitheater, botanical gardens, and the Austin Science and Nature Center, with displays, classes, and wildlife, including orphaned or injured creatures. Also in the park are hike and bike trails, a disc golf course, sand volleyball courts, and canoe and kayak rentals. Call or visit the website for hours and fees. |
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GOLF
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Barton Creek Fazio Canyons, Barton Creek Fazio Foothills, Barton Creek Palmer Lakeside, Barton Creek Crenshaw Cliffside
8212 Barton Club Dr. Austin, TX 78735
512-329-4000
http://www.bartoncreek.com
| Open to guests of the resort. |
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Horseshoe Bay Resort
45 miles from Austin, near Marble Falls
200 Hi Circle N., Horseshoe Bay, 78657 Austin, TX
830-598-8600
http://www.hsbresort.com
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Wolfdancer Golf Club at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa
575 Hyatt Lost Pines, Lost Pines, 78612 Austin, TX
512-308-4770
http://www.wolfdancergolfclub.com
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RANCHES
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White Lightning Ranch
Stabled at 575 Hyatt Lost Pines, Lost Pines, 78612 Austin, TX
512-680-0463
http://www.whitelightningranch.com
| Outdoors ranch. Accommodates 20-30 (in ranch building) and 10 horseback riders at a time. |
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X Bar Ranch Lodge and Nature Retreat
5 N. Divide, Eldorado Austin, TX 76936 (office)
325-853-2688
http://www.xbarranch.com
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SHOPPING
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Barton Creek Square Mall
2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX 78746
512-327-7040
http://www.simon.com
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South Congress
Congress Ave., south of bridge Austin, TX 78704
512-474-5171
http://www.firstthursday.info
| On the First Thursday of each month, merchants of the historic, pedestrian-friendly South Congress Avenue keep their doors open until 10 pm (and later in some cases), playing host to an array of events and activities. Restaurants, galleries, boutiques, bars, and food trailers line the avenue to tempt walk-ins during regular hours as well. |
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SPORTS
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TECHNOLOGY & AGRICULTURAL TOURS
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Boggy Creek Farm
3414 Lyons Rd. Austin, TX 78702
512-926-4650
http://www.boggycreekfarm.com
| Focus: Organic vegetables, fruits, flowers, and smoke-dried tomatoes. Contact: Carol Ann Sayle. Accommodates 30. |
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Crowe’s Nest Farm
10300 Taylor Ln., Manor, 78653 Austin, TX
512-272-4418
http://www.crowesnestfarm.org
| Focus: Stewardship of Texas agricultural and wildlife resources. Contact: Diane Crowe. Accommodates: Approximately 150. |
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Pure Luck Organic Farms
3000 Martin Rd., Dripping Springs Austin, TX 78620
512-858-7034
http://www.purelucktexas.com
Focus: Culinary herbs and goat cheese. Contact: Ben
Accommodates: 10–20 (by appointment only). |
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SFC–Austin Farmers’ Markets
Downtown, Triangle, and At Sunset Valley
Downtown–Fourth and Guadalupe; The Triangle–46th and Lamar; At Sunset Valley–3200 Jones Austin, TX 78701
512-236-0074
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
| Focus: Largest certified grower’s only farmers market in the state. Offers locally grown food year around. Accommodates 5-10. |
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