Texas State Capitol
Austin's impressive pink granite capitol building is rivalled
only by that of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Constructed in
1882, it stands proudly in sweeping grounds encircled by its
original wrought-iron fence topped with gold Lone Stars. Its grand
design is Renaissance Revival, proving an excellent example of late
19th century public architecture. Events and exhibits are regularly
hosted, while its 9 hectare (22 acres) grounds contain monuments to
causes including the heroes of the Alamo, volunteer firefighters
and Vietnam veterans.
Texas State Capitol
Gerritcap
Zilker Park
The 140-hectare (347-acre) Zilker Park 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. There's
also a botanical garden which features dinosaur tracks, a nature
preserve, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, canoes and biking
and walking trails; there are sports facilities aplenty and
amusements for children like the Zilker Zephyr miniature train and
paddleboat rides. The Zilker Hillside Theatre hosts musical
concerts throughout the year, and the park also hosts the Austin
Nature and Science Center where exhibits and workshops run
throughout the year. The Zilker Park's annual Christmas
tree-lighting ceremony is a popular event, boasting a tree that
stands 155 feet (47m) holding some 3,000 lights.
Address:
2100 Barton Springs Road
Zilker Park Historic District
Airainix
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Texas hill country is renowned for its glorious spring blooms,
with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center dedicated to the study
and preservation of its native plants. Visitors enjoy 72 hectares
(178 acres) of wildflowers in display gardens, with free lectures,
guided tours and an array of different trails and inspiring
displays. There are areas for the kids to play while the center
regularly hosts artwork and photography exhibitions inspired by
nature, especially wildfowers. The classic Mollie Steves Zachry
Texas Arboretum is the perfect opportunity for visitors to learn
more about Texan trees, with a particular focus on Texas oak.
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Margaretwmiller
Governor's Mansion
The opulent plantation-style mansion home to the Texas State
governor is one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating from
1856. Although it is still 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. The mansion has been recently renovated,
guided tours are available, which offer interesting anecdotes about
previous governors.
Governor's Mansion
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
A major stop on national art circuit tours,
the Blanton Museum of Art is found at the University of Texas in
Austin. Highlights include the Suida-Manning Collection featuring
250 works by the Old Masters, as well as James A. Michener's
collection of 20th-century American Art. There's also a sizable
assemblage of Latin American Art, alongside rotating temporary
exhibitions covering anything from the avant-garde to the abstract.
These changing exhibits often contain themes that focus on aspects
of American history and scenery depicted in art, as well as current
artist showcases.
Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
Zereshk
Congress Avenue Bridge
One of the more unusual tourist attractions in Austin, millions
of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge every night from roosts beneath
the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. The largest urban colony in
the world, the bats take up residence under the bridge in mid-March
each year and return to Mexico in early November, with 1.5 million
creatures living under the bridge at the height of season. Their
mass emergence generally takes place at dusk and is viewed by
hundreds of people gathered around the bridge or at the Statesman's
Bat Observation Center on the southeast side of Town Lake.
Congress Avenue Bridge
Stuart Seeger
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Rising from the desert in western Texas, the rugged Guadalupe
Mountains National Park is the ancestral home of the Apache
nations. The wilderness is now occupied by hundreds of plant,
animal and bird species, with large amounts of mammals, reptiles
and amphibians. Visitors can traverse more than 80 miles (129km) of
trails on foot, horseback or 4x4. McKittrick Canyon in the
northeast corner is regarded as the most beautiful spot in Texas,
where oaks and maples make a colourful display in fall. There is a
Junior Ranger program for kids, as well as camping for small or
large groups.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Leaflet
Austin has a humid subtropical climate with hot and long summers
and mild winters. At the height of summer (June to August),
temperatures average between 72°F (22°C) and 97°F (36°C). In winter
(December to February), the temperatures stay well above freezing,
averaging between 41°F (5°C) and 65°F (18°C). Humidity is at its
highest between May and September, and rainfall is fairly evenly
distributed throughout the year, with an average of seven rainy
days per month.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Location: The airport is situated five miles (8km) from downtown
Austin.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
Passengers will have to leave the Barbara Jordan Terminal and
organise a taxi to the South Terminal or take a shuttle.
Getting to the city:
The Capital Metro bus serves the airport every 30 minutes from
the stop outside baggage claim. The trip takes 20 to 30 minutes to
the city. Several hotels offer free shuttles, while taxis and car
rentals are available too.
Car Rental:
Onsite rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise,
Payless, Thrifty, National, E-Z Rent-A-Car, and FOX Rent A Car.
Airport Taxis:
Taxi companies servicing Austin-Bergstrom airport include Yellow
Cab, Austin Cab, ATX Co Op, and Lone Star Cab. A trip from the
airport to the CBD should take about 20 minutes. The minumum fare
is $12.30 plus a $1 surcharge. Ride hailing services such as Uber
and Lyft are also available.
Facilities:
Postal services are available at the airport, and there are
several ATMs in the terminal. Shops include newsagents and a gift
shop, and there are numerous restaurants and bars to choose from.
There is also artwork on display, and live music performances on
selected dates. The Business and Technology Center in the east
concourse offers foreign currency exchange, standard airline trip
insurance, and internet access. There is also an on-site airport
hotel.
Parking
The parking garages one and two, opposite the terminal, charge
up to $25 per day. The Economy Lots charge $8 per day and are
connected to the terminal by a free shuttle service.
South by Southwest
The largest of the many live music events
in Austin, the annual South by Southwest festival takes place at
more than 50 venues around the city and draws performers from
around the world. The festival programme includes 1,000
performances spread over a six-day period. In recent years, SXSW
has expanded to encompass film and multimedia, both of which now
form separate extravaganzas to make South by Southwest a massive
celebration of entertainment and media. Over the years, the
festival has led to the discovery of many musicians, such as John
Mayer, The White Stripes and Bon Iver.
Venue:
Various venues, see website for details.
![Sixth Street, a host of South by
Southwest]()
Sixth Street, a host of South by
Southwest
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Carnaval Brasileiro
One of the biggest carnivals staged outside
Brazil, the colourful Carnaval Brasiliero is undoubtedly Austin's
biggest and wildest party. Started in 1975 by homesick Brazil
students, it now attracts crowds of more than 5,000 partygoers to
warm up the cold winter night with dances, sambas and marches. Live
Brazilians bands provide the soundtrack and dress up is encouraged,
with face and body paint proving particularly popular.
Venue:
Palmer Events Centre
![Samba dancers]()
Samba dancers
PlidaoUrbenia
Austin Food and Wine Festival
The Austin Food and Wine Festival sees the best chefs in the
United States descend upon Austin to indulge and educate a hungry
public. Cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and cocktail seminars
are ongoing, while the tasting pavilion is a surefire hit providing
space to over 80 exhibitors. Cookbook signings are common, while
live music throughout the festival keeps visitors entertained. The
festival is a 21-and-over event, which means that small children
and babies can't attend along with their parents.
Venue:
Main Venue: Four Seasons Hotel, downtown Austin.
![Food and Wine Festival]()
Food and Wine Festival
Joe deSousa
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Rated as one of the largest music festivals
in the United States, the three-day Austin City Limits event grew
as an offshoot from the popular television series of the same name.
The Festival draws young and old to a series of stages where over a
hundred bands give ongoing performances on eight stages over the
course of three days, drawing more than 70,000 people every day.
The music played at the festival covers a broad spectrum, from
indie, country and jazz, to pop, electronic and everything in
between. The park hosting the festival is Austin's Zilker Park,
itself a famous landmark of the city.
Venue:
Zilker Park
![The Austin City Limits Music
Festival]()
The Austin City Limits Music
Festival
SteveHopson
![]()
The excellent public transport system in
Austin provides cheap public buses and vans that cover all
neighbourhoods, including downtown and the university campus, for a
flat fare. Transfers between buses are free and valid for three
hours. Single fares start from $1.25.
Taxis are available from hotel taxi stands
during the day and by phone at night. Pedicabs can also be found on
the streets in the entertainment districts like East and West 6th
Street, and the Warehouse District. Multiple local ride-hailing
services are available along with larger companies like Uber and
Lyft.
Driving in Austin can be very confusing,
with a lack of clear east-west routes through the city centre and
the fact that locals tend to refer to highways by unofficial names.
The city centre can become congested at rush hour.
There is no shortage of things to see and
do in Austin. The city centre is easily explored on foot and has a
good concentration of attractions and museums around the
magnificent Texas State Capitol building. These include the Austin
History Center, City Hall, the Austin Children's Museum, Bob
Bullock Texas State History Museum, the MEXIC-ARTE Museum and the
O. Henry Museum.
The University of Texas contains a number
of attractions, including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Texas
Natural Science Center and the President Lyndon B. Johnson Library
and Museum. West Austin is home to pleasant outdoor spaces and
natural attractions in the famous Zilker Park, which includes
Zilker Botanical Gardens and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and
Museum. Zilker Park is a must-see in Austin and a pleasant place
for a picnic on one of the city's many sunny days.
Texas State Capitol
Gerritcap
Zilker Park Historic District
Airainix
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Margaretwmiller
Governor's Mansion
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
Zereshk
Congress Avenue Bridge
Stuart Seeger
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Leaflet
Sixth Street, a host of South by
Southwest
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Samba dancers
PlidaoUrbenia
Food and Wine Festival
Joe deSousa
The Austin City Limits Music
Festival
SteveHopson
