On the south side of Town Lake is Zilker Metropolitan Park known as Zilker park. Zilker Park Botanical Gardens is a 31 acre sanctuary filled with a Japanese garden, Koi-filled ponds, plants, flowers, nature paths and waterfalls. Zilker Hillside Theater is used for year round functions. You can find further information about Austin Parks here.
Deep Eddy Pool
Deep Eddy is the state´s most historic and oldest swimming pool which was built in 1916. The water supply comes from an artesian well. It originated as a natural swimming hole on the Colorado River and it was the first outdoor pool in Texas.
A large movie screen is set up pool-side during the summer for Splash Party Movie Nights. The pool is open from late February to late November depending on the weather. Admission is $3.00 for adults. Summer hours are 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily.
Location: 401 Deep Eddy Ave Austin, TX 78703
Located at the end of the Town Lake Hike and bike trail, west of Mopac.
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs is one of the best swimming holes in Texas. It lies within Zilker Park´s 358 acres. The pool is fed from underground springs and is approximately 3 acres in size. The water is a constant 68 degrees year round and is approximately 1,000 feet long.
The pool is generally open from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday through Wednesday (the springs are closed Thursdays for cleaning and upkeep).
Location: 2101 Barton springs Road (Zilker Park). For questions contact the Aquatic Office at (512) 974-9331. Admission: adults 43, junior 42, children and seniors 41. Individual and family summer-long passes are also available.
Art Museum
The Austin Museum of Art (AMOA)-Laguna Gloria was the home of Texas legend Clara Driscoll. The restored 1916 Italian style villa is a unique experience of art, history and nature. Inside are art exhibitions. Outside are the 12-acre grounds overlooking Lake Austin. It is home to the Art School and is a beautiful place for private gatherings.
Location: 3809 W. 35th St.
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 458-8191
Hours: Villa location: Tuesday-Sunday 10-4
Grounds: 9-5 Mon-Sat., 10-5 Sun.
Admission: Suggested donation $3
Parking: Free parking on the grounds or along 35th St.
State Capital of Texas
The Texas State Capitol is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas. It is surrounded by twenty-two acres of trees and is taller than the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol´s style is based the architecture of the 15th-century Italy and was completed in 1888. The construction was paid for in land with approximately three million acres in the Texas Panhandle that is now the XIT Ranch. A $75 million underground Capitol Extension was completed in 1993.
The Capitol houses offices for the governor, secretary of state and all legislators, as well as the Senate and House chambers. The Texas State Capitol is taller than the U.S. Capitol and is among the most beloved landmarks in the Lone Star State.
Location: Located at 11th St., between Lavaca and San Jacinto 512-463-0063.
Free guided tours of the Capitol are given daily (except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter) and begin at the south entrance.
Pennybacker (360) Bridge
Austin's Pennybacker Bridge is also known as the Loop 360 Bridge and The Lake Austin 360 Bridge. The bridge looks like a rust colored steel ladder that curves over the Colorado River, also known as Lake Austin. It was opened in December 3, 1982 and was name for Percy Pennybacker who designed bridges. The bridge includes a six-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path.
The bluebonnets in spring, the boaters and skiers in summer and the autumn colors in fall are only some of the many reasons it is the most scenic drive in Central Texas.
Location: Loop 360 ? Pennybacker Bridge crosses Lake Austin.
Mount Bonnell - View
Mount Bonnell is one of Austin´s oldest tourist attractions. It was named after William Bonnell, a journalist and soldier who fought for Texas´s struggle for independence.
It is a natural limestone formation and is the highest point within Austin City limits at 785 feet. It offers the best hilltop views of the Austin skyline, Hill Country and Lake Austin. Mount Bonnell is popular as a picnic spot or hiking area.
A Romantic Note:
There is a legend that Mt. Bonnell was once called Antoinette's Leap, named after a damsel who leaped to her death to avoid capture from Indians that killed her lover, who fought to his death to defend her. Now generally considered safe, Mt. Bonnell is one of the most romantic locations in Austin. Lovers: keep your heads clear and avoid walking too close to the cliffs! Parents should keep an eye on their children as well.
Location: Mt. Bonnell is located off FM 2222. This road curves through several hills until you reach a parking lot on your right. Take the stairs from the parking lot to the vista. There are no fees.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is named for the former lieutenant governor of Texas which opened in 2001. The museum tells the "story of Texas." and it offers three floors of interactive exhibits that appeal to all ages. In addition, the museum features Austin´s only IMAX Theatre.
Location: 1800 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701-1342
United States (Map)
Phone: 512-936-8746
The Museum is open Monday through Saturday 9am ? 6pm and on Sunday from Noon to 6pm. Admission is $3 for children (5-18), $5.50 for adults and $4.50 for seniors (65 and up). IMAX tickets are extra.
Live Music Capital of the World
Austin is also known as the "live Music Capital of the world". Austin has exciting live music scenes with more music venues per capita than any other city in the U.S. Austin´s music entertainment scene can be found on historic 6th street (originally known as Pecan street). This entertainment district and plays host to a multitude of bars, clubs and music venues. On any night of the week you can find live music of every conceivable type.
Austin also is the venue for the annual film, music and multimedia festival known as South by Southwest, which takes place every spring. The musical branch of the festival is one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., while the film branch has become a premiere film festival.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three-day music and art festival held in Zilker Park each year.
Congress Avenue Bat Flights
Each evening around sunset the Congress Avenue bats emerge like a black cloud from under the Ann Richards Bridge (formerly the Congress Stree Bridge). Covering the countryside in search of food, it is estimated that the bats consume from 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects.
Giving birth in June or July, the bats and pups hang around til October when they head back south. Watching the nightly search for food is a favorite evening activity, especially in late summer.
Although the Congress Avenue bats take up residence as early as March, the best bat views are in August when the young pups join their mothers in the nightly flights. It can take as long as 45 minutes for all the bats to exit the bridge. There are plenty of locations along Town Lake in the vicinity of Congress Avenue where you can watch the bats. Bat flights normally occur around 8 to 8:30 pm but could be earlier or later. Call the Bat Hotline at 416-5700 ext. 3636 for times.