Austin Western
Uniquely Austin: Six Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss
Austin is a world-class city, filled with things to see and do whether you’re a long-time native or a first-time visitor. Known for its vibrant music scene, Austin combines a rich western tradition, southern hospitality, and a quirky flair all its own. With its countless museums and historical exhibits, offbeat shops and dining establishments, seeing all that Austin has to offer might take a lifetime. Here are some Austin attractions that are not to be missed.
Texas State Capitol in Austin
History buffs will love touring the Capitol building and browsing through the historical exhibits, including a collection of artifacts from the Battle of Saratoga in the House Chamber. Much of the original architecture is still on display, giving visitors a sense of Austin’s place in Texas history. Nearby attractions include the Texas Governor’s Mansion and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, so visitors can plan a whole day of historical sightseeing around a free walking tour of the Capitol and its grounds.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
Combining modern sculpture with historic Texas art, the Umlauf Museum offers art lovers a look back at Texas history. Every style of Texas art from classic portraits to depression-era paintings is on display, and the sculpture garden displays the work of Texas’s own Charles Umlauf as well as many pieces by Umlauf’s students. Lectures and workshops are also available; reservations are usually required.
Zilker Botanical Garden
A quiet refuge from the bustling city outside, the Zilker Botanical Garden offers a traditional rose garden, herb garden, and cactus garden as well as some unusual gardens that make it a unique Austin attraction. One of the most popular gardens in the complex is the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden featuring a Japanese teahouse, a traditional bridge, rock retaining walls, and Koi-filled reflecting pools. Children will love the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which replicates as closely as possible the Cretaceous habitat and even includes a full sized sculpture of an Ornithomimus, a dinosaur that once lived in the Austin area.
Austin Nature and Science Center
Just down the road from the Zilker Botanical Garden, the Austin Nature and Science Center offers more dinosaurs at their Dino Pit, allowing visitors to search for dinosaur fossils in a replica of an actual paleontological dig site. Other exhibits include a collection of native Texas wildlife and a Naturalist Workshop that helps visitors explore the native botanical life of Austin.
Lady Bird Lake
Tourists and Austin natives both pause at nightfall, watching the flight of the Mexican Free-tailed bats from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Austin is home to over 1.5 million of these bats, so the display is impressive. The lake serves kayakers and canoeists, and music lovers won’t want to miss a trip to the Stevie Ray Vaughan memorial located on the lakeshore. Open-air concerts and music festivals are frequently held here or in nearby venues the year round.
Austin Steam Trains
No discussion of Austin attractions would be complete without mentioning the Austin Steam Train Association and its weekend tours of the Texas Hill Country just outside Austin. Vintage passenger rail cars provide a unique view of the countryside and a glimpse back into history, including a tour of the 1912 Bertram Train Depot. Reservations are recommended.
Many other museums, attractions and a world-class zoo are also available. Whatever your interests, Austin’s eclectic community offers something to suit your specific tastes, all with a uniquely Austin flavor.
About the Author
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin real estate blog and Round Rock real estate can be found on the net.
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