Things to do in Austin

Austin is the location of America’s most remarkable state capitol building, while the natural attractions of Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Park offer a pleasant break from the city’s streets. Other popular attractions for tourists include the fascinating sight of over a million bats flocking into the skies every evening from under Congress Avenue Bridge. Austin's reputation as being a live music capital is also well-supported, with scores of excellent venues offering music every night.

State Capitol

Situated on 11th Street and Congress Avenue, Austin’s State Capitol is one of America’s most remarkable public buildings. Downtown Austin is dominated by the Renaissance Revival-style building, which was constructed in 1888 from Texas pink granite. Austin’s capitol is the largest state capitol in the country, and it underwent a complete restoration and refurbishment process during the 1990s. If you time your visit well, you will have an opportunity of not only visiting the impressive capitol building and its grounds, but also to view Texas government in action. Visitors can check in advance to see which legislative sessions are open for public attendance.

Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs is the ideal place to be on a hot summer day, when temperatures can soar in Austin. The pool is located in Zilker Park in downtown Austin and is fed by springs that fill the pools with cool refreshing water. The pristine clear pool measures over 300 metres in length and is 38 metres wide. The temperatures of the water remain tepidly cool throughout the year, providing a refreshing break from the oppressive midday heat. There is also a bathhouse at the pool site, and lifeguards are on duty all day. Phone: +1 512 476 9044.

Congress Avenue Bridge

The bridge is located near Shoal Beach and the Radisson Hotel, just south of downtown Austin. It’s renowned for its impressive bat colony that congregates here every year between March and November. The bridge was reconstructed in 1980 and the crevices in the structure provided a perfect home for this huge colony of Mexican free-tail bats. Over one million bats can be seen taking to the skies every evening, as they go about their daily duties.
 

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Just south of downtown Austin, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a draw card for those interested in flora and fauna, as it offers a garden with every type of wildflower that grows in Texas. Copious information is provided about each specimen, and the gardens can also be viewed from an observation tower. The centre is also popular among children, as nature trails and several activities offer ample distractions. Phone: +1 512 292 4100.

University of Texas

The research facility is located near the capitol and houses a number of important museums such as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (LBJ). Austin's Jack South Blanton Museum of Art is also a popular attraction at the university and features an extensive private art collection, with many pieces dating from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Works by Poussin and Rubens are on display as well as works from many modern American and Latin-American artists. The campus offers many wonderful walks and further attractions within the grounds include an observation tower and the Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History. Phone: +1 512 471 3434.

Museums

Austin is also noted for its many excellent museums and art galleries. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum houses exhibits pertinent to the state and documents the history of the region, while Austin's LBJ Library and Museum is almost entirely devoted to the 36th president. Children and parents will enjoy an afternoon at Texas’ Children’s Museum, though the Texas Memorial Museum also proves popular, with many huge dinosaur models on display as well as other natural science exhibits.

Visitors interested in sculpture will enjoy Austin's Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, where many famous sculptures are exhibited in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings. Those with a penchant for art should visit the Jack S Blanton Museum of Art, where there is a collection of over 20,000 artworks on display.