An invitation to a 40th wedding anniversary celebration precipitated our visit to Austin. Our stay was brief but we packed in as much as time allowed. And just for the record, the temperature does not cool as your travel south in Texas.
These are the sight and sounds we experienced "deep in the heart of Texas".
Let's just put it out there and begin with 6th Street. The home of South by Southwest and other movie and music festivals, this street and its' adjacent streets have grown in popularity. A large draw for the college kids, the allure of the area is not confined to twenty-somethings. You can find music of every genre as well as street entertainment. The nights start late and end in the wee hours of the morning. It is a unique area that will provide a unique experience.
TEXAS STATE CAPITOL BUILDING is the 6th tallest capitol building in the U.S. Because when built the building was just short of the U.S. Capitol Building, the statue The Goddess of Liberty was added to the top of the dome to then make it taller than the U.S. Capitol. Remember everything is bigger in Texas.
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FOOD TRUCKS
We feared having difficulty finding the famous food trucks, but honestly you'd have difficulty missing them. Food truck havens are situated throughout the city. When in Austin, a food truck stop is a must.
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LADY BIRD LAKE, named after former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, is a reservoir on the Colorado River in downtown Austin. Because motorized vehicles are prohibited, the area serves as a popular recreation area for kayaks, canoes and rowing shells.
ANN RICHARDS BRIDGE named after the 45th Governor of Texas, runs across Lady Bird Lake on Congress. The bridge houses the largest urban bat colony and each night at duck from March to
September, 1.5 million bats emerge from under the bridge to feast on insects. A sight to behold.
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| Ann Richards Bridge by day. Photo courtesy of Google. |
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| Bridge by dusk. Photo courtesy of Google. |
BARTON SPRINGS POOL, a man-made recreational "swimming hole" is located in Zilker Park. The pool, filled by water from Main Barton Springs is the 4th largest spring in Texas. We went there on July 4th and it was a sea of folks looking for relief from the sweltering heat. And I believe they found it because to say the water is cold is an understatement.
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THE DRISKILL HOTEL, 604 Brazos, was built in 1886 and is situated smack dab in the middle of the music district. The marble floors and stained-glass dome hint to the opulence that is the Driskill. Even if you don't stay there, do yourself a favor and stop in to eat or for a drink or just to enjoy the beauty of the building.
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| Photo courtesy of Google. |
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| Lobby of the Driskill. Photo courtesy of Google. |
ROARING FORK, 701 Congress Ave, where the business district meets the music district. This elegantly styled dining room offers a calming experience amid the bustle just outside the doors. Happy hours is offered daily from 4-7pm. We ate there on July 4th and luckily happened on a 2 for 1 special. Elegant eats and a bargain to boot............good deal.
PERLA, 1400 S. Congress. While investigating the shops along South Congress Avenue, we desperately needed to be somewhere air-conditioned to hydrate ourselves. Although Perla boasts a shaded patio, we opted for the air-conditioned in-door dining area. Specializing in fish and seafood, Perla, supplied us with just what we needed..... fresh food, cold drinks and many working ceiling fans.
Other Austin attractions experienced on previous trips but not to be missed are:
University of Texas Campus. Located 1mile north of downtown Austin, this sprawling campus houses the LBJ Presidential Library.
Texas Hill Country. If time allows spend time exploring the hill country and eating spectacular Texas Bar-B-Que.
Texas is a big state and these are just a few of the sights and tastes it offers. You just might want to plan your trip during the winter months.
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