There are few remarkable landmarks in Austin. However, the experiences you can have and the memories you can make puts the city firmly on the bucket lists of many travelers. To help you get the most out of your visit, we’ve picked out the must-see things to do in Austin.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bullock Texas State History Museum was designed to tell “the Story of Texas”, and does so across 3 floors of interactive exhibits. Each floor has a different theme, coving the Texan land and identity. The star attraction is the 400-seat IMAX theatre, which shows new and classic movies. Be sure to check out the original NASA Mission Control consoles and oil field drill bits on the 3rd floor. Head to the Story of Texas Café for local comfort food and snacks.
Zilker Park
The 351-acre Zilker Park is packed with fun things to do. There are beautiful picnic sites, playgrounds, volleyball courts, botanical gardens, an outdoor theater and a nature center. The star attraction, however, is the Barton Springs Pool. Formed by natural springs and spanning 3 acres, the water here is at a constant temperature of about 68°F throughout the year. It’s a popular place for Austinites to relax and cool off in summer. Zilker Park is south of the Colorado River from downtown Austin.
Texas Capitol
They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, and they’re not wrong. The golden dome of the Texas State Capitol is about 22 feet taller than the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. Built in 1885 in an Italian Renaissance Revival style, the imposing building is in the middle of a lovely 22-acre park, which also contains a number of statues and monuments. You can take a 30-minute guided tour of the building for free, which details the history of Texas and the state’s legislature.
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Congress Avenue Bridge
About 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, making it among the largest urban bat colonies in the world. Come to the bridge at dusk to see them all take to the sky to feed. You can watch from on the bridge or the nearby riverbanks and there are even boat tours that provide a unique perspective. It’s quite a dramatic sight and a real must-see for Austin.
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