A friend of mine was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend and he then committed suicide. Today my…read morefriend's family had a celebration of life ceremony for her. This celebration of life ceremony was a deeply moving and beautifully planned tribute to her life well-lived. The ceremony took place in UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum. The grounds are serene and peaceful with art sculptures sprinkled throughout the garden. UMLAUF is strategically hidden behind Zilker Park in Austin, TX. The garden was a perfect place for my friend's celebration of life. She would have loved the tree canopy, small ponds, and the bronze and stone works in the garden. My friends passing caused me to think about life, death and the dash in between the two. The commentary today came from her younger brother, two friends and her aunt. Their glowing remarks intertwined with snippets of humor helped to soften the moment. One of the comments from her brother is that you need to keep in touch with family and friends, tell them you love them and do not miss those very important moments. Those thoughts resonated with me. Sometimes in this microwaveable society, we do not make time to be intentional and spend uninterrupted time with family and friends. I committed today to be more intentional from this day forward. When my mom and sister passed, I was selected by our family to do the eulogy, which is one the hardest things you can possibly do in life. How can you capture one's life in 15-20 minutes? What topics are most salient to discuss? Inevitably, my mind drifted to gratitude. I am so grateful for my family who loves me unconditionally. I am grateful to all my friends and especially those friends who have been riding with me for 25+ years. "The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." Eleanor Roosevelt

We loved our visit. I didn't know anything about the art before coming here but was very pleasantly…read moresurprised. I'm drawn to classically influenced, figurative sculpture, rather than highly abstract contemporary styles. Umlauf's work was precisely that -- it focused on the human form primarily and touched upon themes of religion, war, love, beauty. There were some pieces that took my breath away, particularly the refugee mother and baby pieces. The garden itself is small (you'll likely spend an hour here, at most) but very pleasant to stroll around. The trees were bare when we visited but I can see it being even lovelier in spring/summer. Very reasonable admission fee ($8 per adult). Children 0-4 are free. Super friendly staff. The woman working the front desk was very kind to us and made our family feel so welcome (we brought our two small children). Small parking area but it wasn't crowded when we came (despite it being a weekend afternoon). If you're visiting Austin and you like classical and figurative sculptural work, make sure you add this spot to your itinerary.

This was very cool, the former teen wanted to come here for their birthday. Every floor had a…read moredifferent theme with 4 floors in general. Dinosaurs and other long dead creatures. Texas history, Texas wildlife and a telescope. Then 4th floor was a special exhibit on bats with games, video, statues and more. It was informative and fun. The kids there had a scavenger hunt as well. Lots of interaction and facts. Worth a visit.

Every 4th Sunday of the month is FREE (sponsored by HEB) which is always nice. We actually…read moreaccidentally showed up on that day. Personally, I think I'd prefer to pay ($10 per adult, 4 and under are free) and have it be a little less crowded. The building is small, the hallways narrow, the elevator slow. I wasn't sure what to expect but I'd advise you to keep your expectations low. The museum is a bit dated, the building is old, and some of the exhibits felt antiquated. There is a certain charm to that. Plus, you can see everything in one short visit. They did make it ADA accessible -- there's a separate entrance for wheelchairs and strollers. There's a wheelchair ramp available for the inaccessible areas (like the paleontology exhibit). For strollers, I'd recommend just leaving it upstairs and holding your kid. The exhibits are small so you won't be there for long. Gift shop had a nice selection of cute gifts/souvenirs. Easy parking in the San Jacinto garage next door. Cost us $6 or something like that. While the woman's restroom had a diaper changing station, I don't think the men's did. I noticed a dad going in to change his son's diaper (he verbally noted it to the mom) and walked right back out. If they want to be accommodating to families, this might be an upgrade worth making. FYI: they're card only, no cash.

A true walk in nature. A great place for birding. Always a ton of cardinals and during migration…read moreover 30 birds recorded.

We had time for one museum while on our trip and so we picked Bullock Texas State History Museum…read more This was a great choice that we made and certainly something to explore. The History History and the contemporary history that is all laid out here is very well presented and in the contemporary part it felt like you were reading, observing and strolling from decade to decade. A wide range of topics and different vantage points of Texas is explored here which makes it very fascinating and was mind broadening as we progressed through the displays and artifacts. I didn't know a whole lot about Austin City Limits and all of the musicians and musical acts that played there which was very much a learning experience and perhaps one of my favorite sections of the museum. Definitely worth going to if you are in Austin and wanting to take in some history and culture that makes up the state and the city.

I visited the Bullock Texas State History Museum with my husband and parents on the first Sunday of…read morethe month which allows you free entry! The museum is an homage to Texas history and culture. The current special exhibit showcases Texas Festivals from highly decorated parade floats, pageant costumes, and competitive eating! This museum is great. It's also across the street from the Blanton Art Museum and a quick walk down to the Capitol Building so you can make a it a day of Austin must-sees especially if you're visiting for the first time.

Highly recommend but give yourself more than 2 hours to explore thoroughly. My son is 8 and he…read morereally enjoyed everything here. There's so much to see and read about. Definitely walk the track to see the aircraft's and helicopters. There's also a row of tanks on the other side of the museum building that I wish we spotted before leaving but we were on a time crunch. Will be back for sure!

This place was top-notch for military Museum enthusiast and history buffs. I've been to many…read moremilitary museums. This one was very impressive. There is multiple tanks from different conflicts. Lots of artillery and historic artifacts. The Vietnam era weapons demonstration was phenomenal. I've never seen anything like it. This place is really underrated and not probably well-known.

The Blanton Museum of Art is delightful way to spend a few hours in admiration of art. The Blanton…read moreMuseum of Art complex is divided into three main areas; namely; 1) ticketing office and gift shop, 2) the stand alone building and 3) the galleries. Important to note...entry into The Blanton Museum of Art is free on Tuesdays or as a member and discounted if you attend UT or a senior citizen. Getting a ticket gets you into the house and galleries was a pretty straightforward process. The first impression is the towering 3-story 12 "petals", which look like white lillies to me. They have hundreds of holes that cast a cool shadow beneath them. Fun fact: When it rains in the petals, water funnels to to an underground collection system. According the museum docent, the stained glass building was designed by Ellsworth Kelly is supposed to be a place of contemplation...similar to a church except different as she is an atheist. Similar remnants of churches are present...stained glass windows, a semi redwood cross at the center of the building (not fully formed but certainly the focal point of the room) and simple black and white paintings. The Blanton Museum of Art, founded in 1963, is a shared museum between Austin and the University of Austin. Their 22K+ art pieces include modern and contemporary American and Latin American artworks. In addition, they also feature Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, prints and drawings. Inside the galleries the staircase area is a work of art itself. The collections are breathtaking, contemplative and captivating. Such a fun way to spend the afternoon...

Blantons is great break from the sun, and a small taste of a variety of classical and contemporary…read moreart. The staff were super friendly. Griffin was a fantastic behind the desk guy. Samantha and Abby were nice docents. Each said hello, were welcoming, and shared their favorite pieces, and spoke competently about the art they were watching over. I got the opportunity to see various immersive works. Ellesworth Kelly has his own building of stained glass images, black and white tiles, and a male totem. My favorite work was in the modern section, but it looked like a classical piece. Pilgrims by Coronel. It looked like a bunch of guys in big hats collaged together - but it's just folks walking by each other. It was a good mix of various eras and modes of art. The light was warm, but not overpowering. And the A/C is working. In the middle of the summer, that last point is a must. As one of the Blue Star Museums, it sponsors a service member and up to 5 other folks entrance into the museum to see the exhibits. It's easily a great hideout from the heat and free for military during the summer. Recommend.

Free day? I'll take it…read more My experience here was nice. The staff was helpful and I was able to check in easily. The art exhibit was cool and it make a statement. The gallery was busy, but spacious. I loved the view upstairs and got really good photos. I want to attend more events here. The bathroom was clean.

One of two locations (Laguna Gloria on West 35th Street is the other), The Contemporary Austin --…read moreJones Center offers a stunning exterior mural ("Man Who Fell to Earth" by Manik Raj Nakra) but not much inside. Though it spans two floors, it's a small museum with little content. The few exhibits included lacked breadth: one consisted of variations of the same work. While the $10 admission does cover both locations, it definitely isn't worth it for Jones Center alone.

While visiting Austin, we stopped by the Mexic-Arte Museum because it was within walking distance…read moreof another museum we had planned to visit. It is a small, one story museum that focuses on Mexican culture, history, textiles, and wearable art. The current exhibit featured nearly 90 textile and wearable art pieces created by master artisans from 16 Mexican states, along with documentary photographs highlighting Austin's historic Our Lady of Guadalupe community. The museum also includes informative panels in both English and Spanish, making the exhibits easy to understand regardless of which language you speak. The museum itself is fairly dark, creating an intimate atmosphere that complements many of the exhibits. There were several beautiful traditional garments and textiles on display, and I enjoyed learning more about the craftsmanship and cultural significance behind them. My favorite part of the visit was actually the gift shop. It had a wonderful selection of unique souvenirs, artwork, and locally inspired gifts that were much more interesting than the typical tourist items. The only downside was the size of the museum. I was surprised at how quickly we reached the end. Even taking our time to read the exhibits, we were finished in about 30 minutes. While I enjoyed the experience, it felt a bit underwhelming given how small it was. Overall, it is an interesting museum that is worth visiting if you are already exploring downtown Austin or have an interest in Mexican art, history, and textiles. Just be aware that it is a relatively small museum, so plan your visit accordingly.

In route to the Austin Visitor Center (just a few feet away), I noticed Mexic-Arte Museum…read moreespecially the neon depiction of Guadalupe in the window. It was a place on my bucket list, but never really had time to visit. With a bit of time off this week, I decided to take a peek in. The heavy doors open with a strong push, and you feel transported to a completely different space and time. The museum is quiet, solemn and reverent. The museum is located at the intersection of Congress and 5th. I literally have walked by this museum hundreds of times and not gone in...it is easy to miss if you're rushing by. The museum is dedicated to Mexican, Mexican American, and Latin American art. Rosas y Revelaciones, the current exhibit, celebrates one of Mexico's most enduring spiritual and cultural icons. Featuring wearable and textile works by artists from 16 states across Mexico, the exhibition showcases devotion and innovation through garments inspired by La Virgen de Guadalupe (virgin of Guadalupe.) The galleries are small and intimate. Each gallery appears to have a specific purpose. In addition, after your stroll through the museum, you have the opportunity to purchase some items in their gift shop. It was quiet yet immersive experience.