It's been a while since our last visit to the Austin Capitol Visitor Center, and it was nice to be…read moreback! Such a great stop before or after exploring the Capitol Building. The folks here are super friendly and welcoming, and the little museum and gift shop are worth a quick look. We had a relaxed Sunday morning here--definitely worth the two-hour drive from San Antonio! We'll surely be back this fall when our NJ guests come to visit.

This is where you stop at the Capitol for tour information…read more Helpful and friendly folks to provide answers to any questions on self-guided tours (free). This is the starting point for touring the Capitol and also the starting point for guided tours. Those tours are also free. Located in the General Land Office Building. Gift shop is here too.

The first time I saw Lake Travis outside Austin was driving over the Mansfield Damn. What a…read morebeautiful site. Even though I'm native Texan living here most of my life,there are untold numbers of things I'll never see including lakes. It was 1975 and I'd left Dallas working my way to the Gulf of Mexico( yes Gulf of Mexico) scuba diving in everything deep enough to submerge my body in. I had just been certified a year earlier and anxious to see Travis from below. It's been years since I've been in lake Travis due to droughts and low water levels. However as of the heavy Spring rains of 2026, it appears Travis is heading for Full status so,the Mansfield Dam will have to once again work for a living holding back all that water.

It is enjoyable visiting Mansfield Dam located in Austin, TX because of the spectacular views and…read morepeaceful atmosphere surrounding Lake Travis. Many years ago, you were allowed to walk on the dam. However, now due to safety reasons, you can only view it from afar. Mansfield Dam is owned and operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), a public organization that manages water, power, and flood control along the lower Colorado River in Texas. The history... Central Texas experienced severe and frequent flooding in the early 20th century, which caused extensive damage and loss of life. This created a strong need for a flood-control system. The dam was completed in 1942 and was originally named Marshall Ford Dam. In 1941, it was renamed Mansfield Dam in honor of U.S. Representative J.J. Mansfield, who helped secure support and funding for the project. When the dam was completed, it created Lake Travis, which became the largest reservoir in the Highland Lakes chain.

Cedar Park is a great spot when you want a break from the busy Austin crowds. It has a really…read morelaid-back, suburban feel but still offers plenty to do. The trails around Brushy Creek are fantastic and super dog-friendly--it's the perfect area to take Benjamin for a long afternoon walk. There are also some solid local bakeries and casual spots to grab a bite. It's clean, easy to navigate, and just a relaxed, easygoing place to spend the day.

I like Cedar Park, such a nice community, with large parks and dog friendly areas. I just moved…read moreclose to the area and I'm slowly driving around this town and getting to know it a little better. A few shops here that I really like and go to often. Hope to learn more and possibly move here soon

I spend a lot of time on this bridge, either driving over it, walking it, etc…read more It's well-maintained and easy to walk across to take in views of this part of the city. Of course, it's a great spot to watch bats since it is dubbed the "bat bridge". I like to bring out-of-town visitors to the bridge for just that reason.

The Congress Avenue Bridge was renamed in honor of former Governor Ann W. Richards. She was the…read more45th Governor of the State of Texas from 1991 to 1995. The bridge has pedestrian and bike paths from Cesar Chavez Avenue to Riverside Drive. If you look below you can see boats, kayaks and paddleboats passing by on the Lady Bird Lake (Colorado River). During March to October, you can see a colony of Brazilian free-tail bats swarm from underneath the bridge at dusk. If you continue North on Congress Avenue, it will lead you to the State Capitol (10,000 steps marker is noted on the ground). The day I walked the route it was 91° and quite humid. It was a struggle for me and I had to take a break. Joggers and others walking their dogs zoomed right past me! Nonetheless, I did make the trek at a snail's pace and it was a beautiful day. From this vantage point you can see the Lake, trees, and Austin skyline. Sincerely, Rosemary (from So. California).

The Lamar Bridge also known as the Lamar Boulevard Bridge connects downtown Austin with residences…read moreand businesses south of Lady Bird Lake. This bridge is steeped in history. It is an access point for the Ann & Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail. Also, from the bridge you can see a spectacular view of downtown Austin's skyline. Standing on the bridge at sunrise or sunset creates the most phenomenal postcard like effect. You have a panoramic view of Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin. With this said, the bridge has had a downside. There been traffic fatalities and incidents on the bridge especially at night. The Pfluger pedestrian bridge helped address this aspect of the Lamar bridge. While it is one of the older bridges in Austin, it also has a prominent place in our history.

Easier than fording the river! This bridge is an old steel…read morebridge that crosses the Colorado River, right by Lady Bird Lake. It's a vehicular bridge, although it does have a sidewalk. The bridge is very busy, with stoplights at either end of it, and busy intersections. It's not very pedestrian friendly. That's why there's the Pfluger Bridge just to the east of this bridge, a pedestrian/bicycle bridge. I'd stay off of this bridge on a bike. It has some good views of Town Lake if you get stuck in traffic on here. Check out the paddle boarders and kayaks in the water below! It's a nice looking bridge from the river, but nondescript from the roadway. Don't pass up Austin's many other beautiful sites in favor of this one, but Town Lake / Lady Bird Lake is a very nice location to go hiking and biking! I just prefer to peddle under this bridge rather than to drive across it.

Austin is a freaking AMAZING city. Straight up foodie heaven…read morewith something happening at all hours. This place does not sleep... and I love that for us. It's social, active, and full of vibey people. Big city energy but you've got everything--lakes, hills, country drives, wineries, even that little German-town feel nearby. There's literally something for everyone and always something going on. Late nights? Covered. No "we close at 7pm" energy here Fun fact: Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World with live shows happening all over the city every single night . Oh--and it used to be called Waterloo before becoming the capital of Texas in 1839 . Yeah... I get the hype.

This was my 2nd time visiting the City of Austin but first time staying in downtown. The downtown…read moreis conveniently near so many good restaurants, bars, coffee shops, Lady Bird Lake, etc. [Per the internet] KEY AREAS OF ATTRACTION: 6th Street: Famous for its high-energy bars, live music venues, and historic buildings. Congress Avenue: The city's historic main street, featuring the State Capitol and the Driskill Hotel. 2nd Street District: A shopping area with boutiques, national retailers, and local favorites. Lady Bird Lake: Offers trails, kayaking, and scenic views, forming the southern boundary of downtown. Republic Square: A park that hosts the SFC Farmers Market on Saturdays.

The University of Texas at Austin tower (UT Tower) sits at the center of the University of Texas at…read moreAustin. Every path seemingly leads toward the Tower. The UT Tower was completed 1937 (307 feet tall). The Tower has long been the visual focal point of UT since I can remember...generational link between students, faculty, alumni and visitors. The inscription across the front state, "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." I remember being on campus when the Tower rang for the first time...it's distinctive...it's memorable. It commands attention. The first time I heard the UT Tower clock ring, I immediately stopped. Also, it is absolutely nothing like experiencing the UT Tower lit up in orange after UT wins an athletic game. For students, the burnt orange glow becomes an emotional symbol for unity (one student body...one unified purpose), achievement (game won) and pride (as a student you can walk by another UT student and nod to them...each knows what it means). The UT Tower was originally constructed to house the university's central library stacks. Today, it is a working building filled with administrative offices and specialized collections. Unfortunately, the tower also represents an unpleasant memory. The University of Texas Tower shooting occurred on August1,1966, when a gunman fired from the observation deck of the UT Tower onto the campus below killing 15 people on campus and injured many others. UT survived this horrific incident and bonded even more so as a community. UT Austin is undergoing a multi year, $70 million restoration project to preserve and renew the Tower. While the UT Tower is built from materials, for me, it will always be a symbol of pride and hope.

While there was some construction around the UT Tower we were able to get close enough to it to get…read moresome good pictures we also learned the history of the building and the tragic mass shooting in 1966 when we took the city bus tour a few days before. The building is very impressive and really stands out on the campus. I imagine decades ago it would be more visible at other vantage points but even when I was in Austin about twenty years ago for the first time it didn't seem nearly as built up as when we were here on our latest visit and I do realize I have heard all sorts of comments that Austin is a city growing in leaps in bounds ( or was several years ago, pre-covid) but with all of the new buildings the UT Tower may be just a tad more obscured than it may once have been. Anyway I definitely recommend taking a look at it as it is a slice of Austin history.

This unique home was constructed in the 1870s, and is one of the only remaining stone wedge…read morebuildings left in the state of Texas. It is located in Austin's Symphony Square, a nice park that features 350-seat outdoor performance amphitheater in addition to its four historic buildings. The Jeremiah Hamilton House is home to the Austin Symphony box office and the facilities office. The three-sided building was named after Jeremiah Hamilton, who served for two years in the 12th Texas Legislature (1869-1871) and built the home in 1871.