The SKy Tower is an interesting structure located on Hart Lane near MOPAC and Spicewood Springs…read moreRoad. One of my Yelp friends said sky Tower was a must see modern structure in Austin, Texas. My hubby and I decided to check it out. It is an interesting structure however we were not so sure why. It looked like a tower, but no other uniquely distinguishing characteristics. The color is a brown rust color, so do very distinctive nor memorable. There was an abstract mural on the side of the building next to the sky tower, which was eye-catching. We were spending Sunday afternoon together to smell the roses, not literally but figuratively. It is nice sometimes, to get out the house, drive some place, get out of the car and take in natural beauty.

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.

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.

Watching thousands of bats pour out from under a bridge is one of those experiences that sounds a…read morelittle strange until you're standing there thinking, "Okay, this is actually really cool!" The Austin bat bridge on Congress Ave. is such a unique experience, and even better, it's completely free! It definitely isn't a secret, though. A lot of people gather to watch the bats emerge, so I'd recommend getting there early if having a good viewing spot matters to you. Personally, I prefer watching from under the bridge. From that vantage point, you can actually see the bats coming out from underneath, which is the part of the experience I enjoy most. Another plus is that this doesn't have to be your only activity while you're in the area. There are plenty of other places nearby to check out, so it's easy to make the bat viewing part of a larger outing rather than your entire plan. PROS * Completely free * Such a unique Austin experience * Fun to watch the bats actually emerge from beneath the bridge * Plenty of other places nearby to explore CONS * It draws a lot of people, so arriving early is important if you want a good spot BOTTOM LINE: This is one of those simple experiences that's worth doing at least once when you're in Austin. It costs nothing, it's memorable, and there's something pretty impressive about seeing that many bats emerge at once. I'd absolutely come back and do it again, preferably from underneath the bridge.

We have come to the South Congress Bridge twice to see bats. The first time, we sat on a blanket…read moreunder the bridge and saw a swarm of bats come out with people on the bridge as a backdrop. We thought we had gotten a raw deal seeing them from below. This time around, we waited on top of the bridge. There was a spectacular sunset and fantastic view of the skyline with daylight and with moonlight. When the bats came out, we once again saw a swarm of them. Again, it was really hard to see details since they're flying so fast and there is low lighting. If you're out here just to see bats, I think you'd be better off going with a tour. They take people out by boat or kayak, talk a bit about the bats, and then shine a red light under the bridge so that you can see them better. If you're out to get a view of the skyline at sunset and to see a swarm of bats without much detail, I think it is worth a visit.

This wonderful museum (and theatre) sits on the campus of UT at Austin (from which my boyfriend is…read morea proud graduate). It's a modern and well-designed building that has housed exhibits from painters and artists to SNL productions, and current exhibits like Houdini and Gertrude Stein. Not to mention The Gutenberg Bible, The Count Cagliostro necklace affair and so much more. Why I've never reviewed this place before is beyond me especially as I've been here multiple times over the years. Today, 8/29/26 is the opening day for the Houdini Library which will run through January. Had been also wanting to check out the Gertrude Stein (Who, by the way, was born in my hometown...Pittsburgh) exhibit that's been here a couple of weeks now. What better way to spend a Saturday than visiting them both. Let me say that both are incredibly informative, well documented, and full of history. The profoundly talented curators put together installations that hold your attention and spark your imagination. Absolutely love being able to see such amazing works...and it's free! Donations are accepted upon entry...if you can, drop a couple bucks in.

I was raised on Saturday Night Live. My parents would always turn on Saturday Night Live every…read moreSaturday after I went to bed and as I got older, I would eventually get to stay up and watch the cast of the early 2010s. Even from there, my parents would show us SNL skits during their holiday specials as well as clips on early YouTube. SNL not only opened my eyes to some of the greatest comedians of this decade, but introduced me to more than just the artists heard on mainstream radio. SNL introduced me to so many great indie and alternative artists. Because of this, I became a huge fan of Saturday Night Live entering my adult life. After hearing how Lorne Michaels' private collection and archives would be heading to a free exhibit at the Henry Ransom Center, I knew I would have to check it out as soon as possible. With my girlfriend coming to town the weekend after my birthday, we made a plan to hit a few museums across the University of Texas campus starting with the Henry Ransom Center. Before you even see the Lorne Michaels Collection, you can see the Niépce Heliograph, the first ever photograph, and the Gutenberg Bible. The Lorne Michaels Collection is the highlight of the visit. As you walk through the exhibits, you first start with the history of comedy on SNL, Lorne's early work before NBC, and the origins of SNL. From there, you get to see the order of the show from the cold open, the monologue, sketches, pre-tapes, musical performances, and more. There is a real cue card from Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter's cold open performance from SNL 50 on display. From there, artifacts and history from each decade are highlighted, from Matt Foley's costume, the cowbell, a tribute to the first episode following the September 11 attacks, a Five-Timers jacket, and more. The best part of all of this is that the exhibit is entirely free to the public and there is so much more than what I am sharing. The collection is on display until March 20, 2026, and if you are a fan of Saturday Night Live, comedy, or television as a whole this is an exhibit for you. RIYL: Saturday Night Live, like duh?

I have to admit I've never done a cemetery review and I noticed there is no Yelp review of this…read morehistorical cemetery located near the center of Manor. The historical plaque posted at the entrance is well worth reading as it highlights the history of this resting place. The oldest person I could find interred here was born in 1796. The newest decedent that I could find deposited here died in 2022. The cemetery is fairly full but it looks like there's enough space left for another hundred plots. This is a nice quiet place to visit in spring time when the bluebonnets and other flowers are in bloom, although the noise of 290 can still be heard. There were many graves dedicated to the Woodmen of the world which may have been a trade union at the turn of the 20th century. There was even a confederate war memorial. So if you want a peaceful place to stroll amongst the formerly living or perhaps be interred here yourself, it's an easy place to walk through. I'm sure the local funeral home can give you the going rate for a plot here.

The Rector Cemetery in Manor, Texas, is a historic burial ground, preserving the town's pioneer…read moreheritage and honoring early settlers who shaped the community's culture and identity. I love it because it offers a tangible connection to the past, and it beautifully reflects the town's roots and the stories of those who came before us.

This is an old cemetery from the 1800s and does have some notable local names buried here. Though…read moreit may have been located off the beaten path a long time ago, it is now surrounded by a local golf course. The cemetery itself is quite small, probably less than 50 feet in either direction and sadly it's quite overgrown within the perimeter. The best way to gain access is to park at the church which sits not far from the golf course and walk down Lexington Street to the small road that leads into the golf course. The cemetery is surrounded by a new tall perimeter fence and is locked to restrict access. It is also surrounded by an old iron fence within the perimeter. On the fence itself is a great deal of information which tells you a lot more than I can. So check out the photos below which includes some scan codes which tell you even more.

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).