Just 100 yards from RM620 you'll spot a small driveway with a gate which leads down a gravel road…read moreto this cemetery which occupies about an acre or two. I spotted the cemetery on Google maps and decided to review it in hopes that it would also be included in the Google maps description, which Yelp helps to facilitate. There are many recent graves here and there are some who are reinterred here due to the building of Mansfield Dam nearby. There are graves that go back to the early 20th century and as recently as 2023. This looks to be an active cemetery with additional space for more. Towards the rear of the property, you'll find family plots with the names of Tounguegate and Hudson and others. There are several service members buried here and many graves are covered in pea gravel. The grounds are pretty much overgrown with weeds, and the grave sites are for the most part aligned, but there is some randomness. There are no amenities here nor is there a Texas historical sign denoting anyone of note. Some graves show signs of visitation, but not all of them.

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.

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).

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.

Hosting a native American pow wow. Many booths with traditional jewelry and accessories inside. The…read morepeople were pleasant and the food was really tasty. The super exciting part was the dance it was beautiful and amazing.

For the rodeo, you can't beat this venue. I've only been here once but when comparing this setup to…read morethe San Antonio rodeo, this place is tops. There's not a bad seat in the house. We sat in the 200s and had a great view of the events and musical performers. The beer vendors were plentiful. The line for refreshments, merchandise and bathroom were all short. The restrooms were cleaner than you'd expect for a rodeo. Outside, the carnival was setup in a way that there was plenty of room for people to walk around. The only downer is that it's a pretty good trek from parking to expo center but parking only cost $5. I don't know what other events are held here but based on this experience it's a good spot to be for spectators.

This cemetery which dates from the late 1800s is located on RR 12 just a mile or two from Highway…read more290. It is bordered by the very busy and noisy RR 12 with single home residences on two sides. It is about 3 to 5 acres in size. This appears to still be an active cemetery as there are very some recent interments on the property. There is a mixture of old and newer markers throughout the property. There is still some of the original ironworks surrounding some of the older graves. There's even some Civil War markers. The cemetery has been well cared for and is well laid out and orderly. There are many bordered sections for family plots found here. There is a Texas historical sign on the property which has the necessary information pictured below. Many of the markers found here are no longer visited by family members, although the ones towards the back of the cemetery are newer and are well tended to. There is very little in the way of parking on the road, but once you enter the main gate, towards the rear of the cemetery, you will find parking and a gazebo. There is still plenty of room for future interments in case you want to make this year forever home.

The Heritage Oak tree is massive live oak tree in the middle of Heritage Oak Park. This tree is a…read moregargantuan Southern live oak estimated to be around 400 years old. The tree is massive with a large circumference with branches that extend wide and deep. It has a large tree trunk, which immediately grabs attention. It is important to note that his particular tree was here long before the city of Cedar Park existed as a town. The Heritage Marker near the tree provides an explanation of the historical significance of the oak and its role in Cedar Park's development. The historical marker is thoughtfully done with visitor friendly, easy to read language. It highlights why this tree is important.

I discovered this tree shortly after the F5 Tornado that blew through Jarrell and danced and…read moretwirled it's despicable self to Cedar Park to gut out the Albertson's that no longer exists. I felt the energy of Cedar Park and bought me a house out there. No regrets as it has turned out to be a great investment. This tree is over 400 years old standing at 57 + feet with a span of 80 feet. The trunk is 50+ inches with a circumference of 13 freaking feet! It is majestic people! I have had a love affair with this tree since the first time we met. She is magical and powerful. It is located in the median on Quest Blvd. I love to go and sit under her and just let my thoughts go. In a sense, meditate. Can you imagine how many secrets this tree could tell. I mean being 400 years old an all, ya' gotta know some good tales. Every year during the Christmas Holidays this tree is decorated with over 30,000 lights, and, it is a site to behold! One of the most beautiful things you will ever see. This beautiful Live Oak has free access. The Cedar Park Heritage Society has done a wonderful job at preserving this wonderful tree. Come visit and enjoy and please be respectful to the tree and Mother Nature.

This beautiful, stately old building is the repository for evidence of old Austin. It's not a place…read moreyou'd plan to visit for exhibits, like the Bob Bullock museum or Harry Ransom Center over by UT. It's where you'd go to research old phone books and photos and news clips and to get them copied. In other words, it's a library. I dropped in recently to look for information on the business my grandfather started in downtown Austin in the 1930s. I wanted addresses, dates, and most of all, photos. The librarian had me sign in and leave my belongings in a locker, then gave me a form to fill out so she could look for whatever I needed. FYI they have an amazing collection of of phone books, when they were hard cover! There were a number of people researching at the long wooden tables that seem straight out of the UT School of Architecture. It was a total retro experience. I didn't find everything I was hoping for, but I did find out that my grandfather's old store is now an expensive steak restaurant. He would like that. The librarian mentioned that they get their collections strictly from donations, so if you're looking for something to do with those old photos of Austin people and places, this might be a worthy repository. They also take scanned copies. Parking is by meter on the street, and it's downtown, so you have to plan for logistics when visiting.

Not nearly as interesting since they moved from their old location to the new one. Seems cold,…read moresterile and boring now. They used to have all kinds of cool things, especially giant photos, to look at. Nothing to speak of in the way of exhibits. Staff seemed uninterested. I used to recommend it to out-of-town guests but will no longer do so.