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Austin, Texas
Everything you need to know about Austin in one place!
Austin’s Family Friendly Activities:
Austin has a bit of everything for the young to the young at heart. The capital city is a great destination for family trips and exploration, including options for outdoor recreation and those of the more historic and cultural nature.
Below is a list of places that are fun for the family, within walking distance of Downtown:
• Hike and Bike Trails around Lady Bird Lake 10 miles of trails border Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin and serve as a social hub for runners, walkers and cyclists. A Memorial at Auditorium Shores honors the late bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan.
• Bat Viewing on the Congress Ave Bridge Congress Avenue Bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in North America. More than 1.5 million bats fly out near dusk. March-Oct.
• Austin Duck Adventures A fun, narrated, amphibious tour of downtown Austin ends with a splash on Lake Austin. Tours and tickets available at the Austin Visitors Center on 6th and Brazos. (http://www.austinducks.com/)
• Austin Overtures Tour Ride the comfortable fuschia van for an entertaining 30-mile tour of Austin. Daily scheduled tours from the Austin Visitor Center on 6th and Brazos. (http://www.austinovertures.com/)
• Austin Children’s Museum Austin Children's Museum exhibits and programs range from a unique "Austin Kiddie Limits" music set to robotic dinosaurs. Tues.-Sat., 10 AM - 5 PM; Sun., noon-5 PM. (On Colorado Street) (http://www.austinkids.org/)
• Texas State Capitol The granite Texas statehouse stands as a testament to the history of the Lone Star State. Free, guided tours. Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 PM.; Sat. 9:30-3:30 PM.; Sun. noon-3:30 PM. (http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/)
• Peddle Boats and Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake (take your pick of vistas)
• Peddle Boats are located at the Hyatt Regency
• Kayaks are located at the Rowing Dock on Stafford Drive off of Barton Springs Road, right down from the Hyatt Activities where a vehicle may be needed.
• Bob Bullock State History Museum Features three floors of dynamic exhibits, a special effects Texas Spirit Theater, museum store and café. Austin's only IMAX theatre. Mon.-Sat. 9a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sun. 12-6 p.m. (http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/)
• Zilker Park & Barton Springs Pool Austin's largest, most popular park offers swimming in Barton Springs, trails and a miniature train.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native plant botanical center with nature trails, display gardens, interpretive center and gift shop. Tues.- Sat., 9 am- 5:30 pm; Sun., noon- 5:30 pm. (4801 La Crosse Ave. ) (http://www.wildflower.org/)
• Zilker Botanical Gardens A botanical showplace for native foliage, roses, ponds, Oriental gardens and 100-million-year-old dinosaur tracks. (http://www.zilkergarden.org/)
• Berdoll Pecan Farm—15 miles east of Austin Berdoll Pecan Farm has been family owned and operated for 27 years. In 1980 Hal & Lisa Berdoll planted their 7,000 pecan tree orchard on the Colorado River bottom. (http://www.berdollpecanfarm.com/)
• Mount Bonnell for hiking and site seeing At 785 feet, Mount Bonnell stands as one of the highest points in the city and also one of Austin's oldest tourist attractions.
• Texas Memorial Museum Includes dinosaur and fossil displays, Texas wildlife, gems and minerals, meteorites and natural science. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m. Admission is free.
(http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/)
• George Washington Carver Museum Paying homage to Austin's African-American heritage, the museum features four galleries, a theater, dance studio, museum store and library. Tues., Thurs., 9:30 am-8 pm; Mon., Wed., Fri., 9:30 am-6 pm; Sat., 1 pm-5 pm. (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/carver/default.htm)
• LBJ Library and Museum Exhibits chronicle the political life and times of LBJ. The First Lady's Gallery highlights the legacy of Lady Bird Johnson. Collection's focus is on six decades of American history and how the Johnsons fit into those times. Free admission. Open daily (except Christmas), 9 am- 5 pm (http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/)
Free Activities in Austin:
LBJ Library and Museum
Texas State Capitol
George Washington Carver Museum
Texas Natural Science Center
Hike and Bike Trails around Lady Bird Lake
Bat viewing at Congress Avenue bridge
Mount Bonnell
Family Friendly Restaurants:
Downtown (or close):
Stubb’s BBQ: www.stubbsaustin.com
Rio Grande Tex-Mex: http://riograndemexican.com/
Spaghetti Warehouse: http://www.meatballs.com/
Matt’s El Rancho: http://www.mattselrancho.com/
Gueros: http://www.guerostacobar.com/
Hut’s Hamburgers: www.hutsfrankandangies.com
Frank & Angie’s Pizzeria: www.hutsfrankandangies.com
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