5 Must-See Stops in Austin, TX
Although its title as capital of the Lone Star State, in and of itself, gives Austin a presence and reputation, there was a time when it was a city unknown to many.
But that time has long since passed. What once was arguably the best kept secret of Texas has become a nationally recognized city.
In 2013, a Forbes survey crowned Austin the 4th most secure place to live in the U.S. It also has the largest state capitol building in the country, it's regarded the Live Music Capital Of The World, and it's becoming the Silicon Valley of the South. Oh, and for what it's worth, Matthew McConaughey lives there.
If it's (still) growing popularity isn't evidence enough, boredom is hard to find in Austin. Like many big cities (especially those in Texas), there are countless things to do there.
Trying to consolidate every single activity in the city into one entry would be an act in futility. Honestly, you can probably wander the city and discover something new along the way. That being said, everyone needs a starting point, and this should serve as just that.
If you're not already one of the more than 20 million annual visitors to Austin, here are some reasons to follow the crowd.
1. The Bats Of Congress Bridge
Just like any other city in Texas, Austin has hot and humid summers. Mosquitos are as abundant as beads of sweat raining down your forehead on a July afternoon.
As a result, the climate and insects that come with it attracts more than 1.5 billion bats to Austin each year. The bats come in flocks between March and October as part of their migration to form the largest urban bat colony in the world.
The best flights occur in late August and early September, when the baby bats join their mothers in the flight.
Locals recommend viewing the bats from Lady Bird Lake, as you can kayak and set up, front row for the action (while also avoiding the occasional clans of bats that nose drive into spectators on the bridge).
Bruce Wayne is said to be a frequent visitor, but that claim has been unconfirmed.
2. Lady Bird Lake
Cool breezes along the trails in the shade make Lady Bird Lake a great getaway from the summer heat.
Formerly Towne Lake, this reservoir of the Colorado River is right in the center of Downtown Austin. The construction of the Longhorn Dam in 1960 resulted in what is now Lady Bird Lake.
Much of the landscaped beauty of the parks surrounding the lake can be credited to the former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Back in the 1970s, Johnson focused her attention on the Town Lake Beautification Project, resulting in the beauty seen today by so many.
Owned and operated by the City of Austin in cooperation with the Lower Colorado River Authority, the lake was at first primarily used for flood control. Today, the lake's claim to 416 acres is better known for its recreational pull.
Home to a paddling trail with eight access points, the Austin Hike and Bike Trail, and kayaking (especially in conjunction with the aforementioned bat watch), Lady Bird Lake has become a must-see destination for all Austin visitors and residents.
3. Barton Springs
One of the eight, if not, most popular, entries into Lady Bird Lake is Barton Creek. Within that channel lies Barton Springs.
Barton Springs is a set of four natural water springs found in Zilker Park, resulting from water flowing through the Edwards Aquifer. The draw here is the Barton Springs Pool.
Stretching across three acres fed from underground springs of waters averaging around 70 degrees, this hotspot is an ideal destination year round.
Surrounding lawns and grassy areas see a lot of traffic in the form of lawn chairs, sunbathers, and other patrons that want to lounge under the Austin sun.
Visitors can be as vast as a record-setting 800,000, with a mix of diverse figures ranging from legislators to topless swimmers to Robert Redford, who first learned to swim here when he was five years old.
Barton Springs also serves as home to the endangered Barton Springs Salamander, set in a federally protected habitat.
Honorable Mention: If you want to have a comparable experience outside of Downtown, the Hamilton Pool Preserve is home to just as many breathtaking views.
This natural pool formed thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed by way of extensive erosion. It's located about 23 miles west of Austin off Highway 71.
Surrounded by large slabs of limestone by water's edge and neighboring stalactites, this protected natural habitat also features a green pool beneath a 50-foot waterfall flows.
4. Mount Bonnell
Also known as Covert Park, Mount Bonnell is a popular point alongside the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River.
Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, Mount Bonnell gathered more esteem in 2015, earning a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mount Bonnell forms part of the Balcones Fault Escarpment, which may be related to the Ouachita Mountains, formed 300 million years ago during a continental collision.
While the initial part of the hike, comprised of about 100 steps up, may leave you a bit winded, this area is more leisurely activity than challenging hike for the fittest of the fit.
Since gaining prominence in the 1850s, visitors have been hiking to the peak for a breathtaking view of the city, the lake, and the surrounding hills. Standing somewhere between 750 and 775 feet high, this is believed to be home of the highest point in the Austin City Limits.
5. Eat Barbecue
Missouri. Tennessee. Kansas. The Carolinas. Texas. These states are all widely regarded as the best places in the country to find some damn good barbecue.
Whether is Kerlin BBQ, La Barbecue, the famous Franklin Barbecue within the city, or a quick visit out to The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Austin is no stranger to world-renowned barbecue.
Texas barbecue traditions can be divided into four general styles: South Texas, West Texas, East Texas, and Central Texas, with the latter two being the most popular.
With Central Texas barbecue, meat is rubbed with spices and cooked over indirect heat from pecan or oak wood. East Texas style has beef slowly cooked to the point that it "falls off the bone." It is typically cooked over hickory wood and marinated in a sweet, tomato-based sauce.
Skipping all the details, one belief can hardly be argued: Austin, Texas has some of the best barbecue in the world.
