City and Hill Country Itineraries
Austin,
on the eastern edge of Texas Hill Country, is the state capital, the live music
capital of the world, a center for film, home to the University of Texas and
Formula 1's Circuit of the Americas raceway. The city’ parks and lakes are
popular for hiking, biking, swimming, boating and other outdoor pursuits as
well as a ballet, world-class museums and a unique shopping experience.
The Hill Country with
Historic Towns over two dozen Vineyards and a laid-back Lifestyle
Gruene look for the water tower to find this
former German farming settlement turned ghost town turned artsy, revitalized
community listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Guadalupe
River offers fly fishing in the southernmost trout stream in the Northern
Hemisphere. Enjoy a wine tasting experience in Grapevine’s outdoor garden or shop
for antiques.
Georgetown with its Victorian Downtown
Square and restored courthouse is at the crossroads of the Chisholm and Hill
Country Trails and is home to the Palace Theatre.
Fredericksburg is home to over 20 wineries offering
tastings, barrel room tours, great views and authentic German cuisine. Main
Street has over 150 shops, boutiques and art galleries. Also, the National Museum
of the Pacific War with interactive exhibits, LBJ State and National Historical
Parks where you can tour the 36th President's Texas White House.
New Braunfels founded in 1845 by
German settlers, is a small town with historic districts. Go for a swim,
kayaking or rafting on the Guadalupe River or two-step at Gruene Hall, the
state's oldest dance hall.
Wimberley was a mill town producing in lumber, molasses and cotton
and is now a hub for Hill Country arts, boutiques and outdoor adventures. Swim
with other families at Jacob's Well, or hike through the scenic Cypress Creek
Trail and Mount Baldy.
Austin City Itineraries
Wildflowers and Gardens the best of nature
all within the setting of rolling hills and area lakes: Zilker Botanical Garden — located on 30 acres with theme gardens
interconnected with streams, waterfalls and Koi-filled ponds; the Umlauf Sculpture Garden exhibits
sculptures by the 20th century American artist Charles Umlauf; the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center with
a diversity of wildflowers and other native Texas plants.
Music Austin’s music roots
run deep and no trip would be complete without sampling some live music. On any
given evening, nearly 200 venues feature live music of all types – jazz, blues,
country, Tejano, classical, folk and rock. Festivals such as SXSW, ACL
Festival, and Blues on the Green attract thousands of music buffs and bands and
keeps Austin at the top of the worldwide music scene.
Arts and Culture explore the museums,
ballets, theaters and symphonies that thrive in this city; The Blanton Museum of Art at The University
of Texas at Austin is one of the foremost university art museums in the
country, and has the largest and most comprehensive collection of art in
Central Texas; the Harry Ransom Center
holds the very First Photograph and one of five Gutenberg Bibles in the US; the
Austin Museum of Art, sits on twelve
acres of beautiful parkland overlooking Lake Austin; the Mexic-Arte Museum, the official Mexican and Mexican American Fine
Arts Museum located in downtown Austin.
Adventure rolling hills and
meandering waterways create the perfect playground for exciting adventure
opportunities; hiking and biking around Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin; the
Barton Springs Greenbelt with over 7 miles of natural surface trails; climb
Mount Bonnell, the highest peak within the Austin City Limits and beautiful
views of downtown and Lake Austin.
Zilker
Park and Barton Springs Pool a 361-acre park with a golf course, a large playground for
children, the Zilker Zephyr train, and Barton Springs Pool, an urban oasis with
68-degree, spring-fed waters.
The Texas State Capitol largest of America’s
statehouses and 14 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol.
The LBJ Presidential Library chronicles the political
life and times of LBJ. The First Lady's Gallery highlights the legacy of Lady
Bird Johnson. Also, six decades of American history.
Austin
Shopping and Entertainment
Downtown a bustling area of commerce, cuisine, cocktails and
the Capitol, a melting pot of finance and fun, as well as philanthropic
conservation; the arts scene is alive and well with galleries and museums at
nearly every corner.
2nd Street between Congress Avenue and San Antonio streets,
this area is home to local and national brands, ranging from beauty, body and
abode, to restaurants and pubs.
Warehouse District as the name implies,
many of the neighborhood's bars and restaurants are housed in
renovated warehouses; a vibrant scene that draws a diverse crowd thanks to its
range of live entertainment, restaurants, LGBT scene and unique
shops.
East Austin Arguably the fastest growing neighborhood in
Austin, the eclectic east side is where old meets new. Discover rich history and
culture, eateries and boutiques.
Rainey Street renovated houses turned into bungalow bars can be
found on this increasingly popular street.
South Congress This vibrant neighborhood south of Lady Bird Lake is
a popular hangout for locals.
