Where to Play—What We Do Best!
For people who'd like to come before or extend their stay after Netroots Nation, or for those interested in early-morning swims and/or late-night musical forays, here are some of Austin's many attractions.
Outdoor recreational opportunities:
Lady Bird Johnson Lake Hike and Bike Trail
All along the lake (which flows through the central part of Austin), people flock to the hike and bike trails to walk, jog, bicycle, or otherwise enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River.
Barton Springs
The crown jewel of Austin, Barton Springs Pool is three acres in size, is fed from underground springs, and is an average 68 degrees year-round. Over the years, Barton Springs Pool has drawn people from all walks of life, from legislators who have concocted state laws there, to free-spirited topless sunbathers who turned heads in the '70s.
Deep Eddy Pool
Originating as a natural swimming hole on the Colorado River before Town Lake existed, Deep Eddy once featured such attractions as Lorena and Her Diving Horse and The World Champion Diving Baby. Today, this spring-fed natural pool is popular for lap swimming.
Live music venues:
On any given night, more than 100 bands will be playing in Austin. Here are some favorite venues.
Continental Club
The granddaddy of all local music clubs, the Continental Club has enjoyed a coast-to-coast reputation as the premier venue for live music in Austin since 1957.
Broken Spoke
The Broken Spoke is one of the last of the true Texas dance halls, with a musical history that dates back to Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys.
Antones
Austin's home of the blues and some of Austin's best original bands.
Sixth Street Entertainment District and Warehouse District
Just north and west of the Austin Convention Center, respectively, Sixth Street and the Warehouse District offer scores of bars, restaurants, hotel rooms, music venues, and live theatre and satirical shows.
Other places of interest:
Bat Bridge (a.k.a. Ann Richards Congress Ave. Memorial Bridge)
One of the most amazing sights in Austin takes place every evening from March to early November, when 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their roosts under the Bridge. Cheap (free!) thrills.
The Woodward and Bernstein Watergate Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Acquired by the University of Texas at Austin in 2005, the materials document the work of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they investigated the Watergate scandal and later conducted research for their books All the President's Men and The Final Days. More than 75 document boxes of interviews, memos of phone conversations, story drafts, notes, research documents, and correspondence are accessible. The papers reveal, for the first time, the identities of nearly 100 sources and the information they disclosed. (The identities of living sources will not be revealed until after their deaths.)
The Texas State Capitol
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its "significant contribution to American history," the Texas Capitol is an impressive example of late 19th-century public architecture. The largest in gross square footage of all state capitols, it is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C.-- but, in true Texas tradition, is taller.
South Congress Ave. shopping district
The South Congress Avenue ("The Avenue") Shopping District is unparalleled for its eclectic mix of shops, entertainment venues, and restaurants.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
The LBJ Library and Museum was established to preserve and make available for research the papers and memorabilia of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, as well as actively collecting the papers of Johnson's contemporaries and conducting an oral history program designed to supplement the written record.
Bob Bullock Texas History Museum
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the "Story of Texas" with three floors of interactive exhibits; a special-effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas Spirit Theater; and Austin's only IMAX Theater.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Wildflower Center is a botanical garden dedicated to native plants and to preserving and restoring the natural beauty and biological richness of North America.
