Texas Hill Country (Ausitn and Vicinity)

Just north of downtown, this history museum gives an interesting perspective of Texas and what makes it unique. There are three floors of displays, pictures, and descriptions including a Cadillac and an old gas pump.

From the Bob Bullock Museum it's about 2 blocks to the State Capitol which is a lovely building inside and out. There are informative tours and just walking around the building with its granite, marble, forged hinges and doorknobs, and portraits is enjoyable.

The state university is a stone's throw from downtown Austin. You can either walk or take a short ride to the campus. Guadalupe avenue on the west side of the campus is the commercial center (it's known as the Drag). Walking through the campus you can pass the Texas Tower, walk along shaded walkways and fountains and come to the LBJ Library on the northeast corner of the campus.

Hungry for lunch? The Iron Works on First Street near I-35 is a real, authentic barbeque place. You place your order at the window and pick up your beverage from an open cooler that's probably 70 years old. Enjoy your brisket, ribs or what ever and clean up with the roll of paper towels on every table.

There is a visitor's center, LBJ's boyhood home, and a lovely park surrounding his Texas White House.
Go for a drive into the hill country following Route 290 West to Johnson City. The small visitor's center is the first place to stop, then you can walk through LBJ's boyhood home. It's about a 10 mile drive out to the LBJ ranch which is surrounded by a lovely park. The park has busses to take you on a tour of the grounds. Lady Bird still lives there.

A trip to Johnson City can be combined with a vist to Fredericksburg which is farther west. This town has German roots which are evident in some of the restaurants and festivals. There is also a navy museum that focusses on Admiral Nimitz who grew up here. The museum is quite interesting and goes nicely with a stroll up and down the three block long Main Street.

On your way back into town from Johnson City, stop at the Oasis which sits high above Lake Travis. It's off RR620 near its intersection with 2222. Everybody knows where it is. Great views, nice sunsets.

If you're downtown around sunset, go out onto the Congress Ave Bridge and watch the bats come out. You'll have plenty of company. Just before sunset thousands of bats leave the crevices under the bridge and fly downriver eating every bug in Central Texas. You may be thinking that this sounds wierd but it is a really cool thing to see and kids absolutely love it.