Austin Attractions
Since the city of Austin is situated on the banks of the Colorado River, it consists of three man made lakes which serve as ideal venues for swimming, boating and other recreational activities. The city enjoys a humid subtropical climate due to which it has hot summers and mild winters with most of the rainfall and thunderstorms occurring during the spring season. Austin's characteristics match with four ecological regions namely the desert, the tropics and the humid areas and it is due to this reason that the area is home to diverse varieties flora and fauna. Snowfall is rare in Austin although it may occur once in a while and freeze everything in the city.
Some of the noteworthy attractions in the city of Austin are listed as follows:
The Barton Springs Pool is an ideal picnic location where one can have the unique experience of swimming in chlorine-free water, sunbathing on the rocks or just basking in the sun on the grassy slopes. Since the spot maintains a steady temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year and is also equipped with restroom facilities, diving board, a playscape for children and a number of concession stands, it serves as a comfortable venue for a family outing throughout the year.
Mount Bonnell is a popular tourist attraction not only because it is one of the highest points in the city but also due to its romantic aura which is believed to make couples fall in love and tie the knot with good feelings and mutual admiration. The 99 steps which lead to the pinnacle provide one with a breath taking panoramic view of the city as well as the famous Lake Austin.
The Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue was erected in 1994 to commemorate one of the city's famous musicians named Stevie Ray Vaughan who enthralled the audience with his exceptional guitar playing abilities combined with unforgettable lyrics.
The Texas State Capitol holds the honor of being the tallest building in the country at a height of 309 feet thereby echoing the Texan motto which says 'everything is bigger in Texas'. This vast monument of red granite which is surrounded by spacious lawns took seven years of persistent labor and hard work and was finally completed in1888.
The Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a haunt for nature lovers as it features lakes, waterfronts, campsites and lots of oak, juniper and ash trees spread over an area of 1000 acres of land. The lakes and waterfronts are utilized by the visitors for skiing, boating, fishing and swimming where as the 66 camp sites offer one the opportunity of living in the midst of nature.
The Blazer Lazer Tag is a maze of towers, ramps and bridges accentuated by light and sound effects, music as well as fog which gives an ultimate feeling of the laser world within the largest laser tag arena of the state. This facility is for all age groups and it is obligatory for the participants to wear a lightweight vest and carry a futuristic phaser.
The Pease Park is the favorite haunt of dog lovers as it is one of those rare locations which insist on unleashing of the pets in order to enable them to run, play and jump freely. Besides seeing a number of happy and ecstatic canines, one can also play disc golf here with Frisbees.
The Zilker Christmas Tree Lighting involves a 175-foot tall Christmas tree which is illuminated with 4000 twinkling lights. It is a tradition in the city that this tree would remain lighted from early December till the end of the year and during this time it would spin on its center point with people standing at the base and twirling with it and enjoying the dazzling light show in the process.
The Swisher-Scott House is a historic site which served as the residence of the famous architect Abner Cook in 1856 and later belonged to a native actor named Zachary Scott. It still functions as a private home but is also a heritage site of the city.
