Austin with two 15yr old girls

[utmck]

I'm taking my 15 year old daughter and one of her friends to Austin next week for a couple of days and was wondering what all is ther to do.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Do you have to have an appt. to tour the capitol.
2. Do you have to have an appt to tour the Texas history building
3. Where is the park area that you can sit and watch the bats at night.

Besides touring the school and surrounding area is there anything else you would reccommend.

 

[brntorng]

1. No
2. No
3. Congress Ave Bridge over Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) in downtown. Get there when the sun is about to set. There's a park area on the south end of the bridge on the east side of Congress Ave.

Consider a day at Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, an hour south of Austin. The country's best waterpark.

Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park is a nice Austin landmark. Refreshing 65 degree water is nice on a 95-100 degree day.

The Domain upscale shopping center is brand new and has all the stores that drive teenage girls crazy. East of Mopac (Loop 1) at Braker Lane. The Drag (Guadelupe Ave between MLK and 26th St) also has plenty of stores that appeal to teenagers.

Mount Bonnell offers a nice view of the city and Hill Country.

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

Don't just hit up the Cap. Building; go to the visitor's center ("front right" corner as you're looking North). Lots of stuff there & a better gift shop than @ the capitol bldg, IMO. Linkie for the cap vis complex

To take a guided tour of the Capitol... Information and Guide Service is located in the restored Treasurer's Business Office on the first floor of the Capitol. Free Capitol tours are conducted daily beginning in the Capitol South Foyer and concluding in the Capitol Extension. This tour features the Capitol, Texas history, and the Texas legislature.

Tours are generally 45 minutes in length and are available during the following times:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Sunday, Noon - 3:30 pm

Capitol tours are conducted daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter.

Don't forget the natural beauty that is Zilker Park & Barton Springs. There is a bath house for changing clothes, so don't think you have to do like a beach & change in your car.

I'll bet they will also like a stroll down 6th street where all the clubs are, so don't leave this out. There's also the warehouse district & South Congress (SoCo) with the funky shops.

 

[notreally]

just got back from austin for the week with my 11 year old. a couple of things.

1. we toured the capitol without an appointment.
2. schlitterbahn is the most overrated attraction i have ever been to in my life. it was fun and all, but not sure why it is considered so much "better" than other waterparks. although it was very clean.
3. Barton Springs pool is great. I also highly suggest hiking/biking the greenbelt to go to some of the swiiming holes. the first one is about 3/4 of a mile on the trail. we had a great time.
4. Hamilton pool was also great.

 

[Summerof79]

Going to Schlitterbahn is to me mostly just staind in line like a herd of cattle.. for the good rides.

I would think that the girls would likely prefer to go t Barton Springs and swim with a meal at Shady Grove, than they would like to tour the Capital. Though they might like the Museum of History and in particular whatever IMAX might be playing. I woudl probably do the Museum thing as early as I could, then off to Barton Springs to work up an appetite berfore a mid afternoon munch out and people watching session at Shady Grove. Then back to the get cleaned up and think about what the evening might hold in store. I would try to expose them to some of the Music and the walking areas of 6th/ Warehouse districts. They might even enjoy checking out Whole Foods monster store at 6th and Lamar, before heading over for a scoop of Amy's Ice Cream nest to Waterloo Records. I might also consider seeing a sunset at Mount Bonnell it's free except for the climb of the steps.

Depending on where you are staying (friends or hotel) I might combine seeing the Bats and taking a stroll down South Congress Avenue or perhaps along town lake before the flight.

There is almost always some sort of Free Concert during the week, like Blues on the Green that might be interesting to them. A hike up upper Barton Creek and a dip in the morning might also be fun for them.

Tour of the Capital might be interesting but I imagine it wouldn't be the top of the list of choices if you polled one hundred 15 year old girls.

Drive out to nearby places might include BBQ at the Salt Lick (combo with Hamilton Pool?), Sunset at the Oasis, or a day in New Braunfels floating the Rive and riding "the Chute" a few hours on the The Comal not Schitterbahn. A great meal at Huisache lunch or dinner would be a nice close to the afternoon before heading home. The girls will prob ably be most excited at the designer names at the huge discount mall in San Marcos. In fact checking out san Marcos and Texas State might be in order for girls their age, as well as touring UT.

 

[Macanudo]

Anyone mention going up to the Tower?

 

[lazytexasfan]

i would check out some of the shops and stuff around south congress. i think that's something that might appeal to 15 year olds also

 

[Eating Club]

[suckup]Take a tour of UT's campus and learn more about the admissions process.[/suckup]

 

[Tailgate]

This is a no brainer if you are here on the 18th (Saturday).
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