When Steve and I were planning our trip to Austin, Texas we realized fairly quickly that we didn't…read moreknow the city very well at all. In previous vacations we took bus tours to get a little bit more familiar with the city and that is what we did with Austin. Only this time we rode a Double Decker bus! I have seen this kind of bus tour here and there and have seen it when I am in Seattle. Officially I think after this particular bus tour it was my first time riding a Double Decker bus. The weather was typical spring weather on our entire visit but the day we chose to take this tour it was nice and warm and a perfect time to go ride this bus followed by rain for a few days (This took place in April). The ride was so much fun and the tour guide was great! Austin is definitely a different cut than the rest of Texas and that was reflected in many of the people we met. Open mindedness being one and we really felt that with the tour guide. He was so knowledgeable of the city and the neighborhoods and all that made this bus tour all the more amazing. But of course they would probably have staff with personalities that would be compatible in this way. Riding on the top of the bus was so much fun. A few times we had to duck from tree branches and I lowered my head a few times from the traffic lights but that was just me getting nervous with being that high to a light. You see all the sights, famous buildings, museums, local culture, restaurant recommendations and so much more while on this tour. So this was a great experience! I was in Austin proper once a very long time ago and saw just how much it's grown. So it was cool getting acquainted with the city one more time thanks to this bus tour!

I was so looking forward to finally taking a tour of the city. I've been coming here visiting my…read moreson for the last dozen or so years and I've never done it. At first, I sat on the upper level. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air. However, the sun was a little too much for me so I had to move down to the inside area. I was the only one down there which was fine, but it was really quite filthy. There was thick gray dust on the top rail of all the seats and the fabric on the seats themselves was all thick with black grease. The tour guide was really wonderful. Entertaining and knowledgeable with one exception that was actually kind of disturbing to me personally. When we got to South Congress he talked about the "I love you so much" wall. His story of a husband painting it for his wife could not have been more wrong. It was in fact done by an artist named Amy for her then girlfriend Liz an infamous Austin hotelier and restauranteur. It is an incredibly iconic part of Austin history and if it's told it should be not fiction. I hope for sure this can be corrected for future tours.

My experience on the Austin Duck Tour was phenomenal! The experience was made very special by our…read moreguide, Captain Bob. He was a professional through and through. His knowledge delivered what you would expect on a tour and his charisma provided charming and unforgettable moments. He was engaged the entire time and attuned to opportunities to interact with the public. It takes a special person to command a full ship through multiple terrains and to do so with constant energy! This is definitely something you want to do to explore Austin, especially if you're celebrating something with people from out of town. Highly recommend!

Super nice people…read more Accommodating to so many Great historical information provide Good dad jokes Quack Inclusion amongst all ages on the bus Friendly staff on the Duck You must try this while in Austin But tickets and complete waivers on line Approximately 75 minutes long Show up 30 mins early Get in like 20 mins early Austin welcome center on 5th street, off Congress, is where you check in Bathrooms Shopping Coffee drinks AC Chairs Chargers Don and the Engineer driver were fantastic hosts Highly recommended

On our recent trip to Austin we thought it would be fun to have a different activity, so we booked…read morea wine tour on the Saturday. I had no idea what to expect from Texas wine, but I was honestly pleasantly surprised. The day started at the Austin Visitor Center where we met with our tour guide and other guests. Then we hopped on our sprinter van and headed about 40 min outside of town to start our tour at Driftwood Winery. I really enjoyed the wines and we ended up purchasing a bottle to enjoy along the tour. Next, we went to Fall Creek Vineyards. This setting was beautiful, but I didn't love the wines as much. I did love that they had plenty of snacks so you could make your own charcuterie board. Snacks are a must when drinking wine all day. Last, we ended closer to the city in the St. Elmo District at Austin Winery. The tour is about $70 and then you pay for your wines at each stop. I had a fabulous time with our tour guide and tour mates. Would reccomend this if you're looking for a day excursion in Austin.

I toured Austin with Austin Detours. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We stopped at many…read moretaco spots to try a range of unique bites. We also saw cool street art!

I experienced my very first "tea party" this year when I was invited by friends to go to Tea Around…read moreTown. I was so excited and looking forward to a great time with our group of 9. On the day of our visit, it was pouring down rain. We made sure to arrive early per the instructions and when we arrived there were several families already in line. After standing in the rain (with umbrellas) for 10-15 min past the pick up of time, many people including our group tried to contact the company for an update. We weren't able to reach anyone, so we attempted to take refuge in the swim club as the rain was really coming down. Many of the other people waiting did the same or went into their vehicles. It was close to an hour before the bus arrived and by then everyone was pretty much soaked from head to toe. Once the bus arrived we were let onto the bus and seated, our group was able to all sit together which was nice. The set up was cute and the on board entertainment was a nice touch, our host had a beautiful singing voice. We rode around Austin, unfortunately our windows were dirty/foggy so we didn't get the picturesque moments we expected. The food was what you would expect for a tea party, nothing to rave about but plated well. The drinks were pretty good but the drink portions were only a few ounces. Not enough to leave you satisfied, I think they should at least fill the cups half way or more and include bottles of water to help wash down the sandwiches and sweets. Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this for adults, although it may be fun for younger kids with lower expectations.

Did not meet expectations…read more I read an article in the San Antonio Current about what a great experience the tea around town service was. I booked two luxe experiences for me and my bestie who was visiting from out of town. We arrived an hour early to ensure we knew where to go as the instructions said we must be on time. At 1145 we returned to the designated pickup location in front of the Brazilian steakhouse but the bus was not there. Other guests were also waiting. At 1155, the bus still had not arrived nor were any staff present associated with the tea around town experience. I received a text message saying:"Tea Around Town: Hi There! We're running with a delay, we will share an updated ETA shortly. Thank you so much for your patience - we can't wait to see you!". My bestie suggested we wait at the restaurant bar and have a drink while we were waiting. Time passed and around 1220 I received another text: "Tea Around Town: Hi! We hit a slight slowdown and will arrive by 1:00 pm. Thank you for your patience, we'll see you soon!" 1pm came and went still no bus. I texted the number back to check the status of the bus only to receive: "Tea Around Town: Hi! We hit a slight slowdown and will arrive by 1:20pm. Thank you for your patience, we'll be there shortly!" The bus finally arrived at 1:30! We were offered no explanation for the delay nor any apologies. Staff acted as if they were on time. We were finally seated only to find the food had been sitting out and cold food was warm and warm was cold. We ate what we thought was the safest to avoid food poisoning. The tea was not good and was very minimal just a slight 1/2 cup serving. The entertainment very nice but was a poor singer and could not carry a tune. We were so disappointed in the lack of quality of the whole experience. We felt trapped as once you are on the bus you are there until the end. The staff even suggested we give them tips at the end even with the poor customer service. I thought this was going to be amazing and in the end it was a complete disaster and waste of our time and money. We would not do this again and will not recommend to anyone. If you are looking for a great experience, this is not it. Did not meet expectations I read an article in the San Antonio Current about what a great experience the tea around town service was. I booked two luxe experiences for me and my bestie who was visiting from out of town. We arrived an hour early to ensure we knew where to go as the instructions said we must be on time. At 1145 we returned to the designated pickup location in front of the Brazilian steakhouse but the bus was not there. Other guests were also waiting. At 1155, the bus still had not arrived nor were any staff present associated with the tea around town experience. I received a text message saying:"Tea Around Town: Hi There! We're running with a delay, we will share an updated ETA shortly. Thank you so much for your patience - we can't wait to see you!". My bestie suggested we wait at the restaurant bar and have a drink while we were waiting. Time passed and around 1220 I received another text: "Tea Around Town: Hi! We hit a slight slowdown and will arrive by 1:00 pm. Thank you for your patience, we'll see you soon!" 1pm came and went still no bus. I texted the number back to check the status of the bus only to receive: "Tea Around Town: Hi! We hit a slight slowdown and will arrive by 1:20pm. Thank you for your patience, we'll be there shortly!" The bus finally arrived at 1:30! We were offered no explanation for the delay nor any apologies. Staff acted as if they were on time. We were finally seated only to find the food had been sitting out and cold food was warm and warm was cold. We ate what we thought was the safest to avoid food poisoning. The tea was not good and was very minimal just a slight 1/2 cup serving. The entertainment very nice but was a poor singer and could not carry a tune. We were so disappointed in the lack of quality of the whole experience. We felt trapped as once you are on the bus you are there until the end. The staff even suggested we give them tips at the end even with the poor customer service. I thought this was going to be amazing and in the end it was a complete disaster and waste of our time and money. We would not do this again and will not recommend to anyone. If you are looking for a great experience, this is not it.

Doug was great! Air conditioned Mercedes van, sweet & funny tour guide, stops available. The van…read morehas USB charging ports bc ur phone will die from all the photographs you take. I actually went on this exact tour about 1 year ago & realized he was the same guy! We went on a slightly different tour than we did last year though. This time we stopped at the library, & it's BEAUTIFUL. My mother said "I could spend all day in here - you just don't want to leave." The woman doesn't even read...!! Started down "dirty 6th street," then the library, then around to different landmarks. One of them was the cemetery which was gorgeous & Doug said you absolutely have to come back. He gave us the option of getting off at the cemetery's aBoarding is at the Austin Visitor's Center which has free maps, magazines, & brochures - & some seriously adorable animal key chains, jewelry, & clothing. Highly recommend!

This was a fun little tour that took us through the city, through hill country with a few stops…read morethat included the library, the lake, and an overlook spot of the lake. Our tour guide was really nice and friendly. Our group consisted of just the three of us so it was essentially a private tour. It was in a comfortable enclosed van so we didn't have to worry about any of the outdoor elements. We got some history and insights of the city, a nice comfortable ride, and were able to get out and stretch our legs. If you prefer a more traditional tour, this is an excellent option.

Captain Sean was the BEST!! My experience was nothing shy of AMAZING! He was educated, experienced,…read morefunny as EVER!!! I had the best time!!

Three years later we are back and brought family visiting from out of town. The captain was great…read moreand very informative without it being boring. We were a group of 11 ranging from age 11 through 94 and everyone liked it. You can either park on the street for free or at the Hyatt. If you park at the Hyatt, Capital Cruises will give you a coupon so the What a fun experience!

This was a great thing to do and learn about while in Austin! The tour was very educational about…read morethe bats and how they established residence under this bridge. With about 750,000 pregnant females in a few days they'll be over 1,000,000+ bats. That's soooo crazy, but and absolutely great experience. Shout out to the staff for a great tour! Mahalo from Hawaii

My family of 3 did the sunset bat tour. It was a fun experience, but be prepared for a lot of…read moresitting on a crowded boat in the heat and humidity. We got there about 45 minutes before 8pm to get a good seat. The chairs are plastic lawn chairs and there is no restroom onboard. You can leave the boat if you need one at a nearby Hyatt hotel. There is also a restroom near Auditorium Shores, but it's kinda gross. It's also a good opportunity to walk and stretch your legs instead of waiting on the boat but leave something in your chairs to save your seat. They let you bring snacks and drinks and they also sell cold beverages. The first part of the tour involves cruising around the lake with the tour guide cracking jokes and giving some history about the structures nearby and bat facts before heading to congress bridge to wait for the bats to fly out. Seeing THOUSANDS of bats was definitely the highlight of the tour. They also used a bat safe red light, which allowed us to see them better in the dark. It wasn't a perfect experience, but the fair price, knowledgeable tour guides, and seeing the bats made it worthwhile. Definitely a good option for something to do if you're looking for something to entertain the kids or friends /family visiting from out of town.

I went on my second Twisted Tour this past weekend. I had previously attended the Brunch tour and…read moredecided to experience the Live Music tour this time. You can't go wrong with either option! Hanna and Kate were amazing, and they created a memorable evening for us.

Fun little jaunt on this unique tour, in which a colorfully outfitted (both inside and out) tour…read morebus picked our group up from the hotel, and drove first to one of Austin's most famed BBQ joints and then a cool local brewery. The bus is decked in twinkly lights and party regalia inside, and the best part? There's a full on three piece band crouched up front, instruments and all! The trio (guitar, drums, bass) regaled us with cover tunes and requests all along the way -- I still don't know how the drummer kept his rhythm on a swaying bus --- and a great time was had by all. Along the way a tour guide named Tex shouted out Austin trivia when the band took breaks, keeping us all engaged. If you're in a group that's visiting from out of town, it's not a bad way to check out Austin.

Hipside Peddler is such a FUN thing to do because it is not every day that we get to ride around…read moreAustin on an electric assisted bar on wheels, while sippin' on an alcoholic beverage that makes you feel a little bit prettier & blasting your favorite music so loud, that you think you're at the club!! ;)) Sounds fun, right?! :)) Trust me, you WILL for sure get points for creativity if you book a tour w/ Hipside Peddler to celebrate a special occasion. We booked the "Eastside tour" w/ Hipside Peddler on Saturday, 11/14/2020 to celebrate my friends 40th birthday & we had so much FUN! This was my 1st time so I had no idea what to expect but I can say that I am so glad that we were able to safely celebrate my friend's milestone birthday during this time of pandemic craziness. Since sharing is caring here are a few of my "Helpful Tips", "FYIs", & "Likes"... FYI: *You will be peddling the same way you would if riding a bike so be mindful of your foot wear & you will be getting a mini workout while peddling. *There are mini fans above each seat that you can turn on, if needed. *The peddle boat driver does have a plexiglass barrier between him & the passengers as a COVID safety precaution & the peddle boat itself is all open w/out any walls. *You can tip your peddling boat driver in cash & via Venmo. *The "Eastside" tour is 2 hours long & we made 3 separate stops at different local bars for 15-20 mins each so you can use the restroom, cool off, take a few pictures w/ your peeps and/or buy a drink while relaxing at each bar. Our awesome peddle boat driver was Matt & he also made a 4th stop at an Italian ice truck. *Each passenger must submit a liability waiver & you can do it electronically. Once your tour has been booked, you will get the waiver emailed to you. Helpful Tip(s): *BEVERAGES~I recommend that you bring your own ice chest already filled w/ ice & beverages (no glass containers are allowed) & there is an open area in the middle of the peddle boat for ice chest storage. *FOOD~only snacks are allowed & I suggest you bring snacks that are easy to munch on since you will be peddling while eating them. ( ex: mini bags of pretzels, individually wrapped cookies) *MUSIC~The peddle boat does have a stereo system that is very loud & has a usb that you can connect your phone to for music. I highly recommend that you create a music playlist of songs that help set the vibe that you're going for. I made a playlist using Spotify of all the songs I wanted to play. Lastly, I just wanted to give a huge shout out to Matt, who was our p.d driver because he really did a GREAT job of explaining "all things peddle boat" :) & putting us at ease so we could fully enjoy ourselves. This was so appreciated because each of us were newbie peddle boat passengers. Stay AWESOME Hipside Peddler & for sure I'll be seeing you again very soon! ~Rebecca out

Hipside Peddler was way more fun than anticipated! I went on the East Side Ride with a group of…read morefriends and Max really took care of us. He was very personable, patient and flexible with how we spent the allotted time. It was a great outing and a very different experience! On the evening I went it was just our smaller group on the tour so we had full control of the jams, cooler and schedule. We definitely held up traffic a bit when on some of the main roads but the motorists and bystanders we came across waved and cheered us on. Thankfully there is a motor on board so it's not necessary to be fully exerting yourself peddling. Recommend for a fun activity. Ask for Max!

We went on the Ghost Tour led by Will this Valentine's night and it was incredible! My wife and I…read moreare both native Austinites but we still learned some new things from Will. He is a very entertaining guide too and brings lots of visuals and personal stories too. The Ghost Tour is probably the best I've been in in town and is also the best priced. Please try one Walking Tours of Austin's tour if you haven't already, they're awesome!

I went on a ghost tour it was a fun way to see different places in Austin plus some of the history…read more The tour started at the speakeasy bar and went to a few parts in town. Fun stories and a good activity for the evening. Spooky stuff happened! You can easily book everything online.