This marker is located not far from the El Arroyo restaurant and there is street parking nearby. It…read morepoints out some of the local history from after the Civil War, of which Texas did participate. The marker reads, "The Confederate men's home began in 1884 as a project of the John B. Hood Camp of United Confederate Veterans and was intended as a residence for disabled and indigent Confederate veterans. Potential residents were required to prove that they had served honorably in the Civil War, that they had a disability that prevented them from supporting themselves, and that they did not suffer from any contagious diseases." "The Albert Sidney Johnston Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy led fundraising efforts for the home. In 1886, the John B. Hood Camp purchased sixteen acres with a two-story building at 1600 West Sixth Street, and the Confederate Men's Home opened later that year. The home was operated by the Veterans' Camp with funding from public contributions until 1891, when oversight was assumed by the state of Texas. The State Legislature established the Board of Control to operate the home in 1920, and then in 1949, responsibility was transferred to the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools. The site eventually grew to twenty-six acres and included a large administration building, living quarters, a hospital and private cottages." "From the time of its inception until the death of the last resident veteran in 1954, more than 2,000 Confederate veterans were admitted to the home. During the mid-twentieth century, the scope of the home shifted to include disabled veterans of the Spanish-American War and World War I, as well as mental health patients. The home operated until 1963, when residents were transferred to Kerrville, and the site's buildings were razed in 1970." [Review 17396 overall - 411 in Texas - 914 of 2022.]

Austin is a freaking AMAZING city. Straight up foodie heaven…read morewith something happening at all hours. This place does not sleep... and I love that for us. It's social, active, and full of vibey people. Big city energy but you've got everything--lakes, hills, country drives, wineries, even that little German-town feel nearby. There's literally something for everyone and always something going on. Late nights? Covered. No "we close at 7pm" energy here Fun fact: Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World with live shows happening all over the city every single night . Oh--and it used to be called Waterloo before becoming the capital of Texas in 1839 . Yeah... I get the hype.

This was my 2nd time visiting the City of Austin but first time staying in downtown. The downtown…read moreis conveniently near so many good restaurants, bars, coffee shops, Lady Bird Lake, etc. [Per the internet] KEY AREAS OF ATTRACTION: 6th Street: Famous for its high-energy bars, live music venues, and historic buildings. Congress Avenue: The city's historic main street, featuring the State Capitol and the Driskill Hotel. 2nd Street District: A shopping area with boutiques, national retailers, and local favorites. Lady Bird Lake: Offers trails, kayaking, and scenic views, forming the southern boundary of downtown. Republic Square: A park that hosts the SFC Farmers Market on Saturdays.

Yelp asked me, "How was Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge?" and I thought to myself, "You know what? It was…read morelovely and I shall tell the people!" It's not just a way to get across the Colorado River (a.k.a. Town Lake or Ladybird Lake), it's a destination all to itself, with views for miles, interesting characters, live entertainment, and multiple features to delight urban architecture nerds. If you've never been, add this to your Austin bucket list, stat. Before the ADA-compliant, vehicle-free PPB opened in 2001, runners and walkers had to scurry for their lives on the skinny, unprotected sidewalks bordering the Lamar Bridge. Believe me when I tell you it was NOT a pleasure, so if you needed to get across with your life, your other options were to go a couple of miles west to the shaded pedestrian bridge under Mopac or go another mile east to the protected walkways of South 1st Bridge. In fact, the PPB is named after James D. Pfluger, a local architect who designed much of our beloved downtown hike & bike trail and was killed by a car while walking across the Lamar Bridge. These days, locals and visitors can safely pass over the water between Riverside Drive and Electric Drive (near the Seaholm District with Trader Joe's and the Central Library), whether on foot or non-powered wheels, while taking in magnificent views of downtown, the graffiti'd rail bridge, the lake, and the hill country. There are memorial benches and sturdy railings for rest, waste & recycle bins, planters with seasonal vegetation, and if you visit at the right time, you'll likely get to hear some of why Austin is called "Live Music Capital of the World" for free, or with just a few coins in the tip jar. Sometimes, vendors are there with water and other cool treats for a hot day. Headed toward the north side of the bridge, you're faced with a few choices: take the left fork all the way to Electric Drive, take the right fork and the stairs to the trail on the north shore of the lake, or take the right fork to the curly-queue that winds down to the trail (best for bikes, strollers, and skaters). Once you hit the trail, you can also choose to trigger the crossing signal and walk across Cesar Chavez to join the concrete Lance Armstrong bike path east toward the beautiful Austin Central Library. Or even better, keep running west to Mopac, circle under, and come back to make a full 5k (3.1 mile) loop. As a runner, I have countless great memories of crossing PBB with friends, whether starting an evening social run from The Loop Running Company on Sandra Muraida Way, or cutting over during an early Saturday morning long run with ATX Runners. I've seen the views and experienced the variety of crowd densities at dawn, midday, dusk, and late-night, each time with its own ambiance. If you find yourself in this part of downtown, it's a great place to stop and take it all in. This is one of those spots that remind me why I still live in Austin after all these years.

Clean and spacious bridge with phenomenal views!! Close to downtown, parks, and hiking/biking…read moretrails!! The perfect place to stroll with family, friends, or pets!

This is where you stop at the Capitol for tour information…read more Helpful and friendly folks to provide answers to any questions on self-guided tours (free). This is the starting point for touring the Capitol and also the starting point for guided tours. Those tours are also free. Located in the General Land Office Building. Gift shop is here too.

We are doing a nationwide tour of taking pics in front of every capitol building and i must say…read moreTexas has been the most grand so far

The Pennybacker Bridge, also known as 360 Bridge, is one of Austin's most notable landmarks and a…read morerequired stop for anyone visiting or living in Austin, TX. The bridge is located at Lake Austin along Loop 360 (the Capital of Texas Highway), the bridge combines a unique structure with sweeping Hill Country views. It is simple in structure yet spectacular when combined with the Lake Austin water views, which never gets old. Today we simply wanted to be one with nature. What a fanatstic starting point! No matter what you call the bridge, one thing that is certain is that you will likely admire the architecture of the rust-colored steel arch design. That weathered looks allows the bridge to easily blend in with the rolling hills and Lake Austin. It is an equally visually appealing structure whether you are driving across it or admiring it from afar. Parking is very limited along Capitol of Texas highway. What spectacular way to start your morning or end your evening!

A quintessential barely-a-hike excursion that is a must-see if in Austin, especially if its your…read morefirst time in the city. Despite it not being my first time here, I always enjoy coming here and taking friends who haven't been. Hiked up here in chanclas and a maxi skirt, so anyone can do this as its only a 0.5 mi hike, super chill. The view is gorgeous, you have the Pennybacker overlooking the river. Not quite as spacious on the trail or as shaded as Mt. Bonnell, but still very much worth a visit as it doesn't take much time at all to take in the views and then descend. There's limited parking at the bottom but there's a stoplight prior to this area so it wasn't hard to enter or exit prior to oncoming traffic.

Buda, Texas, (in Texas, pronounced "Bew dah") is the quintessential small town as well as…read morefast-growing Texas city. Buda highlights itself as the "Outdoor Capital of Texas." Buda has scenic parks, walking trails, and different signature community events. One of Buda's key strengths is its location...along the Austin and San Antonio, TX corridor. Residents can enjoy big-city activities, as applicable, while benefiting from a slower pace and more affordable lifestyle. Many residents live in Buda and travel back and forth for work to either Austin or San Antonio, TX. The city also highlights its historic area filled with local shops and restaurants. The hubs and I tooled around Buda playing tourist, one of the things we do from time to time. We were pleasantly surprised to see how Buda has grown, It was great exploration of this charming small town.

We visit Buda all the time to drop off donations for the wonderful rescue shelter folks who saved…read moreour dog Benji's life. It is a cute little historic town that really holds onto its late 1800s roots. I like walking around the downtown square, which is packed with local businesses, antique shops, and places to eat. It has such a welcoming, small-town community vibe that makes spending a relaxed afternoon supporting the local shops totally worth it.

Cedar Park is a great spot when you want a break from the busy Austin crowds. It has a really…read morelaid-back, suburban feel but still offers plenty to do. The trails around Brushy Creek are fantastic and super dog-friendly--it's the perfect area to take Benjamin for a long afternoon walk. There are also some solid local bakeries and casual spots to grab a bite. It's clean, easy to navigate, and just a relaxed, easygoing place to spend the day.

I like Cedar Park, such a nice community, with large parks and dog friendly areas. I just moved…read moreclose to the area and I'm slowly driving around this town and getting to know it a little better. A few shops here that I really like and go to often. Hope to learn more and possibly move here soon

The University of Texas at Austin tower (UT Tower) sits at the center of the University of Texas at…read moreAustin. Every path seemingly leads toward the Tower. The UT Tower was completed 1937 (307 feet tall). The Tower has long been the visual focal point of UT since I can remember...generational link between students, faculty, alumni and visitors. The inscription across the front state, "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." I remember being on campus when the Tower rang for the first time...it's distinctive...it's memorable. It commands attention. The first time I heard the UT Tower clock ring, I immediately stopped. Also, it is absolutely nothing like experiencing the UT Tower lit up in orange after UT wins an athletic game. For students, the burnt orange glow becomes an emotional symbol for unity (one student body...one unified purpose), achievement (game won) and pride (as a student you can walk by another UT student and nod to them...each knows what it means). The UT Tower was originally constructed to house the university's central library stacks. Today, it is a working building filled with administrative offices and specialized collections. Unfortunately, the tower also represents an unpleasant memory. The University of Texas Tower shooting occurred on August1,1966, when a gunman fired from the observation deck of the UT Tower onto the campus below killing 15 people on campus and injured many others. UT survived this horrific incident and bonded even more so as a community. UT Austin is undergoing a multi year, $70 million restoration project to preserve and renew the Tower. While the UT Tower is built from materials, for me, it will always be a symbol of pride and hope.

While there was some construction around the UT Tower we were able to get close enough to it to get…read moresome good pictures we also learned the history of the building and the tragic mass shooting in 1966 when we took the city bus tour a few days before. The building is very impressive and really stands out on the campus. I imagine decades ago it would be more visible at other vantage points but even when I was in Austin about twenty years ago for the first time it didn't seem nearly as built up as when we were here on our latest visit and I do realize I have heard all sorts of comments that Austin is a city growing in leaps in bounds ( or was several years ago, pre-covid) but with all of the new buildings the UT Tower may be just a tad more obscured than it may once have been. Anyway I definitely recommend taking a look at it as it is a slice of Austin history.