Austin Meeting Planner & Destination Guide 2008

GROUP TOUR PLANNING Family Reunions Just a short drive from any part of the state and a convenient plane ride from major hubs across the United States, Austin is an ideal gathering spot for your next family reunion. If an outdoor setting suits your family, Zilker Park, Lake Travis area parks or McKinney Falls State Park are among the many possibilities. For those who prefer indoor venues, a variety of museums, galleries and special event facilities are available. History buffs enjoy free, guided tours of local historic areas, including the Texas State Capitol and Texas State Cemetery. After a full day, Austin’s nightlife swings into action, providing the perfect setting for adults in your group to partake of the city’s famous live music scene. From hotels, resorts and B&Bs to unique reunion facilities, Austin has the perfect venue to accommodate your family gathering. Unique plant species thrive at Hamilton Pool and Westcave Preserve. Austin’s Bat Conservation International offers special Mexican freetailed bat viewing programs at both the Congress Avenue Bridge and the Bracken Bat Cave in the Texas Hill Country. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center conducts tours and gardening demonstrations year-round and is an ideal place to see Texas wildflowers in the spring and fall. Several area parks offer hiking, biking, kayaking, boating and even windsurfing excursions Student Tours Whether your student group is broadening its musical scope, learning about history, exploring nature or simply having a good time, Austin is an ideal destination. Republic Square Park, the Texas State Capitol and Riverbend Centre are a few of the unique performance venues available. The University of Texas, St. Edward’s University, Austin Lyric Opera and Austin Symphony Orchestra offer behind-the-scenes educational programs and clinics. For a break from the rigors of education, take a dip in the refreshing waters at Barton Springs Pool, enjoy a day trip to Schlitterbahn — the world’s largest water park — or head to Austin’s Park for laser tag, miniature golf and tons of fun. Eco-Tours Austin’s geological history has left the area with cave formations, breathtaking hills and ecological treasures. The diverse geology provides plentiful recreation opportunities as well as idyllic refuges for flora and fauna. Thanks to the mild weather, enthusiasts can take advantage of activities at more than 200 parks and preserves in the Austin area year-round. Whether on the lookout for the goldencheeked warbler and black-capped vireo at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge or bald eagles at Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park, the Hill Country makes for prime bird watching. Students can view politics in action at the Texas State Capitol or learn all there is to know about Texas at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. A trip to Austin wouldn’t be complete without touring the University of Texas. The University takes pride in the new Blanton Museum of Art, one of the nation’s top university art museums, and the Harry Ransom Center, which houses many of the world’s greatest treasures, including one of only five complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible in the western hemisphere. Texas Memorial Museum features geology and paleontology displays, including a working paleontologist and a 3-D visualization theater that actually lets you fly through fossils. Top Center: Starlight Terrace at the Oasis. Center Left: George Washington Carver Museum. Bottom Left: Kayak near Lady Bird Lake. Opposite Left: Live music at Stubb’s. Opposite Right: Zilker Botanical Gardens. ©Weaver/Andrea Golod, ©Weaver/Denise Chambers, ©Weaver/Denise Chambers, ©Weaver/Denise Chambers, ©Weaver/Denise Chambers. 68 AUSTIN CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

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Austin Meeting Planner & Destination Guide 2008 Contents Austin At Your Service Convention Facilities Convention Hotels & Local Accommodations Convention Services Group Tour Planning Banquet & Special Event Facilities Dining & Nightlife Attractions & Activities Transportation

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