Austin Meeting Planner & Destination Guide 2008

GROUP TOUR PLANNING 70 Day Trips Worth the Drive Bastrop (30 miles) Georgetown (30 miles) One of the area’s most beautiful and oldest settlements, Bastrop bears more resemblance to the Deep South than Central Texas. Grand antebellum mansions, towering pine trees, more than 125 structures on the National Register of Historic Places and Bastrop State Park add to the ambiance. The area’s newest destination is Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. Boerne Although rapidly becoming a suburb of Austin, Georgetown still exists as a separate town in its own right to provide visitors with the best of both worlds. The town centers around a historic courthouse surrounded by a Victorian-style town square, restored as one of the nation’s first “Main Street” cities. Attractions include specialty and antique shops, Southwestern University, Lake Georgetown and Inner Space Cavern. (88 miles) Named after Ludwig Börne, a German poet and publicist, the town of Boerne is home to more than 140 historical structures that tell stories of its past. Ye Kendall Inn, a former stagecoach stop, is now a popular lodging option, and the Boerne Public Library houses a bible written in low German, one of only a few in the world. Historical structures, unique coffee shops and antique stores line the streets. Outdoor adventurers can saddle-up at Enchanted Springs Ranch, an 86-acre working ranch with a cast of Western characters and exotic animals. And just outside of town is the Cave Without a Name, a natural cavern with amazing geological formations. Gruene (45 miles) Founded in the 1870s, Gruene (pronounced “green”) reflects pure Texas. Nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River, the former ghost town is listed as a National Historic District and is home to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas. Stroll through charming shops and galleries, the famous Grist Mill Restaurant and Gruene Mansion. For more adventures, float the Guadalupe River. Johnson City (45 miles) Burnet (55 miles) Nestled amid the Highland Lakes is the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas. It is also home to Canyon of the Eagles, a 940-acre park that serves as winter nesting ground for the American bald eagle. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Buchanan’s limestone cliffs on the Vanishing Texas River cruise and tour Fall Creek Vineyards at Tow. Longhorn Cavern dates back more than a million years and once housed a hideout for outlaw Sam Bass and a Prohibition-era speakeasy. The hometown of President Lyndon Baines Johnson chronicles his life at the Johnson Boyhood Home, schoolhouse and family ranch that served as the “Texas White House” during his presidency. Tours of the ranch, located in the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park at Stonewall, begin on the half hour. At the nearby LBJ State Park, the Sauer-Beckman Farmstead relives rural life in the early 1900s with living history demonstrations and historic farm buildings. Kerrville (100 miles) Fredericksburg (80 miles) One of the most popular Hill Country towns, this little slice of Germany is a mecca for shopping and dining. Antique shops, specialty stores and cafes line the picturesque main street. The National Museum of the Pacific War pays tribute to the Pacific battles of World War II and local war hero Admiral Chester Nimitz. Nearby, Enchanted Rock is the second-highest granite dome in North America and a favorite spot for hiking and rock climbing. In summer, orchards overflow with sweet peaches. Cowboys and culture come together in this idyllic town. Long regarded as a health and recreation paradise, Kerrville is touted as having one of the nation’s most ideal climates. Culture abounds here, particularly around Memorial Day during the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Texas State Arts & Crafts Fair. The National Center for American Western Art exhibits one of the country’s premier collections of cowboy art. At the YO Ranch, deer and antelope play on one of the Southwest’s largest exotic game preserves. Luckenbach (75 miles) Known the world over, Luckenbach remains just as it has for most of this century — an unpainted general store that doubles as a post office, beer joint and dance hall. The tiny hamlet that Willie, Waylon and the boys made famous comes to life on weekends with banjo pickers, guitar players and fiddlers gathering for impromptu music beneath the live oaks. Head east on U.S. 290 from Fredericksburg, then south five miles off FM 1376 and don’t blink. Left: Glassblower at Wimberley Glassworks. ©Weaver/Denise Chambers 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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