Austin Meeting Planner Guide 2008-2009 - (Page 68) GrouP tour PLANNING 68 Music tours Austin’s music roots run deep, and no trip would be complete without sampling some live music. On any given evening, nearly 200 venues feature live music of all types — jazz, blues, country, Latino, classical, folk and rock. The Austin City Limits Studio Tour allows you to walk in the footsteps of legendary musicians, such as Willie Nelson, who have graced the stage since 1976. The Sixth Street and Warehouse districts feature a majority of the music hot spots, but nightclubs aren’t the only places to feel the beat. Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake is the site of the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial and numerous outdoor musical events. Zilker Park is the place to be for summertime’s Blues on the Green, Zilker Hillside Theater Productions and the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. Wildflower and Garden tours Before you know it, spring is in the air, wildflowers blanket the landscape and Austin is in full bloom. Among the attractions to help get you on the road to Texas wildflowers and Hill Country gardens are: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Mayfield Park & Preserve, Hill Country Wildflower Trail and Wildseed Farms (Fredericksburg). Check the Hill Country section of our website for additional information at www.austintexas.org. Spring wildflowers brighten Austin's gardens and make Hill Country driving a picturesque experience. Photography: ©Weaver Multimedia Group/Denise Chambers, ©Long Center Day trips Worth the Drive tHe nortHern LooP The northern loop features visits to Marble Falls, Burnet, Georgetown and Round Rock. (Total distance is approximately 125 miles. If seeing all cities in loop, the suggested allowance is 6 to 8 hours with stops.) Trip begins south of Austin by heading northwest on State Highway 71 until you reach US Highway 281. From there, go north on 281 for five miles until you enter the town of Marble Falls. Marble Falls A quintessential Hill Country town, Marble Falls retains its rural charm while still providing many upscale pleasures. West of town sits Granite Mountain, a huge dome of pink and red granite from which the Texas State Capitol was constructed. Lakes Marble Falls, Travis, Buchanan, Inks and LBJ surround the area with plenty of water for fishing, boating, and skiing. Bluebonnets and other wildflowers bloom in the spring and the town hosts several award-winning restaurants. The Horseshoe Bay Resort offers excellent golf and an outstanding destination resort. Stop by one of the several popular local vineyards for wine tastings. Continue north on Highway 281 from Marble Falls to Burnet. austin convention & visitors bureau http://www.austintexas.org
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