Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEWARE OF THE GODDESS
She stood atop the Texas State Capitol for nearly 100 years, a star in one hand, a sword in the other. When the
Goddess of Liberty
was removed from her perch and lowered by helicopter as part of a capitol restoration pro-
ject in 1985, no one had seen her up close since 1888. And, well,
wow
. How to put this? She was not a handsome
woman.
Not only was she badly weathered, she was just drop-dead ugly, with hideously exaggerated features meant to
be appreciated from 300ft below. She was also 16ft tall, so no one had the nerve to tell her. After making a cast
for her replacement, they restored her to her former, er, beauty and put her on display at the Bob Bullock Texas
State History Museum (
Click here
), where you can have a face-to-face with the woman people for decades could
only admire from afar.
Boat Tours
GOOGLE MAP
( 512-327-1388;
www.lonestarriverboat.com
; adult/senior/child 2-12yr $10/8/7)
runs one-hour
cruises on its double-decker paddle-wheel riverboat at 3pm each Saturday and Sunday,
March through October. The company also offers nightly sunset bat-watching trips on its
32ft electric cruiser from March through October. See its website for parking tips.
www.capitalcruises.com
; adult/child/senior $10/5/8)
offers competitively priced lake excursions and
bat-watching trips that depart from a dock near the Hyatt at 208 Barton Springs Rd.
Austin Duck Adventures
( 512-477-5274;
www.austinducks.com
; adult/3-12yr/senior & student $26/16/24;
check website for schedule)
utilizes amphibious British Alvis Stalwarts, which start at the
Visitors Center, parade around the state capitol, roll down Congress Ave and 6th St, then
splash into Lake Austin. Tour guides provide a few entertaining historical tidbits along the
way.
Driving Tours
For an interesting alternative to your stereotypical, run-of-the-mill bus and van tours, try
Texpert Tours
( 512-383-8989;
www.texperttours.com
;
per hour $80)
, led by affable public-radio host
Howie Richey (aka the 'Texas Back Roads Scholar'). Historical anecdotes, natural history
and environmental tips are all part of the educational experience. A three-hour tour of
central Austin takes visitors to the state capitol, the Governor's Mansion and the top of Mt
Bonnell.
Train Tours
