Austin: Attractions

New Works introduces fresh and contemporary art by local artists. Jade Walker transforms fabric and found objects into abstract natural forms that evoke the human body. Her installation Spectator Sport explores ideas about sports, gender, pain, and power. New Works

Artist Talk Thursday, January, 21 7 pm Jade Walker talks about the inspiration and process for making her installation Spectator Sport.

• Like all art, the posters of Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee, are designed to stop us in our tracks, draw us in for a closer look, and make us pause for a moment of reflection. Pure artistry and masterful composition are what make Hatch posters part of the story of American art and culture. Snappy graphics, punchy titles, humor, and irony are what make them irresistible.
• Hatch Show Print, founded in 1879, is still a working letterpress and design shop, creating posters today using the same letterpress methods as yesterday. The technology at this Nashville institutions has never changed, only the faces of the customers: from Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello, Buddy Guy to Bruce Springsteen, Etta James to Emmylou Harris, the Carter Family to Coldplay. While Hatch’s name is synonymous with the music business, its posters promoting football games, vaudeville shows, state fairs, stock car races, and picture shows reflect the breadth of American popular culture. American Letterpress: The Art of the Hatch Show Print illustrates the fascinating fusion of art with popular culture and music history. This visually compelling exhibition includes approximately 120 original posters (including authorized restrikes from vintage block and contemporary restrikes), 20 hard-carved wooden printing blocks, text panels and labels.

Printmaking Madness with Drive By Press!

Make your very own letterpress print using woodblocks and a hands-on letterpress machine with travelling printmakers Drive By Press. Be inspired by the art and music posters in American Letterpress: The Art of the Hatch Show Print, then drop into the Community Room and create!

$7 for the whole family; $5 member families To give an idea of materials needed, please RSVP to akichorowsky@amoa.org if you plan on attending.

Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Repeat on the second Saturday of the month until 12/01/2010 This event does not require an RSVP. Registered users can request event reminders.

We specialize in providing Austin in 90 Minutes —

A narrated Austin sightseeing tour that familiarizes you with over 30 of Austin's major historical, cultural, significant points of interest in just 90 minutes! This daily scheduled tour with satellite activated narration gives you a comprehensive overview of our great city. Tour departs from the Austin Visitor Information Center at 209 E. Sixth Street in downtown Austin.

Call (512) 659-9478 for reservations and information or register online

Attractions Fun All Day Rain or Shine! Enjoy Austin’s Park attractions outside on more than 22 acres and inside with more than 50,000 square feet of indoor entertainment

Monday- Thursday 3:00 - 9:00PM

Friday 3PM - 10PM

Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00PM

Sunday 11:00AM - 8:00PM

Play all day for one low price

UNLIMITED FOOD AND RIDES One low admission price gives you all-day access to most attractions. Pay just $22.95 to play all day. 40" - 43" Pay only $7.95. Kids under 40” are free! Special military and student discounts available on select days.

Laser Tag, Rock climbing wall, Video Arcade, Go Carts, Miniature golf, Bumper boats, Batting cages, Little shot, Tea Cups, Jr.Go-Carts, Paint Ball Range

Goya's Prints: The Dawn of Modern Art November 28, 2009 - March 7, 2010

 Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes Well-Known Folly from Los Proverbios, circa 1816-24 Etching and burnished aquatint Jack S. Blanton Curatorial Endowment Fund, 2007 Modern art is often said to begin not just with Goya's art, but with his prints in particular. The Blanton possesses some thirty impressions, representing each of the artist's major series in states and editions from the earliest to latest. They include several great rarities, like El Embozado, probably left unfinished at his death, and recent acquisitions, like a brilliant proof impression from his visionary series, Los Proverbios. This exhibition will unite these works for the first time, providing an opportunity both to appreciate his genius and to assess relative quality in his etchings.

he Sleep of Reason: Goya's Influence in Spanish America November 28, 2009-March 7, 2010

Ernesto Deira Untitled, 1966 Ink on paper Gift of Barbara Duncan, 1974 The nineteenth-century Spanish artist Fracisco Goya, with his disquieting depictions of violence and corruption and his mastery of graphic techniques, inspired many twentieth-century artists of Spanish America. The stark style and unflinching approach to reality in Goya's prints provided a model for artists wishing to convey the darker aspects of modern life. Spanish American artists felt a sense of cultural affinity for Goya and drew from his example in depicting subjects such as warfare, madness, and alienation. This selection of drawings and prints from the Blanton's permanent collection features works by artists who were inspired by Goya, including José Luis Cuevas (Mexico), Ernesto Deira (Argentina), Armando Morales (Nicaragua), and Augusto Rendón (Colombia), among others. It complements the exhibition Goya: The Dawn of Modern Art, shown concurrently in the European print galleries.

BEST PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY -Austin Family Magazine 2006 Thanks Austin!

Stop by any time we're open to play a game in our 3-story, 10,000-sq-ft arena - the largest in Texas.

 Laser tag games are 20 minutes long and start every 20 minutes. Or you can make a reservation for a corporate outing, church lock-in or birthday party! We also have a High-Tech Video Arcade, Snack Bar, and Austin's best Party Rooms!

REGULAR HOURS:

Monday 4 pm - 10 pm

Tuesday Closed for Private Events

Wednesday Closed for Private Events

Thursday 4 pm - 10 pm

 Friday 4 pm - Midnight

 Saturday 10 am - Midnight

 Sunday 11 am - 10 pm

 Games run every 20 minutes on the hour and up to 57 people can play in each game! PRICES w/ a Membership!

AVATAR: An IMAX 3D Experience is now playing in the IMAX Theatre. Experience this groundbreaking epic as it was meant to be seen -- in 3D and on the biggest screen in Texas. Due to high demand, it is recommended that guests plan their visit and purchase tickets 24 - 48 hours in advance. Get tickets and showtimes...

 The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum features Austin's only IMAX Theatre. This 400-seat, state-of-the-art theatre uses innovative IMAX technology to create the ultimate film experience. Unlike many IMAX theatres, ours is equipped with an IMAX projector that has both 2-D and 3-D capabilities.

 The Theatre can also show special films on a movie-quality 35mm projector. The IMAX Theatre is a fully accessible facility. With its own separate entrance, the Theatre is able to operate independently of the Museum and remains open in the evenings, with extended hours on weekends. The IMAX Theatre Lobby is a distinctive, dramatic space with a carpet pattern that incorporates native Texas flora in the design. Both the Lobby and the Theatre can be rented for special events.

 There is no late seating in the IMAX Theatre. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled show time.

On the first floor, The Story of Texas begins before this land was called Texas. It is a story of Encounters on the Land, of first meetings between Native Americans and explorers from Europe. Find out about the many native peoples who lived on this diverse landscape. What did the Spanish find here? What were the French doing? What did the Native American leaders think of these newcomers?

You will hear their words, see the objects that reflect their lives and have a sense of the environment where these encounters took place. Learn about the early missions, settlers and soldiers. Why did the Comanche, the Spanish, and the American and European immigrants come to Texas? The story continues through 1900 when the last unexplored region in Texas, the Big Bend area, was finally mapped.

On the second floor, explore the story of how Texas became an independent nation in Building the Lone Star Identity. From his jail cell in Mexico City, hear Stephen F. Austin's own words that herald the coming of the Texas Revolution.

 Experience the battles of the Revolution through the eyes of Juan Seguin, a Tejano military and political leader. Understand the different visions of Sam Houston and Mirabeau Lamar, both Presidents of the Republic of Texas. Follow Texas as it became the 28th state, then seceded from the Union, joined the Confederacy and fought in the Civil War, and shaped a new future that included freedom for all Texans. Discover how Texas grew into the 20th Century and celebrated its unique identity during the 1936 Centennial -- 100 years after Texas independence.

 See a giant time line of Texas history unfold on a 60-foot video wall, with interactive stations where you can learn more details about many important events in Texas history.

On the third floor you can see how Texans have persevered on the land and how they approached everything from drilling oil to redefining world technology.

Creating Opportunity explores the important role of ranching in Texas; how Texans have adapted to the diverse conditions of the land to prosper on it; and how oil changed Texas. Through recreated environments, interactive media produced by Pyramid Studios, and actual artifacts, you will learn how Texas-led explorations in the 20th Century frontiers of space, medicine and technology have impacted the entire world.

Take a seat in the "Oil Tank Theater" as native Texan Walter Cronkite narrates a media presentation exploring the impact of oil on Texas, and of Texas oil on the world. See why Texas was the place where America's military learned to fly. Hear and see Texas legends in music and sports, and join in an interactive experience in the "Connecting Texas Theater" to learn how the histories of key Texas cities pysically and culturally link the state together.

Capital Cruises' internationally famous bat watching excursion departs nightly approximately 30 minutes before sunset.

 The Congress Avenue Bridge is the home of the largest urban bat colony in North America. Our cruises provide the best possible viewing for one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the world!

Bat viewing is available on a public tour ($8.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors & $5.00 for kids 4 to 12) or you can customize your own excursion with dinner, cocktails, entertainment and more (please see dinner cruise and party boat pricing for rates)

Reservations are highly recommended for this very popular Austin experience!

Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner cruise for two on a private "gondola-like" electric launch or a group dinner cruise for your office, family or friends, Capital Cruises has a great selection of boats and dinner options to suit your wishes and your budget.

Catering is provided by the Hyatt and includes the Hyatt's famous fajitas, Barbecue, Grilled Chicken Pasta and Shrimp Pasta or we can customize an event for any group size and budget. Beverage service, snacks, entertainment, team building and more are also available.

Rates will vary from $26.99 to $80.99 per person depending on options selected

Public Valentines Cruises Come

join us for our Valentine's Day special! Options include a romantic candle light dinner on our flagship vessel, the Pride and Joy, with the Hyatt's famous fajitas, cheesecake, and complimentary wine while it lasts.

 Two departure times of 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm are available. Reservations are required. Private cruises for 2 or more are still available by reservation. Contact us for details. 

Wild Cave Tour (3 ½ to 4 hours) Must be 13 years of age and older. Any person under the age of 18 must have signed parental consent. All Wild Cave Tours are done by reservation on Saturday's only. We require a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 per tour.

Explorer Tour (Special extended tour lasting 1 hour & 35 minutes). The Explorer Tour will normally depart at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM on the weekends. During the weekdays, please call (512) 931-2283 for Explorer Tour times (scheduled departures may vary due to reserved school tours).

Adventure Tour

 Standard 1 hour 15 min tour

Operation: Open 7 days a week except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

 Summer Hours: Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day weekend open 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Off Season Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM & Weekends 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Details: Tours leave at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00. The tour lasts approximately 1 and 1/2 hours. The trip is 1 and 1/2 miles underground. Reservations are not necessary. Groups of 20 or more can call for discount rates. For more information go to our website at www.longhorncaverns.com

- Our modern Presidents received educations and participated in school activities in ways as diverse as their backgrounds and political philosophies.

 Through the records of the presidential libraries - archival material, museum objects, photographs, and audio-visual recordings - "School House to White House" gives visitors a new perspective on the presidency. The exhibit, prepared by the National Archives and Records Administration, charts the educational experiences of our Presidents from Herbert Hoover to Bill Clinton.

Whether in private school or public, whether growing up in a small town or a large city, each of our modern Presidents experienced a unique education that prepared him for leadership in the highest elected office in the land. Lyndon Johnson

Open daily 11:00am to 11:00pm

Museum Admission: $4 Adults, $2 Kids under 12 As always, it's absolutely FREE to enter the Lucky Lizard gift shop!

The Gutenberg Bible is the first substantial book printed from movable type on a printing press. It was printed in Johann Gutenberg's shop in Mainz, Germany between 1450 and 1455. The Ransom Center holds one of five complete copies in the United States.

February 9 - August 1, 2010

This exhibition will feature materials from the Ransom Center's extensive film holdings. Highlights include glamour photographs of iconic Hollywood stars; storyboards and costumes from Gone with the Wind, including Scarlett's curtain dress; Gloria Swanson's annotated script for Sunset Boulevard; and the costumes of actor, director, and producer Robert De Niro. This one-of-a-kind exhibition will offer visitors a history of cinematography seen through the Ransom Center's film collection, which includes the archive of David O. Selznick; more than 10,000 scripts for film, television, and radio; 15,000 posters and lobby cards; and over a million photographs including film stills, portrait and publicity photographs, set and location reference stills, and makeup and wardrobe stills.

¡Viva! Mexico's Independence

February 9 - August 1, 2010

The Harry Ransom Center, a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin, will present the exhibition "¡Viva! Mexico's Independence," showcasing items from the center's holdings that relate to the history of Spain's original conquest of Mexico, Mexico's independence from Spain and subsequent revolutionary activities within Mexico.

Hours 10AM - 7PM

Last tube rented at 5:30PM

Last pick up at Dam is 6:45

Winged Wonders Insects are the first organisms on Earth that took to the air – about 310 million years ago! They remain one of only three extant groups of flying animals (along with bats and birds).

The characteristics of insect flight are remarkable and still far superior to any attempts made by humans to replicate their capabilities. During the Permian Period (290 million years ago to 248 million years ago), the ancestors to dragonflies were the only aerial predators. Some had wing spans of nearly 30 inches, but otherwise looked very similar to their modern day counterparts.

 Insects also display a wide variety of colors and have evolved several ways of generating the colors we see. Some use pigments, while many others use microscopic structural differences in the exoskeleton to produce a spectrum of colors.

 Come see the diversity of wings and colors in insects and learn how flight has played a key role in the success of the most dominant group of animals on the planet.

We won Best Museum in Austin for Children in Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Awards! Thank you for your support!

Texas Memorial Museum is the exhibit hall of the Texas Natural Science Center. It is located at 2400 Trinity Street, on The University of Texas at Austin campus, in Austin, Texas.

 Museum hours: Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm; Saturday, 10 am–5 pm; Sunday, 1–5 pm. Admission is FREE! The Museum is closed on major holidays.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 10 am–2 pm Location: Texas Memorial Museum Join TNSC on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 10 am until 2 pm for Darwin Day—a free, family-friendly event celebrating the 201st anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 151st anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.

Family Fossil Fun Day

Explore the amazing world of fossils with us on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from 1–5 pm. Fossil identifications, hands-on presentations by paleontologists, storytime, fossil dig pit, and paleo-themed crafts and activities. Free admission and free activities. This event is held annually.

The Texas Military Forces Museum is located in Building 6 on Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. The street address is 2200 West 35th Street, just west of Loop 1 (MOPAC Blvd). A photo I.D. is required for entry onto Camp Mabry.

Hours of Operation

Wednesday - Sunday 10:00a.m - 4:00p.m.

 Monday and Tuesday Closed

 Inclement Weather Policy: To facilitate the safety of museum volunteers and provide timely information to the general public, the Texas Military Forces Museum’s inclement weather policy will be to close the museum at any time the Austin Independent School District closes due to weather, and/or the Texas Adjutant General’s Department directs the closing of the facility. Museum visitors and volunteers should call the museum’s main telephone number 512-782-5659 prior to traveling to Camp Mabry to learn whether the museum is closed due to weather when AISD is not in session or on the weekends. Free tours

 Free Tours of the museum may be scheduled by calling 512-782-5659 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

It's Texas' Fault And We're Showing it Off!

WE ARE OPEN YEAR ROUND

welcome to wonder world park, a one-of-a-kind theme park, known as the 1st show cave in texas. visitors have enjoyed touring the balcones fault line cave for over 105 years, and now, the park has many other attractions for family fun and entertainment.

enjoy a guided tour and discover the nation's only true example of an earthquake-formed cave. go deep underground and see up close the devastation of a major quake. exit by the "stratavator" and ride high into the sky to the tejas observation tower. be amazed by the topsy-turvy world of the anti-gravity house where everything is backwards, even water flows up hill! board the train and splash through the waterfalls of mystery mountain on your way to the texas wildlife petting park.

educational and fun for all ages, wonder world park cave and attractions is just minutes from i-35 in san marcos between austin and san antonio. we are open year round. gift shops, free picnic grounds, free parking and much more await your visit.

 See Texas' most visited cave! Wonder World Park is a Texas Historical Site. The unique attractions here are entertaining and educational for the whole family. Enjoy guided tours through the nation's only earthquake-formed cave. Exit by elevator and catch a breathtaking view of the fault line's drop-off point from atop the Tejas Observation Tower. Play in our crazy Anti-Gravity House and take a train ride through the waterfalls of Mystery Mountain to meet and feed the friendly animals in the largest petting park in Texas!

open year round!

summer hours
memorial day - labor day
8:00 am - 8:00 pm

winter hours
september thru may
monday - friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
saturday and sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

closed on christmas eve and day -
weather conditions do not affect our tours.