Congress Bridge Bats in Austin TX
Austin is the state capital of Texas, an inland city surrounding the Hill Country area. Home to the University of Texas flagship campus, Austin is understood for its diverse live-music scene centered around country, blues and rock. Its many parks and lakes are popular for treking, cycling, swimming and boating. South of the city, Formula One's Circuit of the Americas raceway has hosted the United States Grand Prix.
Austin's most popular attraction with the travelers is the Congress Bridge Bats. It's a fantastic visual to enjoy 1.5 million bats fly across the sky in their nightly departure from Congress Bridge in their never ever ending pursuit to their meal of mosquitoes.
The Congress Avenue bridge spans Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin and is home to the biggest metropolitan bat colony in North America known as the Congress Bridge Bats. This nest is estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats. Each night from around mid-March to early November, the Congress Bridge Bats bats emerge from under the bridge to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food. This occasion has turned into one of the most amazing and unusual tourist destinations in Austin Texas. The most magnificent bat flights are during hot, dry August nights, when numerous columns of bats emerge. During a rainy season (uncommon in Austin), there are more bugs out and the bats do not have to leave as early to forage for food and you might not see as lots of bats. If you're on a boat searching for at the bats, the contrast against the night sky helps reveal them better. There is a good spot to watch the bats along the Lady Bird Lake walking and bike trail simply East of the bridge on the South side of Lady Bird Lake. Many people will see them from the bridge above. Both spots can get very crowded and neither offers as good of an experience as enjoying it from the water on one of the trips listed below.
Capital Cruises Bat Watching Tours
Capital Cruises is home of the biggest electric paddle wheel boat in the nation and the now famous Sunset Bat Watching adventure that provides a spectacular view of the Congress Bridge Bats as they fly out overhead where the contrast against the night skyline helps them stick out. This tour fills nearly every night throughout bat season sometimes a couple of days in advance. Costs are $10 for grownups, $8 for senior citizens, and $5 for kids. You require to arrive about 30 minutes prior to sunset to get on the boat and buying tickets beforehand is highly advised during peak summer season as they sell out almost every night, including weekdays.
Lone Star Riverboats Bat Watching Tours
Like Capital Cruises, Lone Star Riverboats also provides bat enjoying trips along Lady Bird lake. Both business offer weekend afternoon tours, but Lone Star also click here has a Friday night tour. Both companies tend to operate as roll over for the other particularly when one boat is scheduled for a personal occasion. The trips differ some, however the very same great bat watching from below the bridge in the comfort of a seat is offered here too. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $7 for kids under 12, and kids under 2 are totally free. This is a terrific trip for the views of downtown and the Austin bats. I 'd advise some water on hot summer season nights.
Live Love Paddle Kayak Bat Watching Tours
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake with Live Love Paddle's bat seeing trip is among our preferred methods to see the bats. The cool water of the Colorado river below you drops the temperature level nearly 10 degrees. Plus the view of downtown at sunset can make for some magnificent photos that are almost as incredible as the bats themselves. Tours start at 1602 East Riverside Drive, cost $45 per person, and tandem boats are available. The minimum weight on bat-watching trips is 30 pounds and optimum weight is 275 pounds. That indicates THIS TOUR IS KID FRIENDLY. Tours start just before dusk so times differ with the season.
Your Biker Gang Bat Watching and Sunset Ride
Our good friends at Your Biker Gang have an unique trip devoted to bat watching. You get to cruise around an electric hog with some rad helmets and hip tour guide. They'll reveal you a few of Austin's best downtown sites and then swing over to see the bats as they fly East on their nighttime mosquito consuming quest. This ride features complimentary treats, an unique surprise, and bragging rights to share with your good friends! Moody Theater, the Driskill Hotel, plus many cultural and historic points of interest, street murals!
Don't Miss the Yeti Flagship Store
Found straight across the street from the bats main departure point is a store with a various character than your common retail outlet. Yeti was founded in Austin in 2006 and they chose this renowned crossway to open their first store front. The Yeti Flagship Store raises the consumer experience by inspiring visitors to head out and check out the wild as it captures a core tenet of the brand in 8,000 square feet. It's an event spot for locals and out-of-towners to take pleasure in a cold beer, listen to music, enjoy a film or gain from a pro. There's lots of merchandise to check out and buy and the store includes an energy that is distinct to Austin and the Yeti brand. Plus there's a bar on the side where you can purchase a cold one! It's certainly worth visiting before or after your bat enjoying experience.