Time Travel: A Historic Visit to Storied Austin

This hip-as-can-be downtown hotel is part of Austin’s musical history – it was once home to a jazz club that broadcast live on local radio in the late 1960s. It’s housed in a Mad Men-era Modernist building whose Brutalism contrasts with its bucolic setting, right off the leafy hiking and biking trail that surrounds Lady Bird Lake. From your perch on the water’s edge, you can launch yourself into Austin’s downtown sights and cultural centers, or tune into the modern-day music venues of South Congress Street. But there’s no particular need to hurry out, thanks to the prime views of Congress Bridge’s nightly bat spectacle from the rooftop cocktail bar – when Mexican free-tailed mammals swoop overhead – plus a Top Chef winner in the kitchen at Arlo Grey and a gallery’s worth of work by local up-and-coming artists lining the walls.

All levels of fitness are welcome on this guided 5K (3mi) run that takes you past downtown Austin’s historic sights and landmarks. With approximately one guide for every six runners, you can go at your own comfortable pace (or even walk) and listen as your guide tells the story of the city’s fascinating evolution from Old West frontier town to progressive tech capital through its architecture. You’ll pass the Texas Capitol building, the Governor’s Mansion, Congress Avenue’s “bat” bridge and the Paramount Theatre, as well as more modern markers.

This tour takes you on a road trip into Texas Hill Country to visit the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, a cultural center designed to immerse you in the life story of the 36th president, from his childhood on a rural Texas ranch to the JetStar he flew in as Vice President. Next, you’ll have time to explore the wineries, breweries and antique stores of historic German settlement, Fredericksburg, and stop in the live-music hotspot of Luckenbach before heading back to Austin.

Travel half an hour north of downtown Austin to find Georgetown, a charming railroad town worthy of a weekend getaway. On this tour, you’ll walk around “the most beautiful town square in Texas,” and stop by artisan shops, award-winning wine rooms and adorable cafés. Your expert guide will regale you with the stories of the individuals and families who’ve shaped the town and the tales hiding behind the historic façades.