SkyscraperPage Forum - Springtime in Austin Texas (85 photos)

Here's a combination of nature/people/skyline photos I've taken in over the past week or so trying to capture spring in Austin

The first two photos were taken from the Blunn Creek Preserve. I have lived in Austin for 25 years and had never been there. It's right off of Oltorf and Interstate 35 next to Travis High School. The trail is short (a leisurely five-minute walk) and leads to an overlook with some nice views of St. Edwards University campus. It's hard to believe you're literally one-tenth of a mile due west of Interstate 35.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...StEdwards2.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...StEdwards3.jpg

The next five shots are all views from Interstate 35 South. It was a hazy overcast day, but every now and then the sun would briefly make an appearance.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...thSkyline1.jpg

The Monarch, 360, and Amli 2 from the I-35 bridge over Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...nLakeWest1.jpg

The Legacy - a 31 story apartment building under construction in the Waterfront District.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...08/Legacy2.jpg

Interstate 35 looking north from the overpass at Riverside Drive.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ownAustin1.jpg

The RBJ Residential Tower. (RBJ stands for Rebecca Baines Johnson - daughter of the former President Lyndon Baines Johnson.)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/RBJTower.jpg

This photo was taken from the top deck of the parking garage at the Holiday Inn looking towards the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. Currently, there's about a mile and a half to two mile gap in the trail, where folks have to walk up Riverside Drive, cross Interstate 35, and then catch the trail again near Riverside and Lakeshore. This photo shows part of that gap. Although it looks like there's enough land in front of the apartments for a trail, those apartments were built many years ago and are private property.

A developer, CWS Properties has bought the land and wanted to build three 18 story towers, but part of it would have been too close to the lake. CWS asked for a variance in exchange for developing the small strip of land in front of their property as part of the trail to help close the gap, but the city voted no. So they plan to build two 18 story towers and redevlop the existing apartments into townhomes. Other property owners on the other side of Interstate 35 are all building projects that will include developing the land in front of their properties for the trail for public use. In areas where the property owners aren't cooperating and/or the terrain makes it too difficult, the city is considering building a boardwalk to complete the gap in the trail..

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...nLakeWest3.jpg

The next three shots are from the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail on the south shore of the lake east of Interstate 35 where the trail resumes near Lakeshore Drive.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...nLakeEast5.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...nLakeEast3.jpg

There would have been more of the yellow flowers in the photos above except this chick walking her dog was picking them all. Honey, next time use a professional florist and leave the flowers in the park for others to enjoy.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...nLakeEast1.jpg

The next shot was taken from the 15th floor of the Hampton Inn. On each floor there are windows at one end of the hallway that look out over downtown. You can see the construction site for The Austonian - which will be Austin's new tallest (55 stories) when completed. The parking lot in the foreground is slated to become a 31 story 1000 room Mariott Convention Center Hotel.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...Austonian1.jpg

Sixth Street on an overcast Thursday morning. The Austin Visitor's Bureau is housed in what used to be the Grove Drugstore.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...xthStreet1.jpg

Rio Grande Austin near the Convention Center

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...RioGrande1.jpg

The Monarch and City Lofts from the J. P. Morgan garage

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/Monarch1.jpg

Church from the J. P. Morgan garage

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...08/Church1.jpg

The hazy overcast day brought rain that evening and the next day and help to green things up a bit.

The next several shots are from the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail on the north shore west of Lamar Blvd all the way to Mopac and beyond to Deep Eddy Pool, then back to the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge.

Cypress Trees along the south shore. The rocky point with the stairs in the distance is Lou Neff Point - situated where Barton Creek flows into Lady Bird Lake.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike1.jpg

A bench along the trail

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike2.jpg

Joggers on the trail

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike15.jpg

Mopac and the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge. (Actually the pedestrian bridge is officially called the Roberta Crenshaw Pedestrian Walkway, but I've never heard anybody actually call it by that name.)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike3.jpg

This is past the pedestrain bridge going towards Deep Eddy Pool - a view of the opposite shore.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike5.jpg

Some of the multi-million dollar homes on Stratford Drive. God I would kill to tour some of those homes just to see what kind of view they have. I'm sure it's spectacular.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike6.jpg

Dogs love the hike and bike trail, too.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike16.jpg

Back to the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike7.jpg

Looking west from the bridge

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...keandBike9.jpg

Rowers on Lady Bird Lake

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike10.jpg

Late-afternoon view towards downtown from the bridge

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike11.jpg

Here comes the Lone Star Riverboat. The building under construction in the distance is the Legacy.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...Riverboat3.jpg

For those who've never done the cruise, it's only $9.00 and takes about an hour and a half to go from the Hyatt on Lady Bird Lake almost all the way to Red Bud Isle and back. The captain gives a narrative on the way to Red Bud Isle - music is played on the way back. These public tours are Saturday and Sunday afternoons and the rest of the time the boat is available for charter. For more info see their website

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...Riverboat2.jpg

On the south side of the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge, the trail heads back east. The Zilker Soccer Fields are in the foreground.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike12.jpg

Wide view from Mopac

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike13.jpg

Partial skyline from Zilker Soccer Fields.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...eandBike14.jpg

Next stop is the Zilker Botanical Gardens over on Barton Springs Road.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens1.jpg

Historic log cabin at Zilker Botanical Gardens. More information from Zilker Botanical Garden:

The Swedish log cabin is an authentic frontier home built in the tradition of Swedish pioneers who ancestors came to the United States in 1638.

S. M. Swenson was the first Swedish settler to arrive in Texas in 1838. He bought ranchland east of Austin in 1850 and named it Govalle - from the Swedish "go vall" meaning "good grazing ground." He built his cabin there, now one of the best preserved in the United States. Swenson's uncle, Gustav Palm, who arrived with his family in 1848, lived there until after the Civil War.

The late Louis Palm of Round Rock initiated the preservation of the cabin. He numbered the logs and hauled them from their original location to Round Rock's Nelson Park.

In May 1965, the cabin was moved intact to it's permanent location in Zilker Botanical Garden. The Texas Swedish Pioneers Association, affiliated groups, and Swedish descendants provided the necessary funds.

In 1966, the Texas State Historical Commission awarded it an historical Medallion. This log cabin now stands as an example of the individual enterprise that built America.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens2.jpg

Flowers at Zilker Botanical Gardens

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens3.jpg

Bickler Cupola in the Rose Garden. The marker for it reads:

This Cupola was originally on top of one of the first public schools in Austin. Constructed in 1894 at the corner of East Avenue and 11th Street, the building was first named the East Austin School. In 1902 the name was changed to honor a pioneer educator - Jacob Bickler. In 1937 the Bickler School was converted to a center for vocational eduacation and 10 years later remodeled to become the administrative offices for the Austin Independent School District.

When the building was demolished in 1968, this Cupola was donated to the City of Austin by the Austin Independent School District.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens4.jpg

Butterfly benches in the Butterfly Garden

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens6.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens5.jpg

Rose Garden

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens7.jpg

More flowers

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens8.jpg

Keep Austin Weird

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...erGardens9.jpg

Garden Path

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...rGardens10.jpg

Bridge in the Oriental Garden

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...rGardens11.jpg

Crow in the Oriental Garden

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...rGardens12.jpg

More flowers

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...rGardens13.jpg

Next stop is Barton Springs Pool - one of Austin's best-loved places.

A view of the pool area.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool3.jpg

On sunny days, the grassy hillside is filled with folks tanning.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool19.jpg

Lifeguard and swimmers - artistic version.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool4.jpg

Looking from one end of the pool to the other. 360 - a 44 story condminium is the talllest building in the distance.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool5.jpg

Swimmers

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool6.jpg

Snack Bar at Barton Springs Pool

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool8.jpg

While you're at the snack bar, don't forget to purchase some feed for the ducks.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool9.jpg

For those who don't want to get too much sun, there's plenty of shady places.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool14.jpg

Playscape and the Zilker Zephyr - popular with kids of all ages

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool10.jpg

Most of the serious swimmers come early in the morning when the pool's not as crowded.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool7.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool20.jpg

It's gets busier in the afternoon - especially during the summer. The water stays a constant 68 degrees.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringsPool2.jpg

Barton Creek above Barton Springs Pool is there the Barton Greek Greenbelt is. Barton Creek below Barton Springs Pool flows about another half mile where it empties into Lady Bird Lake. Directly below the pool is a shallow wading area popular with kids.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool21.jpg

You can people watch or watch the Wildlife.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool11.jpg

There's always something to see.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool17.jpg

The Zilker Zephyr on its loop around the park

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool12.jpg

This baby has the best ride of all.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ingsPool13.jpg

Pedestrain Bridge over Barton Creek. The rocky area on the north shore in the distance is where I took the photo of the Cypress trees earlier in the morning.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...rtonCreek1.jpg

Lou Neff Point - a nice place to relax that offers great views of downtown

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...NeffPoint1.jpg

Views of the skyline from Lou Neff Point

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...NeffPoint2.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...NeffPoint3.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...NeffPoint4.jpg

Barton Springs Road between Robert E. Lee and Lamar Blvd. is known as Restaurant Row - a busy and popular place.

Baby Acapulco

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd1.jpg

Shady Grove Hamburgers

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd3.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd2.jpg

Austin Java. Note the sign for Barton Place Condos. There used to be a trailer park behind Austin Java that has been recently closed so the developers can start on the condo project. Austin Java will be saved and become a part of the development.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd4.jpg

Uncle Billy's Brewbeque

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd5.jpg

Chuy's - where Barbara and Jenna Bush got busted for underage drinking a few years ago.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd6.jpg

The Green Mesquite

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...SpringsRd7.jpg

Next stop - Walsh Boat Landing on Lake Austin - just above Tom Miller Dam

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin2.jpg

I liked both halves of the above picture, so I focused on each one and made two more

Big Boat

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin7.jpg

Little Boat

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin6.jpg

A view from the dock

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin3.jpg

More boaters

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin4.jpg

View from Scenic Drive

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...akeAustin5.jpg

The last four "photos" were taken from scenic vantage points, but because of the lighting/time of day, they didn't look good. Since they were throw-away pictures anyway, I tried to make something "artsy" out of them.

Almost everyone's heard of Mount Bonnell, but most Austinites don't know there is another scenic park nearby. As you leave Mt. Bonnell go north on Mt. Bonnell Road, turn right on Mt. Bonnell Drive, turn left on Balcones Drive, take another left onto Perry Lane, and turn left again onto Ridge Oak. Here you will find a small hilltop park built above a city water reservoir that offers dramatic views of the Loop 360 bridge. I wish I had been there in the morning with the sun behind me instead of 7:30 pm with the sun in my face. This is the basic view from there - although obviously not in these particular colors. :)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...p360Bridge.jpg

Next is the skyline from Shepherd Mountain - "artsified"

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ghtSkyline.jpg]

A zoomed in shot of Loop 360 at dusk

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...08/Loop360.jpg

And finally - a wider view of Loop 360 and Austin's "antenna farm."

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ntennaFarm.jpg

That concludes my version of spring in Austin. Thanks for looking.