All
major hotel and motel chains have facilities in Austin. If you wish to be near the Nature Center, specify
to the hotel that you want a location near the "river" or near Riverside
Drive or Barton Springs Drive, or "downtown." We recommend the following which are located
within a few minutes drive: The Austin
Motel (512-441-1157) and the San
Jose Hotel (512-444-7322) are located in south Austin next to the Congress
Avenue Shopping district and various coffee shops. They reflect the true flavor of Austin and are favored by musicians.
The Radisson (512-478-9611) is on Congress Avenue at the River, right
next to the famous "Bat Bridge".
The Mexican Freetail bats begin their return to Austin right around
mid-April. The historic Driskill Hotel is right downtown and has
the flavor of another era. Other national
chains such as the La Quinta, Motel
6, Clarion, Hyatt, and the Omni have locations downtown and close
to the Nature Center. There are also
numerous Bed and Breakfasts in the area.
Search the yellow pages on www.yahoo.com
for a complete list, but a couple in the area that we know of are Lazy Oak Inn (512-447-8873), Miller Crockett House (512- 441-1600). Finally, if you're on a budget, the American Youth Hostel (800-725-2331) has
a beautiful location overlooking Town Lake and features live music on site.
The Sixth Street Hostel (866-HOSTEL-6) is
located right in the middle of the musical entertainment center of Austin. Don't forget the state and local (Travis county)
parks for camping.
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Arriving from the North
Take I-35 South through the downtown of
Austin.
Exit at Riverside Drive.
Turn right (west) on Riverside Drive (at the
light)
and follow this road all the way to Lamar Blvd.
Turn left (south) on Lamar Blvd and get all the
way into the right lane before the next light.
Turn right (west) on Barton Springs Drive. Take Barton Springs past the restaurants on
your right, past the soccer fields on your right.
You will see a sign on your right that announces the
Austin Nature Center.
Turn right (north) at Stratford Drive (first street after the sign). (If Barton Springs curves sharply to the
left, you have gone too far and missed Stratford).
Follow Stratford until you are underneath the highway
bridge (look up). At this point you
will see the trailhead for the Nature Center on your left. Parking is under the bridge on your
right. If this parking lot is full, you
may go back just a little up the way you came on Stratford and park in the
fields as indicated. Follow the
footpath to the Nature Center.
Arriving from the South
Take I-35 North, (you will pass the Ben White
and Oltorf exits).
Exit at Riverside Drive.
Turn left (west) on Riverside Drive (at the
light)
and follow this road all the way to Lamar Blvd.
Turn left (south) on Lamar Blvd and get all the
way into the right lane before the next light.
Turn right (west) on Barton Springs Drive. Take Barton Springs past the restaurants on
your right, past the soccer fields on your right.
You will see a sign on your right that announces the
Austin Nature Center.
Turn right (north) at Stratford Drive (first street after the sign). (If Barton Springs curves
sharply to the left, you have gone too far and missed Stratford).
Follow Stratford until you are underneath the highway
bridge (look up). At this point you
will see the trailhead for the Nature Center on your left. Parking is under the bridge on your
right. If this parking lot is full,
you may go back just a little up the way you came on Stratford and park in
the fields as indicated. Follow the footpath to the Nature Center.
Arriving from the Mopac (Loop 1) Bypass
Exit Rollingwood (BeeCave FM 2244)
If coming from the North, cross under the
highway, turn left (north) onto the road on the other side.
If coming from the South, proceed forward
on the northbound road after exiting the highway.
This road becomes Barton Spring Rd as it curves to the
right..
Follow Barton Springs Road past the Zilker Botanical
Gardens (on your left).
You will see a sign on your right which announces the
turn for the Austin Nature Center.
Turn left on Stratford Dr. (the first street after the sign).
Follow Stratford until you are underneath the highway
bridge (look up). At this point you
will see the trailhead for the Nature Center on your left. Parking is under the bridge on your right. If this parking lot is full, you may go back
just a little up the way you came on Stratford and park in the fields as indicated.
Follow the footpath to the Nature Center.
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