If you happen to take an evening stroll around the famous lady bird town lake, named after the first lady who beautified it, and not for the bug. Make sure to visit the boardwalk trail running bridge, too, if only to get. Capital cruises internationally famous bat watching tour public nightly bat watching tours depart approximately 30 minutes before sunset and lasts roughly one hour in length. According to experts, austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in north america. Jul 11, 2019 austin may be the largest urban bat colony, but bracken cave, located half an hour northwest of san antonio, is the location of the worlds largest bat colony and one of the largest concentration of mammals on earth. Whether its an entertaining and informative boat tour or a relaxing sunset dinner cruise, these are the best austin cruises around. You can walk to the congress bat bridge from the shops on south congress. Youll get scenic views, historical landmarks, and rushing waters all at the same time. Travel underneath the structure and marvel at the hundreds and thousands of winged mammals. Check out and download writing activities created by staff and volunteers around a topic. The austin american statesman created the statesman bat observation center thats just adjacent to the bridge. Our austin segway tours run year round and are offered five times daily. Congress avenue bridge austin bats all you need to know. Richards congress avenue bridge is the home of the largest urban bat colony in the world.
Get geared up at home base then hop into your kayak for a beautiful paddle down to the bridge. Congress avenue bridge austin bats 2020 all you need to. Stories bring us together young people yearn to share, express, reflect, and understand one another. Might be worth pursuing to get a raidvisit scheduled. Bridge bats austin bats watching guide merlin tuttle. This tour takes place during the evening for a leisurely 8 mile ride a few small hills around lady bird lake hikenbike trail, including barton springs, zilker park, butler park, the boardwalk and pfluger bridge, with a stop to view the bats in flight. Bat watching tours available march through earlynovember. This center is kidfriendly, so little ones are welcome to tag along. Statesman launches bat app and website news austin american. We are located right on lady bird lake for your convenience and we offer rentals, tours, and lessons. Online writing lab owl austin bat caveaustin bat cave.
May 09, 2012 the nightly ritual of the bats emerging from under the congress avenue bridge. Hundreds of tourists and locals visit the bridge and the hill below daily, waiting hours for the bats to emerge from their roosts. Our private dinner and lunch cruises for 28 passengers offers catering from the fourdiamond hyatt regency hotel. Downtown austin tour for a perfect downtown austin weekend trip duration. What better way to celebrate austin s most popular mammal, the mexican freetailed bat, than with a weekendlong festival in austin, texas. Austin is known to get a little batty between march and october, when more than 1. Austin bat cave abc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students aged 618 with their writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Its from here youll be treated to fantastic views of the bat families flying and swooping around at night, while learning interesting details about the lives of these sophisticated flying mammals.
It is a maternity colony, and female mexican freetailed bats raise an estimated 750,000 pups each year at the bridge. Our ghost and bat segway tour is offered once daily at 7. And while bats contribute greatly to our ecosystem, austin travis county health and human services department wants to remind the public how to protect themselves around these animals. While we actually have several colonies around the austin area, the most famous is the one living under the south congress bridge, and the best views are to be had on a bat cruise, which is how i got to experience it. Combine the fun of touring austin by segway with the thrill of seeing the legendary bat colony of the congress avenue bridge take flight at dusk. Weather information is not currently available at this location. If fitness isnt your thing then dont worry, our bat tours arent that extraneous. Bat watching in austin, texas congress avenue bridge. From march to november every year, bat enthusiasts gather to be mesmorized by the south congress bridge bats aerial show. Loud sounds or rhythmic clapping only serve to delay the flight even longer. Austins premier segway tours austin segway nation tours. Austin bat caves free writing programs empower students to find their voices and tell their own stories so they can become stronger, more confident writers. The nightly ritual of the bats emerging from under the congress avenue bridge. They occur in the section of the river that comprises both lake austin and lady bird lake.
We recommend booking congress avenue bridge austin bats tours ahead of time to secure your spot. The time may vary due to changes in weather conditions, and time of year. At capital cruises, you can find nearby options for both. Everything you need to know to see bats in austin and. Our work is based on the understanding that strong writing skills are fundamental not only to future success but also to selfconfidence. Not only does it hold the distinction of having the most kinds of bats, it also boasts the largest known bat colony in the world, bracken cave preserve, near san antonio, and the largest urban bat colony, congress avenue bridge, in austin. Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in the world. We offer a evening ghost and bat segway tour, a morning historical tour, and two short sightseeing tours daily. Bats are seasonal and usually fly from march to october every year. Public bat watching from austin bat tours is the best way to see the congress bridge bats take flight.
See all 17 congress avenue bridge austin bats tours on tripadvisor. Private dinner cruises for groups 28 capital cruises. Even if it is raining, there are always a few austinites and visitors from around the world hoping to catch sight of the cloud of bats. The austin americanstatesman created the statesman bat observation center adjacent to the congress bridge, giving visitors a dedicated area to view the nightly emergence. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people visit the bridge to witness the bat flight, generating ten million dollars in tourism revenue annually.
Book online reservations at capital cruises tours in austin, tx using reservation genie. We strive to provide 5 star trips, and create an adventure which promotes a healthy lifestyle. Visit our batshop for photos, vintage tees, and wall art, all handmade by locals in austin. Austin bat tours official bat watching guide, bat shop. Frontera tours offer adventure sightseeing excursions in austin, texas. Get involved austin bat cave austin bat caveaustin bat cave. The large pontoon boat, southern star, seats up to 60 people. Bat walking tours, bat photo tours and kayak bat watching tours, all fun and informative.
The bats at the congress avenue bridge typically emerge from 7. Call animal control or a wildlife center to care for the animal. It is home to 32 of the 47 species of bats found in the united states. Austin kayak tours our sister company in austin, texas. This is the home of the mermaid of san marcos, meghan parker and the austin bat bridge. We also have special events and teambuilding experiences. So whether you want to see the beautiful austin skyline or you want to watch the famous bats of congress bridge, we have the perfect paddle experience for you. How to see austin bats at the congress avenue bridge.
Bat season is here and austin is once again home to the largest urban bat colony in north america. For information on bat watching river boat cruises, please contact. Your expert guide instructs you on segway operations before taking you on an unforgettable tour of austin s downtown. Congress avenue bridge bat conservation international. Our 28 passenger boats provide an intimate setting to celebrate your special occasion. Taking place at the south congress bridge, the launching place of the bats, the festival features three stages of live local and national music, food and dri. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. We visit some of austin s haunted downtown hotels and buildings, plus we. From march through november of each year, large groups of locals and tourists visit bats in austin, texas each night between 5. A must visit website before you plan to visit south congress bridge for bat. These bats consume over 30,000 pounds of insects per night. See the state capitol building, moonlight towers, the sixth street historic district and more as you cruise through this lively. Reservations at capital cruises tours in austin, tx. Texas happens to be the battiest state in the country.
Call austin bat refuge immediately at 5126954116 or 5127998847. Lonestar kayak tours may have only just opened in austin, but our tour guides and staff have been around the area for a lot longer. Congress avenue bridge austin bats 2020 all you need. Our programs our impact we bring local artists and teachers together to offer free afterschool. Richards congress avenue bridge, located in the heart of downtown austin, hosts the largest urban bat colony in the world, estimated at 1. Aug 25, 2017 for those unaware, austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in north america. Mar 10, 2015 the bat watching cruise runs nightly starting in early march through early november. The bats of the congress avenue bridge are an interesting addition to austin, texas attractions. Lake travis is also in the vicinity and makes an excellent day out in all weathers. Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5 video.
Austin bats, complete guide on congress avenue bridge bats by merlin tuttle. In 2014, the cave and land surrounding the cave came under the management of bat conservation international. Well stop near the congress bridge at sunset to watch the bats fly, while giving you a bit more information about them. This incredible kayaking bat tour takes you to the most populated bat nest in the nation and one of the biggest in the entire world. Austin bat cruises are one of the most unique tourist attractions to be found in any american city. Enjoy great music, food, and drinks aboard a doubledecker boat with a rooftop deck, an airconditioned lower deck, and bathrooms. Austin congress avenue bridge bats urban bat colony. Touring austin on a segway is the best way to experience the capitol of texas. Public bat watching and sunset tour capital cruises. The new crevices created under the bridge became a roost for.
This is the largest urban bat colony in north america. Take a great restaurant, add perfect party food and a fun group of people, and get a night for the ages at capital cruises. Check out our list of mustdo water activities in austin. Ways to experience congress avenue bridge austin bats. Richards congress avenue bridgespans town lake in downtown austin and is home to the largest urban bat colony in north america.
Watch from the lawn of the austin americanstatesmans bat observation area. Whether youre a sailor, fisher, or just a pleasurecruiser, capital cruises in austin has many vessels for rent that are sure to float your boat. See all 18 congress avenue bridge austin bats tours on tripadvisor. It is unlikely that you will come into contact with a bat, but if you find an injured bat, for your protection as well as the animals do not touch it. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Ghost and bat segway tour austin segway nation tours. Bat watching tours from lone star riverboat feature a cruise along lady bird lake, break taking views of austins downtown skyline and the nightly exodus of. Driving our electric duffy boats is as easy as driving a golf cart. In 1980, the congress street bridge aka bat bridge in the downtown area was reconstructed. Groups larger than 7 are encouraged to try our larger myacht vessel. Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in north america.