Getting Out of Austin: Five Great Day Trips

Austin is the most interesting city in Texas, but it's still nice to get out of town once in awhile. I spent some time in Austin on a construction project and had to opportunity to explore the area. Here are five great day trips around the Austin, Texas worthy of your exploration as well.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park
When it comes to historic presidential residences, the home and ranch of Lyndon B. Johnson ranks just under Mount Vernon and Monticello, from those I've visited. It's more than one site, with a visitor center in Johnson City and the main ranch about 15 miles west.

There is the house that came to be known as the "Texas White House," a one-room frontier-style schoolhouse, and the boyhood home. It's not the original; Johnson had a reconstruction done in 1964. The newer house is nicer than the first, but is an interesting learning opportunity for the history fan.

Kerrville
If you want to see and hear great authentic folk music, go during the Kerrville Folk Festival. Running from just before the Memorial Day Weekend until mid-June, the festival is centered around singer-songwriters.

To see a surprisingly substantial collection of western art, go to the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville. I grew up in California, Nevada, and Oregon, where you won't find many people calling Texas "Old West," of course the reality is Texas has a strong western heritage.

Frio Cave, near Concan
The info page puts the number at 10 to 12 million, and once you go there, you might think it an underestimate. When you see the evening sky fill with bats coming out of the cave to go do what bats do, you might feel creepy. More likely, you will be amazed at a spectacle of nature.

Keep your eyes open for raptors coming to grab an evening meal right out of the sky. Hawks and even falcons will swoop a bat up before the little night-flier even has a chance to echo-locate the incoming threat.

Home to the second largest bat population in the world, Frio Cave might not be a place you go to again and again, but it's something to definitely see once.

San Antonio
As for the major cities of Texas, San Antonio is worthy of a visit. I don't find too much of interest in Houston or Dallas, but San Antonio surprises. The Alamo is a must-see for history buffs, and 2011 is the 175th anniversary of the 1836 battle that made it famous.

There's the Riverwalk, a public park that is also lined with restaurants, shops, and hotels. It's billed as the number one tourist attraction in Texas, so expect crowds. Still, it's a great place to grab a bite in an open-air setting.

Colorado Bend State Park
Not quite as crowded as areas closer to Austin, Colorado Bend is great to visit mid-week. You might find it almost empty, and it's just a couple hours north of Austin. The last several miles are gravel road, so don't be alarmed when leaving pavement.

There is riverbank camping, and backpack areas if you wish to be more remote. Gorman Falls, actually a series of falls, is interesting. It's a good place to get out of town, that doesn't require much travel. Click here for a video of Colorado Bend State Park.