Congress Bridge Bats in Austin TX
Austin's most popular destination with the travelers is the Congress Bridge Bats. It's a remarkable visual to enjoy 1.5 million bats fly throughout the sky in their nightly departure from Congress Bridge in their never ending pursuit to their meal of mosquitoes.
The Congress Avenue bridge covers Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin and is home to the biggest metropolitan bat nest in North America called the Congress Bridge Bats. This colony is approximated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats. Each night from around mid-March to early November, the Congress Bridge Bats bats emerge from under the bridge to blanket the sky as they go out to forage for food. This occasion has become one of the most incredible and uncommon traveler attractions in Austin Texas. The most magnificent bat flights are throughout hot, dry August nights, when several columns of bats emerge. Throughout a rainy season (unusual in Austin), there are more insects out and the bats do not have to leave as early to forage for food and you might not view as lots of bats. If you're on a boat looking up at the bats, the contrast versus the evening sky helps viewers see them better. There is a good area to watch the bats along the Lady Bird Lake walking and bike trail just East of the bridge on the South side of Lady Bird Lake. Many individuals will watch them from the bridge above. Both spots can get very crowded and neither provides as good of an experience as viewing it from the water on one of the trips listed below.
Capital Cruises Bat Watching Tours
Capital Cruises is home of the largest electrical paddle wheel boat in the nation and the now famous Sunset Bat Watching trip that offers an amazing view of the Congress Bridge Bats as they fly out overhead where the contrast against the evening horizon helps them stick out. This tour fills up nearly every night throughout bat season in some cases a couple of days beforehand. Rates are $10 for grownups, $8 for seniors, and $5 for kids. You require to arrive about 30 minutes before sundown to get on the boat and buying tickets ahead of time is highly recommended throughout peak summer months as they sell out almost every night, including weekdays.
Lone Star Riverboats Bat Watching Tours
Like Capital Cruises, Lone Star Riverboats also provides bat enjoying tours along Lady Bird lake. Both business offer weekend afternoon trips, but Lone Star likewise has a Friday night tour. Both business tend to run as roll over for the other especially when one boat is booked for a private occasion. The trips differ some, but the same fantastic bat seeing from underneath the bridge in the comfort of a seat is available here too. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for kids under 12, and kids under 2 are complimentary. This is a great trip for the views of downtown and the Austin bats. I 'd suggest some water on hot summer nights.
Live Love Paddle Kayak Bat Watching Tours
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake with Live Love Paddle's bat watching trip is among our preferred methods to view the bats. The cool water of the Colorado river beneath you drops the temperature nearly 10 degrees. Plus the view of downtown at sunset can make for some amazing images that are nearly as amazing as the bats themselves. Tours start at 1602 East Riverside Drive, cost $45 per person, and tandem boats are offered. The minimum weight on bat-watching trips is 30 pounds and maximum weight is 275 lbs. That implies THIS TOUR IS KID FRIENDLY. Tours begin prior to sunset so times differ with the season.
Your Biker Gang Bat Watching and Sunset Ride
Our friends at Your Biker Gang have an unique flight devoted to bat watching. You get to cruise around an electric hog with some rad helmets and hip tour guide. They'll reveal you some of Austin's best downtown websites and after that swing over to view the bats as they fly East on their nightly mosquito consuming quest. This flight comes with complimentary snacks, a special surprise, and boasting rights to share with your good friends! Moody Theater, the Driskill Hotel, plus various cultural and historical points of interest, street murals!
Do Not Miss the Yeti Flagship Store
Found straight across the street from the bats primary departure point is a shop with a different character than your normal retail outlet. Yeti was founded in Austin in 2006 and they picked this renowned intersection to open their very first store front. The Yeti Flagship Store elevates the consumer experience by motivating visitors to go out and explore the wild as it captures a core tenet of the brand name in 8,000 square feet. It's an event spot for locals and out-of-towners to enjoy a cold beer, listen to music, view a film or learn from a pro. There's plenty of merchandise to check out and acquire and the store features an energy that is special to Austin and the Yeti brand. Plus there's a bar on the side where you can purchase a cold one! It's definitely worth dropping by prior to or after your bat seeing experience.