Lions … Tigers … and Servals? What’s a Serval? Take a walk on the wild side at the Austin Zoo and learn more about them and other mammals, primates, reptiles, amphibians, and domestic animals. Get up close and personal with deers, goats, llamas, sheep, ostriches, alpacas, peacocks, and visit over 350 animals for a native Texas wildlife family experience you won't soon forget. While you’re there, enjoy a pony and train ride. What started out as a goat ranch that housed pigs, deer, donkeys, ponies, and a few exotic animals blossomed into a full-fledged non-profit rescue zoo that assists animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education, now representing more than 100 different species, each with their own rescue story to tell.
Renowned course architect, Tom Fazio, designed two of the four courses, the Fazio Foothills and Fazio Canyons, which are recognized among the top courses in Texas and receive countless awards year after year. The Crenshaw Cliffside Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, incorporates their traditional links style design into the surrounding terrain. Only 25 minutes away, the Palmer Lakeside Course designed by Arnold Palmer, offers breathtaking views of Lake Travis and the Texas Hill Country. Barton Creek also features four golf shops, four driving ranges, six putting greens, four short game areas and a world class golf academy. Members may choose to participate in a variety of Club organizations and events including Men’s and Women’s Golf Associations, Couples Golf, Club Sponsored Tournaments, and Junior Golf Programs.
The San Marcos Premium Outlets is the largest outlet shopping destination in Texas, the third-largest in the world, and are actually two connected outlet malls that have expanded to cover more than 350 stores on 30 acres of retail space. The outlets have been voted the "Third-Best Place to Shop in the World" by ABC's "The View." The spectacular shopping mecca boasts an efficient, sprawling layout that allows tens of thousands of shoppers to stroll the specialty shops, eat in any of the restaurants or dozens of food court options and food stands scattered throughout the retail site. Luxury and brand-name outlet stores include Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center, Gucci, FENDI and more. The outlets are popular for sidewalk sales, especially during major holidays like July 4, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and holiday shopping events. Statewide tax-free shopping days before the school year begins are also popular at the outlet malls, drawing on average 80,000 to 100,000 shoppers each day.
Stroll through the Bremond Block Historic District for a glimpse into the opulent homes of Victorian-era movers and shakers of Austin. The 11 historic homes were constructed from the 1850s to 1910.