Brookdale Beckett Meadows

Explore the elegant side of Austin at the Neill-Cochran House, considered one of the city's three most important historic residences, where you'll discover several rooms decorated with 1780-1925 furniture. Tour the historic home and hear several stories about the many occupants over the years, including the Texas School for the Blind and its occupation by federal troops during Reconstruction. The home is open for daily tours and is a living history lesson on how Austin went from a sleepy outpost to the state capital to the home of one of the largest universities in the country.

Take a drive across the scenic Pennybacker Bridge, also known as the Loop 360 Boat Ramp, where the weathering steel bridge is said to blend perfectly with the natural environment of Austin and has won several architectural and engineering awards. This three-acre park is for launching and picking up watercraft, as well as access to fishing along the shoreline that is covered by a few bald cypresses and sycamore trees to offer shade.