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Day One
Home » Austin » 7 Day Austin Itinerary » Day One• There is one attraction within Austin that comes highly recommended and it offers a feeling of pride to the region and that of the entire United States and that is the Governors Mansion, “A legacy of the men and women who made our state great”. It is the most historic house throughout the whole of Texas and it sits on a beautiful city block near the Capitol building. The Mansion was built in 1856 has been the oldest continuously occupied residence with it being designated a National Historic Landmark. When you decide to visit you will be looking at a piece of simple yet modern architecture for its time and with a deep veranda, floor-length windows and wide hallways for great ventilation in the summer. Apart from this you will be able to learn about the governors and their first lady’s that have lived in the Mansion and since 1856 when it was built the first family moved into the residence and today still remains occupied by the current governor and first lady. Reservations are necessary on this trip and you can contact the ticket line on 512-463-5516 but admission to the Mansion is free. Tours are only held at limited times from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 12pm with the last tour taking place at 11.40am.
• If you want to finish off your day on a high then you can enjoy one of the most interesting historical pieces in Texan history. A visit to the Treaty Oak (listed in the Hall of Fame of Forestry) is estimated to be around 500 and 600 years old which one stood over three stories high and with branches that stretched for half an acre, unfortunately today it is a third of its original size but the legend behind this magnificent tree is that it is said that Stephen F. Austin (the founder of the region) and Indian leaders signed a treaty underneath this oak. It is said that no trip is complete without a visit. The park (which is located between 5th and 6th street) is open from 5am to 10pm and after seeing the tree and walking around the grounds, you could settle down with a picnic and relax in a beautiful location.
If you want cuisine with a little spark and relaxing atmosphere then you must stop off at the Z Tejas Grill which can be found surrounding the Arboretum. It is a popular spot for business or pleasure and you can enjoy cuisine with a South-western flair, Cajun/Creole flavours or a typical Californian based meal – the owners are the chefs (four in total) and the wide choice is because they couldn’t agree what to select for the menu and so they had each of their favourite styles of cooking. When you have your meal, you can choose to eat inside the dining area or if you would prefer then out on the balcony where you can enjoy beautiful views of Hill County. The menu is vast where traditional American cooking and more exotic tastes come together, if you prefer then it is recommended you choose the Santa Fe Chicken Enchiladas which is served with corn tortillas, New Mexico Chile sauce and has Tejas rice and black beans to the side, this is just one example of a truly great menu but if you prefer then there is also a variety of burgers, steaks and fresh seafood. You can expect to spend around $10 - $20 for a main course which is excellent value for money.
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