Austin

After Chad & Erin's wedding we were able to spend a couple days exploring Austin before heading home.  We were able to see the Capital Building, the LBJ Presidential Library and University of Texas' football stadium!

Chad & Erin's Wedding

I love the way this page turned out to celebrate Chad & Erin's fun wedding in Austin!

Misc Austin

While driving around Austin, we saw this mini Eiffel Tower!

Based on a third separate recommendation, we went for a walk in the botanical gardens of Zilker Park.  Amongst all the flowers which were sadly not in bloom was what they called a "Prehistoric Park". Apparently dinosaur bones were found in the park and this model of what looked to be a Velociraptor was its memorial.

A nearby waterfall.

Our last stop of the day was at Lake Travis and the Oasis.  We heard the views were beautiful and if it were sunny and warmer than 60 degrees with 15 mph winds I might have thought so as well.  But I did snap a few pictures and can see that during an uncloudy sunset, the views would be amazing. 

LBJ Library

After the capital building, we ventured on to the campus of the University of Texas, the "other" UT! As we approached the Texas Stadium, Darren commented that it was smaller than he thought it would be.... Until we got right on top of it and realized that besides being built at the bottom of a hill, the field is actually significantly below "ground" level similar to the Big House at Michigan.  

Literally across the street from the stadium is the LBJ Presidential Library.  Also something we might not have done on our own that was a recommendation from Jenny.  The front of the library looked out on the huge fountain with a view of downtown Austin beyond.

LBJ's Presidential limousine.

 
Looking up from the main floor the four floors that make up the Presidential Archives!  It was literally volumes and volumes of recorded history from LBJ's Presidency.

This is hard to see, but it was a 4 story engraved Presidential Seal.

Texas Capital Building

Since neither Darren nor I had been to Austin we planned an extra day after the wedding to see some of the sites and eat some of the food!  Darren thought it was a fairly successful trip since we ate BBQ 4 out of 5 meals we were in Austin! I think he got a temporary fill of it. :)

We asked for advice on what to see in Austin and were told to check out the Capital building.  It was not something we typically would have done but it was a pretty interesting site.  The capital pays homage to the 6 countries whose flags have flown over Texas.

The neatest part of the building was the dome.  At the top of the dome is the star of Texas that is eight feet in diameter over 220 ft above.

Chad & Erin's Wedding

Couple weekends ago Darren and I both made our first trip to Austin.... This is somewhat momentous because it is one of the few major cities in the US that I have not been to.  The reason for our trip was the wedding of one of my oldest Vanderbilt friends, Chad.

The ceremony took place at this cute country church.

The cake might have been the best red velvet cake and the most moist stacked wedding cake I've ever had!

The reception was at a place called Kindred Oaks.  It was a quasi outdoor wedding venue with an old barn/Texas feel.  They had paper lanterns and twinkles lights.  It was perfect for a casual southern wedding!  Oh and the buffet was bbq beef and pork and all the "fixin's"!  Darren was in food heaven and soon experienced a major food coma!

And they were off to their Thai honeymoon.  They will actually be leaving Bangkok just three days before we arrive.  I know they are sad and really wanted to spend their honeymoon hanging out with Darren and me!