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Bat Watching

Congress Street Bridge

Sunset, summer months

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seasonal-activities

One of the most well known quirks in Austin are the bats that live under Congress Avenue Bridge.

During the summer months, brave the heat and head to the Congress Avenue Bridge – where approximately 1.5 million bats call home. Just before sunset, Austin’s beautiful bat community takes flight for neighboring crops, where they feast on insects for dinner. The nightly batty exodus, which looks like tendrils of smoke from below, draws in hundreds of viewers, but it’s best seen from the water – from local bat cruises or a simple rented canoe. Instant kid-pleaser.

Check out Capital Cruises for your boat renting needs. If you arrive early take some time to hike around Lady Bird Lake or stop by the Driskill Hotel Bar to grab a bite to eat.

Features

Good for All Ages Seasonal Great Views

Thoughtfully captured by:

Sarah M Marloff

Sarah Marloff is an award-winning journalist who’s written extensively on women’s and LGBTQ rights, housing, and women in entertainment. Her work has appeared in The Austin Chronicle, The Counter, Washington City Paper, Curbed, and more. After spending her twenties working as both a preschool teacher and a long-time nanny, she knows a thing or two about what makes kids thrive. When she’s not writing, she’s either practicing yoga or exploring the great outdoors with her wife and trusty sidekick, Sid Vicious the Chiweenie.

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