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Congress Avenue Bridge Bat WatchingvsZilker Metropolitan Park
Both Congress Avenue Bridge / Austin Bats and Zilker Metropolitan Park are rated very highly by travel writers. On balance, Congress Avenue Bridge / Austin Bats ranks marginally higher than Zilker Metropolitan Park. Congress Avenue Bridge / Austin Bats comes in at #5 in Austin with positive reviews from 6 reviewers including Fodor's, Atlas Obscura and Afar Magazine.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching
Fodor's
Not For Tourists
Travel + Leisure
Afar Magazine
Atlas Obscura
Time Out
100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
From $0/night
Fodor's "While you’re waiting for the bats, make sure not to miss the view to the West as the sun drops below the jagged skyline of the Texas Hill Country." Full review
Not For Tourists "1.5 million bats swarm nightly- sunset March-October."
Travel + Leisure "While they're here, the bats fly out from under the bridge every evening to feast on Austin insects." Full review
Afar Magazine "The largest urban bat colony in North America, Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge is the home to hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tail bats from mid-March to mid-October. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats. " Full review
Time Out "The Congress Avenue Bridge is the world’s largest urban bat colony with a whopping 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats living underneath it." Full review
Zilker Metropolitan Park Travel + Leisure Not For Tourists Afar Magazine Time Out Time Out Time Out Time Out Time Out Time Out Time Out Show All Reviews
2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
From $0/night
Travel + Leisure "When it isn’t hosting concerts such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, a three-day event held each October, Zilker Park is a popular spot for locals to enjoy the outdoors." Full review
Not For Tourists "Home of Austin City Limits festival and massive family park."
Afar Magazine "Pack your picnic baskets and head out to Zilker Park for an evening of live, local music." Full review
Time Out "It’s one of the most surefire spots in town to socialize—you’re bound to run into old friends along the hillsides if you’re local, and likely to make new friends if you stick around long enough." Full review
Time Out "You and your young ones can picnic or explore the gardens while witnessing the full mating and life cycles of this fascinating, totally nonaggressive avian family." Full review
Time Out "Explore the park by hike-and-bike trail or settle down by the swimming pool." Full review
Time Out "The mosaic flamingo glitters next to the pool at Patterson Park but you can also play tennis, basketball or barbecue at one of four pits. " Full review
Time Out "You can sign up for a volleyball, fast-pitch softball, basketball or wrestling league at the rec center here, or use the dance studio, computer lab, gym, boxing club or weight room." Full review
Time Out "Dove Springs features a pool, sports fields, picnic tables, barbecue pits and more. " Full review
Time Out "Rosewood Recreation Center and Doris Miller Auditorium can be found at Rosewood Park along with athletic fields, barbecue pits, picnic tables, a pool and playground. " Full review
