The public transportation in the city of Austin is provided by the
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and is form of buses,
metro rails and streetcars. In addition there is an Amtrak station
which connects Austin to other stations by rail. The intercity bus
services are provided by the Greyhound Bus Services and there are a
number of US Highways, Interstate highways and Toll ways crisscrossing
the city. The air traffic is looked after by the Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport.

A visitor can enjoy a number of free activities in Austin, some of which
are listed as follows:

The East 6th Street, originally known as Pecan
Street, is one of the oldest streets in the city of Austin in which
tourists can visit
the historic sites and indulge in shopping during the day time and
enjoy live musical performances and events held during the night.
Individuals who are eager to explore the multicultural aspect of the
city of Austin must visit this place although they are firmly advised
to leave before the breaking hours of dawn.

The Congress Bridge in the city is an important
landmark and is home to a large population of bats who slumber during
the day and embark
on their nocturnal adventures as soon as the sun sets and darkness
envelopes the city. There are approximately half a million bats who
reside
under the bridge and they are estimated to consume at least 10,000 to
30,000 pounds of insects between them.

The Elisabet Ney Museum is the former home of the
renowned German sculptress Elisabet Ney who immortalized many of the
Europeans and
Texan heroes by making their busts and statues and keeping them around
in her workshop which she referred to as Formosa.

The Austin State Cemetery is the tranquil resting
place of some of the great names associated with the city of Austin like
Stephen F.
Austin and Barbara Jordan. This picturesque 18-acre cemetery also
houses the graves of the 2200 veteran soldiers of the Confederate Army
along
with an information center for visitors.

The Texas Memorial Museum features a large
collection of artifacts which have been important findings in historical
and anthropological
research along with dinosaurs and rocks. The museum focuses primarily
on the natural history of the state and on the facts surrounding the New
World as well.

The Harry Ransom Center is home to the original
Gutenberg Bible which was created in 1456 along with musical
compositions and manuscripts
of Beethoven, Galileo and Hemingway. The other noteworthy attractions
are a book library, the first ever photograph taken and theater art
pieces.

 The O. Henry House Museum served formerly as the
residence of the author William Sydney Porter and was constructed in
1891. The house is
decorated with photographs, personal belongings, writing desk and the
original furniture of the author along with his collection of rare books
including the famed 'The Gift of the Magi'. The added attractions are a
gift shop full of books, video tapes, writing clubs and sponsorship of
some local events.

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Explore Austin