Tour Ideas: Have a Look Around
When work is done, there's still lots to do in Austin. The Austin CVB can help you arrange for organized tours for your attendees, or you can put together some itineraries of your own including our famous live music, delicious food, outdoor activities and more.
General Austin Tours
- Historic Walking Tours
Discover where the weird began with informative, free walking tours of historic Congress Avenue and East Sixth Street, the Bremond Block or Texas State Cemetery. Self-guided tour brochures are also available at the Visitors Center. - Austin Duck Adventures
Hop aboard Austin Duck Adventures' amphibious vehicles for a unique tour along city streets and past historic sites — and right into Lady Bird Lake. - Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)
ABIA marks the first conversion of a U.S. Air Force Base to commercial airport since the end of the Cold War. Tours are provided for groups and are scheduled weekdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Advance reservations are necessary, and there are maximum sizes for groups. 512-530-2242.
High Tech Tours
Nicknamed "The Silicon Hills," Austin is headquarters for some of the nation's largest high-tech firms — including many software developers, custom computer equipment manufacturers, bioscience firms and more. Certain firms open their doors for visitors with advance permission, including:
- Applied Materials: The global leader in nanomanufacturing technology solutions has a research, development and manufacturing division located in East Austin. 512-272-2120
- National Instruments: A pioneer in virtual instrumentation, NI delivers hardware and software-based automation and measurement tools from its north Austin headquarters. 512-683-8028; two-weeks notice required.
Agricultural and Market Tours
Austin is not just the state capital — we're also the center of a large agricultural region. Many local farms and markets are open for visitors from all over, with guided tours by pre-arrangement.
Farms:
- Boggy Creek Farm
This five-acre urban organic farm is located — astonishingly — just a few miles from downtown (additional farming land located in nearby Gause, Texas). Popular Wednesday and Saturday morning markets at the farm begin at 9 a.m., with one-hour tours available by appointment. 512-926-4650. - Millberg Farm
This certified organic farm utilizes permaculture techniques to grow peaches, pecans and various heirloom vegetables. Located just south of Austin in Kyle, with tours available November—May by appointment. 512-268-1433 - Pure Luck Organic Farm
Specializing in handmade artisan goat cheese and certified organic culinary herbs, Pure Luck is at heart a family farm. Private group tours of this Dripping Springs treasure can be arranged in advance. 512-858-7034 or 800-256-8628 - Larsen Farms
Bud Larsen and his son Nick oversee one of Texas' oldest goat-cheese-making operations. Located southwest of Austin in Blanco, Larsen Farms produces more than 4,000 pounds of hand-rolled cheese each month for 200 eateries and groceries across the state. 830-833-5192
Farmers' Markets:
- The Austin Farmers' Market is a project of the nonprofit Sustainable Food Center, offering seasonal produce grown within 150 miles of Austin, along with fresh-baked breads, free-range eggs, natural meat and cheese and much more. The weekly Saturday and Wednesday markets, located downtown and at the Triangle respectively, are popular gathering spots for the entire Austin community.
- Sunset Valley Farmers' Market
This weekly open-air market at the Toney Burger Center in South Austin offers fresh foods, live music, kids' entertainment and much more in a lively festival atmosphere. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Sunset Valley Farmers' Market was voted by Eating Well magazine as one of the top five such markets in the country.
Austin-Original Grocery Stores:
- Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1980 as one small store in Austin, Whole Foods Market is now the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods. Tours of the 80,000-square-foot downtown flagship store and Culinary Center can be prearranged. 512-476-1206 - Central Market
This amazing culinary experience offers aisles overflowing with top-quality produce, more than 200 varieties of fresh seafood, top-quality meats, a European-style bakery and much more. Tours available by arrangement. 512-206-1000
