Plan your getaway during the spring or summer season to see the Mexican free-tailed bats who migrate to Austin and make home under the Congress Avenue bridge. Visiting the bridge is free and many tourists arrive at dusk to see the bats emerge en masse. Some nearby restaurants, such as Shoreline Grill on San Jacinto Boulevard, offer superb views of the bridge and reasonably priced entrees and appetizers. The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Austin hotel, in the university area, provides affordable accommodations to travelers visiting the Texas capital city. Rates range from $89.95 to $105.95 per night for a two-night stay, and guests enjoy easy access to a variety of area attractions and landmarks. During your Austin getaway, explore the Texas State Capitol or the University of Texas campus for free. Tour the interactive exhibits and special-effects shows at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Admission prices ranged from $4 for children to $7 for adults as of September 2010. Visit Austin's Guadalupe Street if you prefer shopping for a variety of clothing, furniture and gift shops.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin - University Area
959 Reinli Street
Austin, TX 78751
512-302-5550
marriott.com
The Wyndham Dallas Love Field offers a variety of specially priced travel packages for those wishing to visit the Dallas area. Book the Girls' Night Out package and save money on lodging and food expenses. The $169 to $189 per night package includes deluxe overnight accommodations, a large pizza, bottle of wine, free in-room movie and breakfast buffet. Dallas also plays home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) and the new Cowboys Stadium, the world's largest domed structure. You can take a VIP guided tour of the stadium year-round, or opt for the self-guided tour as a cheaper alternative. Prices for the self-guided tour ranged from $14.50 to $17.50 in September 2010. Budget-conscious travelers can see variety of free attractions in the Dallas area. See one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence as well as William Shakespeare's First Folio of Comedies, Histories and Tragedies on permanent display at the Dallas Central Public Library on Young Street. Or browse through Dallas' West End neighborhood which features a variety of specialty boutiques, restaurants and clubs. Summer nights provide travelers the opportunity to listen to free concerts while walking through the lively streets of the West End district.
Wyndham Dallas Love Field
3300 W.Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, TX 75235
214-357-8500
wyndham.com
Spend your getaway in San Antonio, the most visited city in Texas. Visit the San Antonio River Walk and peruse the area's trendy shops and ethnic restaurants. Basketball fans may want to visit the AT&T Center and watch the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Zoo at Brackenridge Park is a cost-effective San Antonio attraction for families, and features interactive education programs as well as several endangered-species exhibits. The snow leopard and both the white and black rhinoceros are some endangered species you can see at the San Antonio Zoo. Admission prices range from $5 to $10, as of September 2010. Botanical gardens, including a Japanese tea garden, picnic areas and jogging trails are among other cheap or free attractions at Brackenridge Park.
San Antonio Zoo
North St. Marys St
San Antonio, TX 78212
210-734-7183
sazoo-aq.org
