Discovering your town: Austin, TX

Though technically Austin is not my hometown, it's not too far from our residence and it's definitely a fascinating place to explore.

The Hope Outdoor gallery is one of Austin's iconic and popular spot. It was situated in the heart of downtown Austin on a steep, stair stepped lot. It's fascinating to see the artistic expressions of so many.  In Jan 2019 it was decided to move the venue to a more accessible location.

Austin's Pennybacker bridge is a must-visit site. The arched suspension bridge stretches across the beautifu Colorado river. There is a short but steep hike to the top of the hill that is definitely worth the effort because the 360 degree views of the hills and the river are breathtaking.

There is no dearth of venues for outdoor adventure in Austin. Mount Bonnell is a great place to take a hike and take in some scenic views once you reach the peak. The steep steps leading up to the peak are flanked by majestic trees and beautiful foliage.

 You can spend hours taking in the gorgeous views from Mount Bonnell. On a clear day the Austin skyline can be seen in the distance.

If you love the outdoors you can be sure that you will not be disappointed in the hill country. You will be spending every  hour exploring trails, visiting parks, climbing hills and thoroughly enjoying the hill country landscape.

McKinney Falls State park in Austin was another interesting place to visit. The waterfalls cascade from limestone outcropping into tranquil swimming holes. The holes in the rocks and the trees growing out of the rocky outcrop gave this place a barren, Mad Max vibe. But once you reach the trail and walk through the woods, there is shade and a lot of neat picnic areas to relax and listen to the birds. Don't expect some sort of majestic falls but it maybe a good idea to visit after the rains when the pool and streams are full.

You cannot visit the capital of Texas without visiting the stunning Texas State Capitol. The tall majestic structure built of pink granite is a stunning visual to the Austin skyline. The architecture, the details, and the beauty in every nook and cranny has to be experienced. I could allot one whole day to visiting the Capitol and its immaculate grounds dotted with sculptures.

Texas Senate Chamber - That ceiling!

The rotunda at the Texas State Capitol

The devil is in the details! Beautiful stairwell with impeccable woodwork!

The Capitol dome's interior

 Terrazzo mosaic showing the seals of the six nations that ruled Texas 

Texas Rangers monument on the grounds of the Capitol

There's so much more in Austin and you need more than a few visits to enjoy all the beautiful sights. And no visit to Austin is complete without meandering through the UT Austin campus. But that will be another post.

 UT Austin - Clock tower

Windy City - Chi Town

A short  two day trip to Chicago is not how you want to experience the city but we didn't have more time than that so we just decided to cover the touristy spots - Millenium park, Grant Park, and  of course the Chicago Riverwalk.

I could sit and watch the boats pull in and out all day long. And as the sun faded and the lights came on, the waterfront turned magical. The shimmering reflection of the city lights on Lake Michigan, the cool breeze, the boats pulling in and and out as their owners stopped by to get a drink or bite to eat , strolling along the Riverwalk people watching and enjoying the night - it is surely is the best way to spend an evening in the Windy city.

And no tour of a city is complete without appreciating it's amazing street art.
Stunning Mural by Ella Pitr.

A tram car turned restaurant in downtown Chicago.

A gorgeous sunny day at Millenium park - the Bean, Buckingham Fountain at Grant park, the beautiful foliage at Millenium park, and watching the sail boats on the river made this vacation perfect!

We ended the day with a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Anyone who loves architecture would thoroughly enjoy the exquisite homes with impeccable landscaping. But that's a whole different post for another day.

 

The Bean

Millenium Park

New York, New York

I've been to NYC a couple of times though not specifically as a vacation trip. We would go to NY to help our son move in or out from his dorm and in between I would try to catch some sights.

I don't think I've actually visited any of the touristy places. I  try to walk the streets of NY, explore the various boroughs and try to get the flavor of the city as much as I can without actually being a NewYorker.

Our first visit to the city wasn't a whole lot of exploration of the city since we spent a lot of our time in new student orientation, helping with dorm room stuff and college events. We managed to explore and see the city a bit more on subsequent visits. 

One such visit we stayed in Chelsea and decided to do a walking tour in that area. We also visited High line park which is a gorgeous park built on an unused railroad track. You forget that you are in a bustling city when you walk along this tranquil park. 

I passed this centuries old structure in East Village- the Middlechurch , built in 1892. This beautiful church with red brick walls and  tall spires is one of the oldest of the collegiate churches.

Who can miss the iconic Empire Building that anchors much of the midtown area and towers majestically even through fog and rain.

We enjoyed the  colorful and vibrant street art in Chelsea that lined the walls as we walked towards High Line Park.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi on 31st Street , built in 1892.

The Empire State building glowing in the foggy night.

The Astor place Cube is another integral part of the East Village streetscape. This sculpture by Bernard Rosenthal was installed in 1967 with the goal of bringing art to the community where people could interact and experience the beauty in their daily commute and walks.

Another favorite of mine is the Flatiron building in, of course, the Flatiron district. Located at the intersection of Fifth and Broadway, this iconic building was designed by Daniel Burnham in 1902. The narrow portion of the building is only 6.5 feet wide!

Cooper Triangle is a small park that pays homage to Peter Cooper, inventor, philanthropist and founder of Cooper Union, a college for the advancement of  engineering and science. Th park was also the venue of an important speech by Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The northern end of this triangular park has a large bronze statue of a seated Peter Cooper on a marble pedestal. One of the beauties of NYC are these quaint parks and bits of lush greenery and foliage amongst the steel and concrete structures.

 As I was darting from one event to another, I caught sight of this unusual looking facade and took a quick shot of the building. I later learned that this was one of the academic buildings of Cooper Union, a private undergraduate college. The building was designed by Thom Mayne and it's structure represents the innovative aspirations of  the school and its advancements in the areas of art, architecture, and engineering. The sinuous, curved exterior  and the perforated steel facade opens up the building and allows for interaction between school and community.

41 Cooper Suare - iconic building designed by Thom Mayne

And what trip is complete without the quintessential NYC skyline shining bright at night. This was a quick shot from a moving car as we were leaving the city to attend a family event in New Jersey.

It was spring and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom during that trip. Springtime is one of the best seasons to visit the East Coast!

Pic Credit: Nithya Ramachandran