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  • Closed Top Sprinter
  • By Request Only

Offbeat & Hidden Austin Bus Tour with Multiple Stops

Quick Details

Get the iconic sights mixed with the unexpected on this offbeat Austin tour!

  • Duration: 2.5 hours
  • Pickup and Drop-off: Austin Visitor Center
  • Stops (subject to change): Driskill Hotel, Barton Springs, Texas State Cemetery
  • Vehicle Type: A closed Mercedes-Benz sprinter van.
  • Extras: Receive discounts through our Pink Tag Partners Program
  • Guide Tips: On this tour, we get out for light (optional) walks so be sure to:
    1. Wear comfortable shoes
    2. Bring a hat (with ties to prevent it flying away)
    3. Bring water to drink (in sealed containers – no cup holders on board)
    4. Bring sunscreen if you need it
From :
$ 56.94 $ 48.40

Come see the unexpected side of Austin!

This tour gives you the behind-the-scenes stories on the heart and soul of Austin’s music scene; the local heroes like Janis Joplin and Matthew McConaughey; and a few of the ghosts who still roam our buildings and streets. Throughout the tour, we will cover roughly 25 attractions and points of interest that include the Bat Bridge, South Congress (SoCo), Pemberton Castle, Austin State Hospital, and the Governor’s Mansion & Capitol, among others.

Who is this tour good for?

This tour is great if you want to know more about how the eccentric history of Austin influences our daily life. Our guides, who are all locals, share the city’s grassroots beginnings, myths and legends, and heartfelt tales of the figures who made Austin such a proudly offbeat place in the heart of Texas.

What you will see on this Offbeat Austin tour

Throughout the tour, we will cover roughly 25 attractions and points of interest that include the Bat Bridge, South Congress (SoCo), Pemberton Castle, Austin State Hospital, and the Governor’s Mansion & Capitol, among others.

Stop to learn about the spiritual side of Barton Springs

We make a quick stop to explore the beauty of Barton Springs Pool and its healing spiritual waters that burst up through the limestone once upon a millennia ago.

While the popular water springs (and creek from which they flow) are named after the frontiersman William Barton and his family, the history and spirituality of this area belongs to the Native American tribes who inhabited the grounds for thousands of years. Learn more from your guide about the water’s metaphysical powers, and the moonlight swims that still happen in this popular recreation area of Austin located inside Zilker Park.

Check out Pease District Park and Pease Mansion

Expect tales of drum circles and a prancing donkey (the annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party is hosted here) from your guide. You’ll also get to learn more about the history of the Pease Mansion, which was completed in 1853 and the home of the eponymous governor and his family for four generations. Today, the grounds are usually bustling with University of Texas students and  locals looking to unwind.

Enjoy stops at local favorites

Along the way, we will make sure to stop at places for you to get those Instagram pictures and stories in! Examples of places we go include the Greetings from Austin mural, Quack’s Bakery, the Driskill, and Texas State Cemetery. Expect to hear plenty of entertaining stories of ghosts, hippies, and yes, even about Austin’s local favorites Willie Nelson, Matthew Mcconaughey, Janis Joplin, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughan.

 

About the Guides

As a family business, AO Tours strives to hire professional guides with enthusiasm and deep knowledge on the state capital of Texas. Depending on the tour, you may be with an actor, a comedian, or local resident who can tell you the best places to eat, where to catch a live show, or where to get off the beaten track. Each tour is a little different than the next thanks to this group, who you can learn more about here.

Important Booking Information

Pickup and Drop-Off Location

602 E. 4th Street (Austin Visitors Center)

Please arrive 20 minutes prior to departure to check-in and board.

NOTE: Seats are subject to resale if we have not heard from you or you are not checked-in 15 minutes prior to departure. Our tours depart on schedule – Thanks!