Free public park and gardens filled with peacocks and peahens.

A grove of colossal man-made flowers built to collect the sun's rays.

A high-octane shrine to the greatest Texans who ever lived.

A view-altering observatory at the University of Texas.

This simple frog painting created by musician Daniel Johnston embodies the spirit of Austin.

The upstairs reading room is packed with millions of rare books, literary manuscripts, and historical treasures.

This small stone building, the final work of a renowned artist, offers a peaceful environment with radiant, colorful glass windows .

Turning night into day in Victorian-era Austin to thwart a serial killer.

Locals dubbed it the "Owl Building" because of its bird-like appearance.

A store full of vintage and indie toys designed to bring out the kid in even the crustiest of adults.

This failed condo development was reborn as a street art hub.

An exquisite grouping of structures made from 10 tons of invasive saplings.

This stone windmill marks an old, mysterious homestead in what is now central Austin.

Home to an endangered salamander, a full moon celebration, and a large spring-fed outdoor swimming pool.

A free, canine-friendly alternative watering hole near the more famous Barton Springs.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

An authentic replica of an Asian temple and garden hidden amongst the natural beauty of Hawai'i.

This stockpile of junked electronic and mechanical gadgets is a favorite among Hollywood prop masters.

Hollywood's most famous landmark, the "temporary" sign that has stood for decades longer than intended.

A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

The deepest lake in the United States, and once the site of epic destruction that lives on in legends.

A Victorian-style home known as the “Castle on the Hill.”

A stunning, abandoned limestone quarry in southern Indiana provided the stone to erect the Empire State Building.

The world's largest collection of mechanical puzzles is a cornucopia of analog bafflers.