Operating between 5 am and 10 pm, the Zilker Park is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city. It is termed as 'Austin's Most Loved Park' and covers an area of 351 acres of land. It is located at Barton Springs Road. A nominal parking fee of $3 must be paid by visitors during the holidays and weekends, especially from middle of March through Labor Day.

Zilker Park is divided into various segments showcasing different things and providing space for entertainment. You can swim inside the Barton Springs Pool or take the train ride known as Zilker Zephyr. You can also go out on a hike adventure or bike trails. The Zilker Botanical Garden contains Austin Area Garden Center and Taniguchi Oriental Garden which is wonderful to watch. If you want some more activity, do play golf at the 9 hole course or play sand volleyballs.

There are picnic service areas as well. If you are inclined towards science, then the Austin Nature and Science Center is perfect for you. Watch the displays of Texas wildlife or have hands on experience with the help of interactive science and nature trails. The Splash Environmental Exhibit will provide education on Edwards Aquifer.

You can also visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum showcasing works of Charles Umlauf. Enjoy the events at Zilker Hillside Theater. Witness the Austin Sunshine Camp organized by Young Men's Business League. Rent a boat and enjoy the ride on the Barton creek and also the Kite Festival in Zilker Park Austin.

Collect more info and ideas for your visit from the links here:

Information about Zilker Park in Austin, Texas

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/

Explore the Zilker Botanical Garden area

http://www.zilkergarden.org/gardens/gardens.html

Boat rental near Barton Springs Pool

http://www.zilkerboats.com/

Kite Festival at Zilker Park in Austin

http://www.zilkerkitefestival.com/Webpages/index.php

Zilker Park on Citysearch

http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/11402207/austin_tx/zilker_park.html

Located in the heart of south Austin, Zilker Park is a public recreational area, serving as a hub of various recreational activities and events each year. The park boasts over 350 acres, which makes it a functional venue for large scale events like Zilker Park Kite Festival and Zilker Park Tree Lighting and Trail of Lights.

Could you hardly sit still and itching to have a go for these activities? Well, go ahead! However, if you intend to go in your own car, there may be a little inconvenience, as there is no parking at the festival site. For some large scale events, the park provides parking facilities, but the options are a bit different.

Zilker Park Kite Festival - Spanning over 80 years, the Zilker Park Kite Festival is one of the oldest annual events in Austin. As a free event, the festival is held for one day each March in the park. This is a day for anyone to fly kites.

Zilker Park Kite Festival Intro

http://www.zilkerkitefestival.com/

During the festival, Barton Springs Road will be closed from 9am to 6pm. If you drive to the park, you can get free parking at the State parking lots, located at 1604 Colorado Street. Then take shuttle to the park. Shuttles begin at 10am and run continuously until 3pm. The last shuttle goes out from the park at 5:30pm. So don't miss the last shuttle, if you park your car at the State parking lot.

Parking is also available in Zilker Park on the Polo fields and is limited. You can get to the location from the Mopac service road. It is free, but there are only a few spaces. So maybe early bird can catch a parking space. If the Kite Festival is delayed because of weather, there may be a fee of parking at the Polo Fields. But this would only occur on the condition of postponement.

Special Needs Parking is available and free in the park. Ensure to have the special needs hanging designation with you. The Special Needs Parking lot is located on the south of Barton Springs Road just across from the festive site. Show your special needs parking designation and ask the police to let you in.

The Palmer Events Center may provide free parking facilities for the Kite Festival, relying on their events schedule. The center is located just down Barton Springs Road east of Lamar.

Zilker Park Tree Lighting and Trail of Lights - The festival is an annual event that happens in the holiday season and begins with the lighting of the Zilker Tree. The tree is 155 feet in height with 3500 multi-colored lights. Take a short walk from the lighting tree, you will find the trail of lights.

Austin's Zilker Tree and Trail of Lights Intro

http://www.texastripper.com/festivals/austin-zilker-tree-trail.html

On that day, the Barton Springs entrance to the park will be closed during the evenings. All traffic must enter via the northbound frontage road of MoPac. To our delight, free on-site parking is available in Zilker Park Polo Fields and hard surface lots.

There are also parking facilities for people with an appropriate handicapped parking permit or license plates. Be sure your hanging permit is clearly and readily shown at the moment you enter the park.

Various Transportations: Parking is not encouraged in surrounding neighborhoods, especially during the festival. For safety concerns, a few nearby streets will be closed and parking will be restricted during the festival. However, you don't have to be distressed about how to get to the park, as there are many different ways to reach there.

To help make Austin "green" year round, folks are encouraged to ride Capital Metro to Zilker Park. You can find their trip planner at:

http://www.capmetro.org/planner/

Taking the free shuttle is another ideal option. The shuttle will pick you up at Republic Square at 4th and Guadalupe in downtown Austin. This round trip shuttle service is completely free. Shuttles begin at 2:30pm and run continuously until 11pm.

Taxis are also readily available. With convenient access to the entrance and exit, there is a designated area for loading and uploading.

If you desire to visit the Zilker Park from any of the hotels Austin Texas, first confirm that they offer tour services. There are tour companies that take rounds about various historical and cultural sites and give you an overview of the park. One such tour that can give you the chance to enjoy the park is:

http://www.austinovertures.com/

Activities at Zilker Park

Zilker Park has many recreational activities such as picnics, canoeing, walks, games, bicycle trails, sculpture garden and miniature train rides. The park also hosts the annual Austin city music festival in September which is a great attraction for music lovers. This park is considered Austin's most loved park and is home to the Zilker Botanical Gardens. The park can be viewed on:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Texas/Austin-875823/Things_To_Do-Austin-Zilker_Park-BR-1.html

There's the Zilker Hillside Theatre which hosts concerts, plays and musicals. The park is famous for the Burton Springs pool which is fed by a spring and has a constant annual temperature of 68 degrees. From the park there are many hotels in Austin that are at close proximity and have very good rates. If in Texas, make a point of visiting the Zilker Park and enjoy the beauty, history and culture offered here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Visitor+info+of+zilker+park+Austin+texas&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Austin hotel rooms are comfortable and relaxing especially the ones that gives you a good view of the Zilker Park. These rooms will definitely make your stay memorable and fun. There are many services and other amenities to choose from to add to the pleasure of your stay. An overview of the hotel's rooms and services are available on this site:

1. Choose the Room You Want in Austin

To help you make the best choice, there are available photos of the rooms Austin hotels offer that are specially situated near the Zilker Park. Other information about the room and room services are also available on this site:

http://www.hotels-rates.com/hotels/locations/Austin/TX/usa/339/

2. Rooms and Services

This would surely help people who want to stay in one of these hotels choose a room which best fits their needs and wants. All rooms are great to stay at. The relaxing atmosphere of these rooms due to the great view of the Zilker Park, plus the additional amenities and services would satisfactorily make anyone's stay comforting and fun. The hotel staffs thought of ways to best serve all guests and make their stay the best ever. There is no need to stress about other things guests need because the rooms are not only spacious and inviting but also well-equipped to go along with the guests demanding and busy lifestyles.

Austin hotels near Zilker Park promise clean and cozy rooms to relax the tired soul in you. There are several rooms designed to answer different needs and tastes. Different types of beds are also available to make your stay more relaxing.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-191502013-austin_hotels-i-nearoid-2742078-radius-10-sort-distance

3. Special Rooms

Aside from these great offers, there are also rooms specially built to cater to guest with disabilities making their stay more comfortable. All guests are valued by Austin hotels situated near Zilker Park. That is the reason why the management and staff take the extra step to give guests what they deserve.