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Arrival, information and getting around
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Austin spreads about twenty miles north-south and eighteen miles east-west, severed by I-35 (between Dallas and San Antonio) to the east. The Colorado River runs south of downtown. Flights come in at the tasteful
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
(tel 512/530-2242). Eight miles southeast of downtown at the intersection of highways 71 and 183, it takes about twenty minutes to get downtown by
taxi
(Yellow Checker Cabs; tel 512/472-1111; around $25) or by SuperShuttle vans (tel 512/258-3826,
; $11) while the #100
bus
runs approximately once an hour to the campus and downtown (Mon-Fri 5am-11pm, Sat 7am-11pm, Sun 8am-10.30pm) for a bargain fare of 50A?.
Austin has a good public transportation system. The Capital METRO bus runs downtown, crosstown and through the campus for a flat fare of 50A? (express services charge a dollar), with additional shuttle routes for students - distinguishable by the longhorn emblem beside the route number (Mon-Fri 5.30am-12.30am, times vary widely on Sat & Sun). Schedules are available from the Customer Service Center at 801 Congress Ave (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm), or you can call the METRO information line on 512/474-1200. The Dillo, also run by METRO, is a free downtown trolley system, running along five routes, including three out to the UT campus, every ten to forty minutes between 6.30am and 8.30pm on weekdays; limited schedule on weekends. Bicycles can be rented from Bicycle Sport Shop, 1426 Toomey Rd (Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm; tel 512/477-3472). Walking is an easy and pleasant way of getting around; organized walking tours leave from the south entrance of the capitol (March-Nov Sat 2pm, Sun 9am; tel 512/478-0098).
The
visitor center
is at 201 E Second St (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm; tel 512/478-0098 or 1-800/926-2282,
) and there's a State Tourist Information Center (daily 9am-5pm; tel 512/305-8400) in the foyer of the state capitol (free), with changing exhibits of Texacana and a video presentation. The
post office
is at 510 Guadalupe St (Mon-Fri 7am-6.30pm, Sat 8am-3pm; tel 512/494-2210; zip code 78701). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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United States,
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