When you think of Texas, you may envision cowboy boots and hot summer days. While you’re attending CHEST 2014 from October 25 to 30 in Austin, Texas, we encourage you to trade those cowboy boots for hiking boots or athletic shoes, and get outside during your free time.
With temperatures averaging in the mid to upper 70s in October, Austin visitors will enjoy the sunshine and moderate climate. You may be surprised to find many opportunities for outdoor exploration within this urban metropolis.
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Located 20 minutes away from the Austin Convention Center by bus or 10 minutes away by car, Zilker Metropolitan Park is Austin’s largest and most popular park. The park offers hiking and biking trails, sand volleyball courts, picnic tables, and much more. If you love the water, you’ll enjoy Barton Springs Pool, a spring fed swimming hole that is always 68 degrees, and you can also paddle a canoe on Town Lake. Plus, Zilker Zephyr miniature train offers a leisurely ride and provides you with views of the park and river.
Other local, scenic spots include McKinney Falls State Park and Mount Bonnell. Located south of Austin, McKinney State Park is home to 635 acres of trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and waterfalls. It’s a great place to camp, fish, and hike. Northwest of Austin, Mount Bonnell is one of Austin’s oldest tourist destinations. Be sure to have water and comfortable shoes because you’ll climb a long staircase to arrive at one of the highest points in Austin. The exercise will pay off when you reach beautiful views of Lake Austin and the city.
Note that both of these destinations are best accessed by car. While buses will take you to these locations from the Convention Center, you will need to allot over an hour for commuting if you plan to take the bus. By car, McKinney Falls State Park is only 15 minutes away from the convention center, and Mount Bonnell is a short 11-minute ride.
While Austin refreshes you with outdoor beauty and sunshine, CHEST 2014 will energize and recharge you with the latest information in chest medicine. You’ll connect with an international community of the best minds in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Find everything you need to know to make the best clinical decisions and inspire your patient care.
Learn more at chestmeeting.chestnet.org.