Texas Triangle Mini-Circuit – Austin

🗺️ TRIANGLE LOGIC Austin ➡️ San Antonio: 1 h 20 min I-35 S San Antonio ➡️ San Marcos: 50 min I-35 N San Marcos ➡️ Austin Airport: 30 min – perfect fly-out shopping. All spots: walkable / 15-min Uber max. Parking: street or lot – bring quarters & patience. 🏛️ AUSTIN – “PINK PALACE + LAKE MIRROR” 1⃣️ TEXAS CAPITOL Where: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 Parking: street meters $1.5/hr (2-hr max, reset timer). Hack: arrive 10 a.m. – free tour every 15 min, pink granite glows rose-gold. Shot: stand centre-star under dome – 16 mm symmetrical vortex. Time: 60-90 min (tour + selfies). 2⃣️ THE OASIS on LAKE TRAVIS Where: 6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732 Drive: 25 min west (mountain ridge = pretty itself). Parking: free before 18:00; after = $5 cash. Hack: arrive 18:15 – grab railing seat, blood-orange margarita, wait for sky show. Shot: 85 mm – sun drops behind hills, lake mirrors gradient. Bonus: sometimes bell rings at sunset – crowd cheers (not guaranteed, but magic). 🌵 SAN ANTONIO – “CAVERNS + RIVER + ALAMO” 1⃣️ NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS Where: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266 Book: online – Discovery Tour = 90 min, $32, enough for first-timers. Hack: = humid + 22 °C inside – wear T-shirt, bring water. Shot: phone low-angle – stalactites + LED lights = cathedral vibes. 2⃣️ SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK Where: downtown loop, 2.5 km canal. Restaurant: Boudro’s – reserve online, ask for river-edge table. Order: Blue Crab Tostada + Guacamole – table-side guac show = free dinner theatre. Hack: boat ride $14, 30 min – mariachi on board = free concert. 3⃣️ THE ALAMO Where: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205 Hack: free entry, open till 19:00 – night walk = cooler + fewer crowds. Shot: stone façade + live oaks = history filter, no filter needed. Bonus: night walk = locals chatting, breeze, “am I in Europe?” vibes. 🛍️ SAN MARCOS – “OUTLET EXIT” 4⃣️ SAN MARCOS PREMIUM OUTLETS Where: 3939 IH-35 South, San Marcos, TX 78666 Hack: go before 11 a.m. – cooler, shorter queues. Brands: Gucci, Burberry, YSL, Coach, Nike x UT. Tax refund: 5-8 % if passport + same-day receipt (ask info desk). Hack: parking free, but huge – note row number or wander forever. 💰 TRIANGLE BUDGET (per person) Gas split 3-way 60 $ Caverns 32 $ Boudro’s 35 $ Outlet your choice Oasis drink 12 $ ≈ 139 USD – food-heavy, memory-max. 📸 TRIANGLE CLIP LIST Capitol dome symmetry Caverns stalactite close-up Boudro’s guac spoon slow-mo Alamo night stone + oak Outlet bag tower selfie 🎯 ONE-SENTENCE TAKE-AWAY “Texas triangle = pink dome sunrise, cavern cathedral, river mariachi, lake sunset, outlet bags – all within 3 hours of each other, all under 140 bucks.” 🤠 #US #Texas #Austin