Day 1 – Arrival in Austin, TX

Arrive in Austin and transfer to your hotel in the hill country outside the city.  Gather with your fellow Smithsonian travelers for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel, followed by a lecture by your Smithsonian Journeys Expert. Then attend an exclusive star party with local astronomers, stargazing beneath the waning crescent moon and enjoying s’mores and Italian hot chocolate around a cozy fire. (R,D)

Day 2 – Flora and Fauna of the Hill Country

This morning, explore Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, a 5,500-acre ranch that is one of the largest habitat restoration projects in Texas. Join Executive Director April Sansom for an up-close look at the native plants and wildlife of Texas Hill Country and the innovative ways that the “worst ranch land in Texas” was restored to a thriving, sustainable ecosystem. Watch a demonstration of the ranch’s rain machine; tour the world’s largest manmade bat cave, which reduces the need for harmful pesticides; and observe a herd of scimitar-horned oryx, a desert species that is extinct in the wild. The Conservation and Research Center of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is working with Bamberger Ranch to reintroduce the species to its native habitats in North Africa.

After lunch, tour Wildseed Farms, America’s largest working wildflower farm, where bluebonnets and native wildflowers blanket 200 rolling acres in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the charming town of Fredericksburg before returning to your hotel this evening. (L)

Day 3 – Stars of the Lone Star State

Begin the day with a private tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Discovery Center, situated in the “bluebonnet belt.” The former first lady helped beautify the region—and the country—by planting miles and miles of wildflowers as part of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act. Stroll among hundreds of native species in gardens and parklands brilliant with spring blooms, and learn about the center’s important work in wildflower conservation. Sit down to a private lunch and a talk by your Smithsonian Journeys Expert in the center’s Great Hall.

Spend the afternoon on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, where you’ll visit the Department of Astronomy—one of the top-ranked astronomy programs in the nation. Learn about the latest research on cosmology and the evolution of galaxies and stars, and, weather permitting, see a projected view of the sun through their solar telescope. Continue to the newly renovated Texas Memorial Museum, dedicated to science and natural history, and join the directors for a hands-on visit to the paleontology collection—and insights into how they reimagined the 84-year-old museum’s exhibitions to adapt to the times. Tonight, get acquainted with a beloved Texas staple during a Texas Taco cooking demonstration with a local chef. Learn the proper way to press masa into tortillas, make your own salsa, and hear the spicy secrets of different chili varieties. Then dig into the delectable feast you’ve prepared.  (L,D)

Day 4 – A Toast to Totality: Eclipse Day

Kick off your day-long celestial celebration at Becker Vineyards, a premier Hill Country winery that was much loved by Lady Bird Johnson.  You’ll have exclusive access to the 300-acre family-owned estate, where the vineyards are complemented by wildflower meadows and fields of lavender—which will begin to bloom in early April. During a private reception in the barrel chai, or wine storeroom, learn how to create lavender products and participate in a hands-on wine-blending experience.  Enjoy lunch and live music on the estate’s expansive lawn. Then don eclipse glasses as the moon begins to obscure the sun, and experience four and a half minutes of eerie darkness during the total eclipse. Afterwards, your Smithsonian Journeys Expert will discuss the eclipse and answer your questions. Return to Austin this evening to toast your astronomical adventure at a celebratory Texas BBQ dinner. (L,D,R)

Please note: Visibility of the eclipse depends on weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Day 5 – Depart for Home

Depart the hotel at any time for individual flights home.