Day 1 – Arrival in Austin, TX

Arrive in Austin and settle into your hotel downtown. Late this afternoon, take to the Colorado River on a chartered dinner cruise through downtown Austin, enjoying live music at sunset. Pass beneath the iconic Congress Avenue “bat bridge,” home to the world’s largest colony of urban bats. Watch as an estimated 1.5-million female bats emerge at sunset—a thrilling nature show in the heart of the city. (R,D)

Please note: Guests will stay at the Hyatt Regency Austin or similar.

Day 2 – Wildflowers, Canyons, and Galaxies

Begin the morning with a private tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, situated in the “bluebonnet belt.” Stroll among hundreds of native species in gardens and natural areas brilliant with spring blooms, and learn about the center’s important work in wildflower conservation. Continue to the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, a nature reserve where you’ll enjoy exclusive access to rare habitats. Take a guided hike that begins in the savanna and brings you through a lush canyon to a waterfall with a hidden grotto. At the on-site Environmental Learning Center, a model of sustainable architecture, see an innovative solar observatory and learn about the analemma, or solar calendar. Visit a bird blind for a chance to see the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, among other species. This evening, gather for a private astronomy program with views of constellations, planets, the Milky Way, and satellites at either the Reimer Observatory, an international dark sky park, or on the rooftop of University of Texas at Austin’s Physics, Math and Astronomy building with invited faculty from the university. (L,D)

Day 3 – Hill Country Habitats

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 learn how the “worst ranch land in Texas” was restored to a thriving, sustainable ecosystem. Watch a demonstration of the ranch’s rain machine, 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. This afternoon, join interpretive staff at Pedernales Falls State Park for a private lecture in the park’s amphitheater and a guided visit. Go bird-watching with local naturalists, and hike to Pedernales Falls to discover 300 million-year-old fossils embedded in the limestone flats surrounding the falls. This evening, gaze at the sky with the park’s interpreter, hearing the legends behind the stars and constellations. (L,D)

Day 4 – Eclipse Day

Head to Fredericksburg, in the heart of Texas Hill Country and right in the path of totality for today’s solar eclipse. Kick off your day-long celebration at Becker Vineyards, one of the premier wineries in Texas. Enjoy an exclusive tasting and tour of the 300-acre estate, which has hosted former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, among others. Toast the eclipse at a private reception in the barrel chai, or wine storeroom, and sit down to lunch in the estate’s Lavender Haus as the moon begins to pass in front of the sun. Gather in the garden to experience four and a half minutes of eerie darkness during the total eclipse. Afterwards, Smithsonian Journeys Experts will discuss the eclipse and answer your questions. Return to Austin this evening for a final celebratory 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.