Austin, TX
Where is the best place to see Texas bluebonnets in 2024? Check out our map
These police officers pose in bluebonnet fields for fun
You’ve seen those cute photos of children and families posing in fields of bluebonnets but these Texas police officers took things to another level.
Monica Lopez, Corpus Christi
We’re in prime bluebonnet viewing season in Texas, which also means it’s time to break out those cameras.
The Texas state flower, known scientifically as Lupinus texensis, normally blooms from late February to early April, according to thetexaswildflower.com. The flowers are most commonly found in fields and are extremely prevalent in Central Texas.
Photos of groups of bluebonnets are stunning. Their colors can vary from blue to purple, and they’re great for personal and nature photography. To get the best shots, here are some locations in Central Texas where bluebonnets thrive:
State parks
Several state parks in Central Texas offer great bluebonnet viewing and photography opportunities, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The most notable parks are Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, Inks Lake State Park, Pedernales Fall State Park, Palmetto State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
All of the parks are within an hour-and-a-half drive from Austin. So, make it a day trip and go see Texas’ official state flower in full bloom.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center features nearly 900 different species of plants, including the star of the show: the bluebonnet. The center allows visitors to get up close and personal with wildflowers of all varieties, making it a great place to view bluebonnets.
The center also features its very own bluebonnet photo station, according to TheAustinThings.com. There’s a small entry fee and reservations are required, but it’ll likely make your bluebonnet photos worth it.
Turkey Bend Recreation Area
Consider heading to Marble Falls to gawk at the bluebonnets growing in Turkey Bend Recreation Area and Muleshoe Bend. It’s a wildflower hotspot, according to TexasHillCountry.com, complete with more than 400 acres of land and views of the Colorado River to boot.
Marble Falls is also home to the aptly named Blue Bonnet Cafe, where visitors can enjoy all-day breakfast and the cafe’s “world famous” pies.
McKinney Falls
Some of the best views of bluebonnet fields come courtesy of McKinney Falls State Park, less than a 30-minute drive from Austin. Waterfalls complement the scenery, and Sierra Schmidt, lead writer and photographer at VeryTrulyTexas.com, recommends the park’s Onion Creek Trail for the best viewing opportunities.
St. Edward’s University
A hometown favorite for bluebonnet viewing is St. Edward’s University, a private, Catholic university situated along South Congress Avenue.
The campus’ bluebonnet fields are a major draw for students and visitors. They even prompted one student to create a map of the best spots to view the flowers.
Austin, TX
Is Matthew McConaughey Running For Governor? Why Campaign Signs Have Been Spotted In Austin, Texas | Whiskey Riff
Is Matthew McConaughey finally throwing his name into the hat of politics?
The Oscar-winning actor and author has been teasing a political run for years. Back in 2024, McConaughey really seemed to be entertaining a run for the governor of Texas. During the election year, the man known for such hit films as Interstellar and Dazed and Confused was asked about his interest again and again.
When he spoke with Forbes about the matter, he didn’t immediately shut the idea down. Rather, he thinks it’s something that he could enter into after he learns more about it:
“Yes. I have thought about running for office, getting into this category. I’m on a learning tour and have been for probably the last six years of understanding what this category means. Do I have instincts, intellect that it would be a good fit for me and I would be a good fit for it. That would be useful. I’m still on that learning tour, and, you know, days like this. I’m learning a lot.”
So considering the fact that “McConaughey for Governor” campaign signs have been spotted in Texas recently, could his learning tour be over?
Lone Star State residents have been freaking out as signage for a Matthew McConaughey political run have popped up in North Texas. People have even reported seeing billboards and yard signs teasing the actor’s transition into politics. In addition, social media users have seen (and videoed) various campaign set ups, and even a large stage installation, on various occasions. As you might imagine, those have gone viral on social media.
Here’s a video of the aforementioned stage installation, which features Texas flags all over the place and “McConaughey for Governor” signs that have a tagline that harkens back to one of his most famous movie roles:
“Be Pretty Cool if You Voted.”
But here’s the deal… Matthew McConaughey is not running for governor of Texas, even though Texans would be alright, alright, alright with him doing so.
As the caption included in FOX4’s post describes, the sightings of “McConaughey for governor” signs are actually for an upcoming Apple TV+ show that will feature Matthew playing a fictionalized version of himself:
“These highly realistic visuals are merely props for ‘Brothers,’ an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series where McConaughey plays a fictionalized version of himself running for political office alongside his close friend, actor Woody Harrelson.”
So to be clear, anything and everything that Texas residents have seen about a potential McConaughey gubernatorial run are actually just realistic (and based on the internet’s response, confusing) set pieces. You can’t blame people for thinking that it might have been real with the Oscar winner publicly showing interest in running for governor in 2022, and teasing political runs in the years since.
While knowing that he isn’t running for office might be a let down, it’s fun to hear that he and Woody Harrelson will be working on a show together that will soon find a home on Apple TV+. And hey, this all might be for a TV series… but maybe they are also doing all of this to gauge how the public would respond to McConaughey running?
Sorry, I’ll take my tinfoil hat off…
Austin, TX
Texas Longhorn fans prepare to travel for showdown in Georgia
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas fans will make the stampede across the southeastern portion of the United States to Athens, Georgia, as the No. 10 Longhorns clash with the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs this upcoming Saturday.
Charlie Dunn, a dedicated Texas Longhorns fan and alumnus, is continuing a cherished tradition of attending road games with his father. “I tell people that I was brainwashed as a young child to go there,” Dunn said. This weekend, the father-son duo will travel to Athens to take in Saturday’s contest inside Sanford Stadium. “For the first time, we get to go, like, to their stadium, which I think is going to be awesome to see,” Dunn added.
They will be joined by thousands of fellow Longhorn fans, including 60 members of the Texas Exes organization. Margaret Williams, travel director for Texas Exes, expressed excitement about the new travel opportunities in the SEC. “It’s really fun now that we’re in the SEC because obviously there’s a lot of new sort of like, you know, travel destinations that we’ve never gone to before,” she said.
The Texas Exes Atlanta Chapter is preparing to welcome alumni and fans with open arms. “They’ll definitely have some warm Texas Longhorn arms to land in regardless of whether they’re in Athens or if they’re in Atlanta,” said Hunter Miranda, fundraising chair for the chapter.
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The group is holding a welcome party and happy hour on Friday at Botica, beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
“For those of us living in Atlanta as Texas fans, we’ve been waiting for the Longhorns to be a part of the SEC,” said chapter vice president Ryan Esparza.
For those unable to attend the game, a watch party is planned. “A really large crew who maybe weren’t able to get tickets are going to be joining the watch party,” said Esparza, with Miranda mentioning that door prizes will be given out.
Despite the competitive atmosphere, Texas fans remain confident. “We’ve got a lot of Bulldogs around us, and they like to have their voices be heard when they’re better than us. So I would like to very much be able to quiet them,” Esparza said. Williams added, “I mostly wanna say Hook ’em Horns, let’s go get ’em.”
Anyone interested in attending any of the events held by the Atlanta chapter of the Texas Exes is encouraged to contact the chapter.
Austin, TX
Woman dies after vehicle veers off road, hits her at East Austin bus stop
AUSTIN, Texas — A woman sitting at a bus stop in East Austin has died after being struck by a vehicle that veered off the road Wednesday night.
The Austin Police Department reported that the incident occurred on Riverside Drive, where the vehicle left the roadway, hitting the victim.
She was transported to the hospital by Austin-Travis County EMS, where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
ALSO|
All eastbound lanes of East Riverside Drive between Royal Crest and Burton Dr are closed.
The scene remains active as the investigation continues.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
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