Things to do / Travel Guide
Other than a climb up Enchanted Rock (which is by no means a mountain), the best bets for a good scenic overlook are going to be man-made, if for no other reason than southeast Texas having some rather tall buildings and a rather flat landscape. Here's a list of some of the best ideas:
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is mentioned an awful lot in tourist promotion literature as a place to visit and take in a view. That's because it's about the only natural place in southeast Texas with much elevation. This odd rock mound extends over the landscape of the low-rolling hills just outside Fredericksburg in the Hill Country. This is a good place to see a natural panoramic view at daytime or an amazing star-filled sky at night.
J.P. Morgan Chase Tower
This 75-story, 1,000-foot building designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei was originally supposed to be five stories taller, but the FAA claimed it disrupted flight plans to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). It's nevertheless the tallest building in Texas, the ninth-largest in the U.S., and, until 1990, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. There is a free-access observation deck on the 60th floor offering a great view of Houston and surrounding areas. On a clear day, you can easily see far-away Galveston Island. It's best to view the building itself at sunset, where the setting sun turns the facade of the Chase Tower a bright orange color.
San Antonio Tower of the Americas
The San Antonio Tower of the Americas is a staggering 750-foot-tall tower in downtown San Antonio. A revolving restaurant sits at the top to allow diners to take in the incredible view, which is widely-regarded as the best in the state. The restaurant operates during lunch- and dinnertime only, and reservations are highly recommended.
“The Tower” of The University of Texas at Austin
The 307-foot “Tower,” or “Clocktower,” can be seen from nearly anywhere in Austin. From the observation deck, you can look down on all of Austin and a good deal of the surrounding Hill Country. The tower was built in 1937, and it houses 56 bells, which often play elaborate and beautiful music. It is also customary to light up the tower in different colors on holidays, to mark special occasions, or after a big win by the university's Longhorn football team.
The Tower was only recently reopened in the late 1990s by the efforts of the Student Association after a grizzly past in the 1960s and 1970s involving murders and suicides. Observation deck tours are available by reservation only.
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