Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Tour, Austin, Texas

Just how many bats can live under one bridge? Well, it turns out at least 1.5 million. That’s how many call the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, home and you’re invited to go see them while taking a tour of the river.

It’s the largest urban bat colony in North America and has quickly become one of the most unusual tourist attractions in the world, attracting roughly 100,000 visitors each year. Keep Austin Weird, indeed.

Each night, the 1.5 million bats take to the skies in one extraordinary winged, and slightly creepy, display and it’s perfectly safe to watch from both the bridge and boat. In fact, Lone Star Riverboat offers bat-watching cruises nightly. Each cruise lasts approximately one hour and provides a relaxing tour down the river while a narrator explains the history of the bats at the bridge and also provides some interesting facts, like how they consume between 10 and 20,000 pounds of insects.

Tickets for these cruises are a steal at $10 per adult and $7 for children 12 and under. Due to popularity it’s recommended to book ahead for reservations. Departure time is roughly 30 minutes before sunset, so be early to get a good seat!