About a month ago, I traveled to
Austin, Texas for the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, a three-day
long event. While not your traditional nature experience, the event took place
entirely outside and gave me a new appreciation for the outdoors.
Zilker Park (photo courtesy of Pinterest)
ACL is held at Zilker Park, Austin’s
most famous outdoor space. Zilker is located in the heart of the city, on the
edge of Town Lake. It is surprising to see such a large natural space in the
middle of an extremely urban environment. The park consists mostly of an
expansive grassy field., with a few scattered trees and rocky slopes. On any
average day, the park is bursting with life. People and dogs run free at Zilker,
as it is the only place in Austin where leash laws do not apply. The people in
Austin love taking advantage of the outdoors, from kayaking on Lady Bird Lake
to sun-bathing in the middle of Zilker. This spirit is what makes ACL such a
success in Austin. Three days basking in the sun and listening to great music?
It almost perfectly embodies the culture of the city, the live music capital of
the world.
This was my second time at ACL, having
also attended in 2015. From this first experience, I mostly remembered the
heat, the music, and the amazing atmosphere. This year certainly lived up to
the past. On the first day, my friends and I walked in the gates and were
greeted by thousands of people and the sounds of so many great songs. From that
first moment, I was so excited to experience the festival all over again.
For the next three days, I spent 12
hours a day outside. From noon to midnight, I experience all the ups and downs
of the weather, from the blazing sun to the chill of the evening. I stood, sat,
and jumped on the grass. I lived and breathed the outdoors.
ACL is always one of my favorite
experiences of the year. It makes me appreciate the outdoors and those who
maintain our parks. Without their tireless effort, we would not have the ability
to go to festivals like ACL and experience such community events. I believe government
funds for our parks are extremely important and need to be protected.
My friends and I on the last day of ACL!
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