Fun Things for Couples in Austin, Texas

Austin is the state capital of Texas and provides couples with several fun activities.Allan Baxter/Photodisc/Getty Images

Austin, located in central Texas near the Colorado River, is the state capital founded in 1839. Originally known as Waterloo, it was renamed after Stephen F. Austin and quickly expanded after the state government was relocated from Houston. Today, it is an active city known for its nightlife, high-tech corporations and cultural activities. For couples, there are several activities in downtown Austin that range from romantic horse-drawn carriage tours to guided Segway excursions of its historic neighborhoods.

Die Gelbe Rose Carriage Tours

Die Gelbe Rose Carriage, founded in 1991, is a horse-drawn carriage service based in Austin, Texas. It offers six different tours on its collection of eight carriages and approximately 20 Clydesdale horses: Capital Tour (a 30-minute tour with views of the capitol building and historic Congress Avenue), Lady Bird Lake (a 50-minute tour along the Colorado River with views of the Austin skyline), Grand Tour (a 75-minute tour of the capital building, governor's mansion, historic homes on Bremond Block, the shores of Town Lake and a choice of 6th Street or the Warehouse District), Historic Homes (a 40-minute tour of more than 10 Victorian-style homes built in the 19th century), and 6th Street Ride (a 25-minute tour of Austin's entertainment district). Each carriage seats up to six people and are also available for private tours and weddings.

The Capital Cruise tour company, based in Austin, provides a number of boat tours of Town Lake ranging from small boats to large sightseeing cruises. For couples, it suggests a 21-foot, 2006 Duffy boat that includes a maximum seating of up to eight people and amenities such as leather seats, a stereo with CD player and iPod connection and a small heater. Passengers can drive the gondola-style boat themselves or hire a fully-qualified captain. The company also offers a variety of upscale dining options for tours that include Cracker Crusted Trout and Live Oak Braised Lamb Shanks. As of October 2010, the rental rate for the Duffy boat is $65 per hour.

The Gliding Revolution, founded in 2004, is a tour company that provides Segway-authorized tours of downtown Austin. It offers four guided Segway tours: Team Building Experience (a tour that includes an obstacle-course relay and other challenging activities for groups and small gatherings), Ride It Tour (a journey along Lady Bird Lake, the Colorado River and through a 1920s East Austin neighborhood), City Tour (a tour of downtown Austin's highlights that includes the capitol building), and the Ghost Tour (a tour of the capitol building, Moonlight Towers, the Driskill Hotel, the Paramount Theater and 6th Street). Guests also receive complimentary on-site parking and shuttle transportation and professional Segway training prior to the tours. As of October 2010, rates range from $40 for the Team Building Experience to $85 for the Ghost Tour.