A normal day exploring a new area often ends way before sunset, usually for a combination of factors. In order to preserve peace for all of society (and sanity for mom and dad), this is usually the time that it becomes necessary for the kids to have some downtime and rest. It can also be disorienting and sometimes dangerous to explore an unfamiliar area after dark. Because of this, we have made an oft broken family travel rule to never arrive in a new place after dark.
There are times though, especially when traveling in a familiar area, that exploring things in the dark can help you see them in a whole new light. After watching the thrilling flight of millions of bats from the Congress Avenue Bridge, we found ourselves with a wee bit of daylight left and way too much energy to call it a night. With the mingled sunset colors putting on natural light show on the dome of the Texas Capitol building, we were drawn to the end of the street to check out this Austin attraction we have often visited in the day, but never explored at night.
In Austin, practically anything you want to visit is at the top of a hill or the bottom, so we reached the top of the literal Capitol Hill just as dusk was melding into twilight and settling over the Italian renaissance inspired dome. It took only a minute for the Capitol to switch from daytime mode to nighttime, as floodlights, dramatically placed to illuminate the building, switched on and the grounds around it were enveloped in darkness.
Our eyes adjusted quickly to the lighting changes and we began to explore these now somewhat unfamiliar grounds. The lighting served to direct our attention to statues and corners that would have been easily overlooked in the light. Large marble figures and stalwart battle cannons cast shadows on the sidewalks, distorting and projecting the images until they were larger than life and begged a closer look. Even the great words spoken by great men that had been inscribed for eternity in stone were somehow more profound and worthy of contemplation by lamplight.
With the lighting focused on the buildings, the dim lights of the sprawling pathways throughout the grounds made a perfect place for a slow "it's getting late and I ate too much for dinner" stroll. Of course, anytime mom and dad start to slow down, it's a perfect opportunity for the kids to find ways of entertaining themselves. The bright lights on the stark marble walls provided the perfect place for a giant scale shadow war, where I promise, despite the vicious look of things, no one was harmed.
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WOW! Great Photos! I have some MAJOR camera envy!
Not to mention travel envy!
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I love the shadow fighting pictures. Are you sure nobody got hurt or are we just talking no serious injuries? Nice pictures of the capitol too. Looks like fun.
I'm going to echo Steve. I thought the first pics of the Capitol were beautiful and then I scrolled down to the shadow fighters – priceless!!
GORGEOUS images and it looks like SUCH fun! 🙂
Thank you so much for linking up with Makes My Monday!
I've seen that building many times during the day, but at night was a new, refreshing, prespective. Love the shots!
Beautiful! I think the Texas Capitol is so impressive at night, especially when you come up from South Congress. And it's funny how the color of the building is so different during the day.
Very cool photos. I agree that places can take on a whole different look and atmosphere at night. Places like the Capitol Building are perfect examples. Love the shadow pics.
Beautiful night shots! I especially like the shadow wars pictures. I've always liked visiting the same places during the day and at night. Most of the time, even the plain looking landmarks look stunning.
Nice shots!
I've been to Austin so many times in the past, but really strangely never got around to much walking at night (had some family who lived in the suburbs there). Beautiful shots, and really cute shadow photos too!
Wonderful shots! I'm not much of a night time photographer, but do love the results when they're good, like these!
Beautiful photos! I’m glad that you ended up breaking your family travel rule to tour the Capitol at night– it definitely seems like it was worth it! I absolutely love the fourth photo. What a cool contrast between the brightly-lit Capitol and the other silhouetted building! Great post!
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