GREEN DAYS Austin is known for its music scene and for its slackers (offset a little by the Internet start-up entrepreneurs in the late nineties), but the state capital is also famous for being green—in more ways than one. And this month—the first break from cedar fever since December—is the perfect time to get out of the house and explore what Mother Nature has to offer. If you like going solo, fine options include a hike along two and a half miles of trails at the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve or a walk in Pemberton Heights, an old West Austin neighborhood where you’ll find tree-lined streets and a variety of Revival-style homes. But if you need structure, we recommend the following events. On March 7 you can let ‘er rip (if she’s homemade) at the Zilker Park Kite Festival. At the very least, plant yourself on a blanket and gaze at all the colors swirling in the sky. On March 13 and 14 check out the Heart of Texas Regatta, where some eight hundred rowers compete on a one-thousand-meter course on Town Lake. Get out your running shoes for the Statesman Capitol 10,000 on March 28. (For those who’d rather take it slow and enjoy the scenery, there’s a walk too.) And on March 31, the best in track and field descend on the Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas for the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. The four-day event draws about 40,000 fans, so get there a little early to claim a good spot in the stands. Once the action ends, you may even want to walk (run!) around campus. Of course, your view of something green may be obstructed by all that burnt orange. (See Austin: Sports.)
