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Caverns in Austin Credit: Cave Without a Name
I’ve made it a life goal to check out as many caverns as I can. A cavern adventure is the perfect day trip when I need to unplug or just stare open-mouthed at beautiful rock formations.
If you’re itching for a new adventure, I’ve got a few options for you. Keep reading to learn about five of the most awesome caverns in Texas. All are just a skip, hop, and jump from Austin.
Considering it’s the fourth largest city in Texas, you might be surprised that there are many lakes in Austin. High structured buildings and nightlife usually capture the eyes of many. However, it’s no competition to the natural scenery. Austin has been widely recognized as an eco-friendly city. Visit one of these lakes to see for yourself.
Lake Austin is one of the lakes that flows out from the Colorado River. Most of the shoreline around Lake Austin is privately owned. Luckily, you can still access entry to the shore banks at certain points. And there are two public boat ramps available for use as well. This is a perfect lake if you want to rent a boat for the day!
Where: 1600 Scenic Dr, Austin, TX 78703
Lake Travis is a huge lake. There is no single point of access. That’s why there are many things to do on and off of it. From kayaking, boating, floating in a tube, and more – it’s easy to forget time and spend the whole day on this lake.
Where: 1499 Graveyard Point Road, Lakeway, TX 78734
Lady Bird is among the popular lakes in Austin. You’re not allowed to swim or go into the waters of this lake. But there are still a variety of water activities for anyone to try. If you don’t want to rent any sort of paddle or fishing rod, then you can also hike or bike the trails off the shoreline.
Where: 2418 Stratford Dr, Austin, TX 78746
Located in Mueller Lake Park you can find a 30-acre area of greenery. You can’t do water activities on the lake. However, there’s a weekend farmers market with tons of trails to walk or bike on. The trails surround the lake, that way you can still have a beautiful view of it.
Where: 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723
Commonly known as LBJ, this lake allows swimming and fishing. It’s just an hour northwest of the city, which isn’t too bad considering the lake is over 21 miles long!
Where: 1924 Ranch Rd 1431, Kingsland, TX 78639
If you’ve put it together, this reservoir was formed with the help of the Max Starcke Dam. This view is worth the visit, especially that it is only an hour drive from Austin. And if you head to Lakeside Park, you’ll be able to access the Falls to swim, enjoy a game of tennis, or grill out on the BBQ pits.
Where: 305 Buena Vista Dr, Marble Falls, TX 78654
This lake is a part of a park that has a 3-mile trail, playground, pavilion, and more. On the water, you can fish, swim, take a canoe out or even rent a boat for the day! It’s not the largest body of water, but it still makes for a great lake day.
Where: 18216 Weiss Lane, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Lake Walter sits along a local park too. This greenery features boating, jet skis, even sand volleyball courts, and more. If you’re into fishing, largemouth bass and hybrid bass can be found here.
Where: 6614 Blue Bluff Road, Austin, 78724
Kyle isn’t too far of a drive from Austin. Here you can catch and release fish or just enjoy the view.
Where: 700 Lehman Rd, Kyle, TX 78640
Meadow Lake Park is a large Round Rock community park that stretches across 76.50 acres of land. This park rests along the reservoir, which provides for a beautiful view. The 1.35 miles of trail welcomes runners, walkers, and bikers looking for a stroll or a quick workout. Meadow Lake Park offers a playscape and two horseshoe pits for those looking to get a game in. Other park amenities include a picnic shelter, eight picnic tables, three barbecue grills, and a drinking fountain.
Where: 2901 Settlement Dr, Round Rock, TX 78665
Whew, that was a lot! Remember, most of the lakes in Austin have rental spots or a place to grill out. With plenty of choices in or around the city, you can now plan the perfect lake day.
Did Marble Falls sound like a fun day away? Check out our article on a few parks in Marble Falls here.
One of my favorite things about Austin is you get the perks of living in a city, alongside access to so many natural spaces–so close by that some are within city limits. Not all city dwellers are so fortunate!
As our city grows, many more people are getting to enjoy the benefits of this dynamic. Larger populations enjoying Austin’s city parks, however, means more crowds and scarcer parking. I’m a big advocate of getting outdoors, so by no means do I think this should stop anyone from spending time at your local park. But for those who are interested in getting farther outside city limits, there’s a wealth of relatively untapped natural space waiting to be discovered.
This list focuses on a few parks in Marble Falls and the surrounding area, roughly an hour away from Austin in Texas Hill Country.
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Less than an hour southwest of Austin lies the ultimate day trip destination: “a little bit of heaven” (Credit: Eli Cohen)
The quaint town of Wimberley, Texas has always been a magical place, full of artisan shops and spring-fed waters. I’ve been surprised by how much it has grown over time, as new restaurants, shops, and distilleries pop up. Somehow, the small-town vibe has been preserved.
In my opinion, Wimberley is one of the best tourist destinations in Central Texas. So why not get up early one Saturday or Sunday morning, assemble your crew, and hop in the car for a Texas day trip? If you’re not sure exactly where to start, here are my favorite must-experience places in Wimberley.
Guest article by James Lipari
A short day trip to Texas Hill Country is always a good idea, and one of my absolute favorite destinations is Vista Brewing. The big, rolling property is perfect for a family outing. Here’s why.
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Rejoice, Central Texans! For the first time in decades, members of the public are allowed to enter the crystal-clear waters at Spring Lake in San Marcos. Exclusive yet affordable snorkeling tours, scuba diving excursions, and stand-up paddleboarding tours of the lake are now available through The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
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The first time I went to Texas Hill Country as a wine destination was about 15 years ago. It was akin to visiting a small farm, and I left without bothering to dream of what it could become.
If this story were made into a romantic comedy, a montage would now begin of Texas wine makers learning the Texas grapes, testing and finding the grape varietals that were going to work best in Texas, and building beautiful tasting rooms and properties. People from all over the world would hear of the Texas Wine Country region, as the number of wineries grew to more than 260. I would return a decade later, and fall in love.
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Guest article by Sarah Snyder
Set on the 18-thousand-acres that is Ox Ranch, DriveTanks.com is a Texas Disney World without the lines. Set in Uvalde, west of San Antonio, DriveTanks.com is what you might imagine when you hear the name—a place for people to go out and drive tanks. You can also shoot guns of various types, including flamethrowers.
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Waterloo Adventures on Lake Travis is the perfect place to practice for those American Ninja Warrior tryouts. Even better, you get to stay cool while doing so because it’s on the lake. Literally.
Austin’s rainy spring morphed into full-fledged summer almost overnight. Now we have one thing on the brain: get in/on/near the water! My friends and I recently spent a fantastic day at Waterloo Adventures in order to share our experience with you.
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The charming town of Boerne, Texas, lies less than two hours southwest of Austin. It’s right in the heart of Hill Country, but you’ll find much more than sweeping views when you visit.
Here are my favorite activities, food, and drink I discovered during the 48 hours I recently spent in Boerne.
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