There’s not a lot of time left before summer is officially here. But don’t fret, there are still plenty of things you can do to help you put some swagger in that stride when you hit Barton Springs.
Austin usually has a good three-month block with high temperatures that are just brutal, which may be a big reason why there are so many different opportunities in the city to hone that body you’ll soon be showing more of. Below are a few of my favorite ways to get fit for summer in Austin.
Congress Avenue Kayaks
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake (Photo credit: Congress Avenue Kayaks)
Lady Bird Lake is such a wonderful part of Austin. Why not take advantage of its beauty by working out on it? Congress Avenue Kayaks (located at 74 Trinity Street below the Four Seasons) offers kayaks and standup paddle board rentals. Both water craft are great for improving your core strength and adding lean muscle, particularly to the upper body.
If you’re going to get serious about getting in summer shape here, I recommend their Frequent Paddler Card. They offer eleven one-hour outings in a kayak for $85 or on a SUP for $125. If you’re looking for even more splash time than that, you can opt for the $279 Kayak/SUP Card, which gives you six months of one-hour outings every day.
Austin Rock Gym
Climbing one of many walls at Austin Rock Gym (Photo credit: Austin Rock Gym)
If you’re looking for a challenge, head over to Austin Rock Gym and scale the best indoor climbing walls in Central Texas. They have North and South locations, so your trek there shouldn’t be too lengthy. That being said, I prefer their South location because it caters to a wider variety of climbers with nearly 10,000 square feet of climbing and a gigantic bouldering cave. Memberships range from $25-$99 and both locations are open every day of the week.
If you want to learn more about Austin Rock Gym, check out my fellow blogger’s in-depth article.
Practice Yoga Austin
Practicing at Practice Yoga Austin (Photo credit: Practice Yoga Austin)
Located on East Sixth among the bars and offices is a little donation-based sanctuary for Yogis called Practice Yoga Austin. They cater to everyone from first-timers to the very advanced and offer a variety of classes and instructors you won’t find at many other places in the city. The suggested donation per class is $10-$15, but minimums start at $5 for cash and $7 for credit.
Want more yoga options? Read this article.
Hike State Parks
Entry to McKinney Falls State Park (Photo credit: gopetfriendlyblog.com)
There is beautiful Hill Country all around you! Take it all in while you get your heart rate up, by hiking through the state parks we’re fortunate to have surrounding us.
Your best and closest bets will be Pedernales Falls and McKinney Falls State Park. Both are only $6 to get into and you can take a swim in natural waters after you hike. It’s hard to beat that.
Visit this page to discover other state parks within a day’s trip of Austin.
Volunteer
Making a difference while working up a sweat (Photo credit: Austin Habitat for Humanity)
Do good and give back to the community while working up a sweat. There are tons of physical volunteer opportunities around the city. A good place to start would be Austin Habitat for Humanity. They are constantly working to help our communities and are always willing to have more help. It’s nearly guaranteed to be a good workout and you’ll feel good about improving a fellow Austinite’s life in the process.
If you’re looking for an organization that allows you to volunteer at a different Austin non-profit every month, take a look at Austin Involved.
Do you have any other recommendations to get fit for summer?
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