Hey folks! Since the Texas heat is already in full swing, we thought we’d start with a swimming holes road trip to help you stay cool this summer. Time to get wet!
Inside the city limits of Georgetown is Blue Hole, where you can take a dip in the San Gabriel River or just layout on the grassy banks and catch some sun, all within walking distance of some amazing Mexican food and a tasty slice of pie.
Barton Springs Pool – Austin, TX
Right in the heart of Texas’s Capital city is Barton Springs Pool with refreshingly cold waters of 68 degrees to keep you cooled off year round. Say “hello” to the rare Barton Springs Salamander hiding beneath the rocks.
Hamilton Pool – Dripping Springs, TX
Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs is a Texas oasis. Partially covered by a massive limestone grotto, you’ll find this pool has tons of shade and lots of beautiful cascading waterfalls to splash in.
Zedler Mill – Luling, TX
The dam at this historic 1874 mill in Luling doubles as an EPIC swimming hole in the San Marcos River. Float in the cool waters down below, or if you’re feeling really daring, climb the towering tree hanging over the river and dive in!
Rio Vista Park – San Marcos, TX
Dive into the Comal River at the Rio Vista Park in San Marcos. This park mixes equal parts lazy river and white water-rafting with a pretty intense “chute” formed by a hole in the rocks across the river. Hop in for one wild time!
Blue Hole – Wimberley, TX
Head to Blue Hole in Wimberley, TX, to rope swing into this quaint swimming hole on Cypress Creek or just spend a lazy day floating in the creek.
Krause Springs – Spicewood, TX
Krause Springs in Spicewood is Texas beauty at its best. Underneath a canopy of luscious green trees, you’ll find a refreshing pool fed by 32 natural springs keeping the waters cold and an awesome rope swing to keep you entertained. Look closely for caves and waterfalls worth exploring along the banks.
Devil’s Waterhole – Burnet, TX
Head to Inks Lake State Park in Burnet for a more adventurous swimming hole, the Devil’s Waterhole, that got it’s name from the pink granite cliffs that tower over the lake, inviting those who are brave enough to take the plunge into the cold waters 40 feet below.
This might just be one of Kingsland’s best kept secrets — where the Llano River runs into this granite slab of rock, you’ll find the perfect swimming hole for wading, fishing or tubing. You can find the Slab where Ranch Road 3403 crosses the river.
It’s the time of year when wildflowers are popping up all over the countryside painting Texas in shades of red, blue, yellow and white. Here at “The Daytripper” we respect the beauty of all wildflowers, but because we’re Texan, we must say the bluebonnet is the best (it is our state wildflower after all). So, to make sure you get your fill of bluebonnet beauty, we’ve planned the Ultimate Bluebonnet Road Trip through the heart of the Hill Country.
Here’s the map…
First, you’re going to start in Burnet, TX as Burnet County is the “Official Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas.” Here you’ll drive through rolling hills bursting with bluebonnets along the highways. While you’re in town, don’t miss the photo-op with this awesome giant bluebonnet sculpture.
Next, take Highway 29 west to your second stop – Llano, TX, the heart of Llano County which is the other “Official Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas.” You’ll see more beautiful Hill Country granite and more beautiful shades of blue.
Your third destination is a detour through the Willow City Loop which is a 13-mile scenic drive that will take you through creeks and hills all sprinkled with bluebonnets and wildflowers. The land surrounding the road is private so just enjoy the scenery from your car. To get there from Llano, head south on State Highway 16 and turn left onto the Willow City Loop. Follow this road through twists and turns until you hit Farm Road 1323, then take a right toward Willow City, TX. This road will take you back to State Highway 16.
By this time, you’ll probably be starving for lunch. Just down State Highway 16 is the Knot in the Loop Saloon where you can dine on burgers and sip a cold one while the jukebox plays old tunes.
After lunch, jump back on Highway 16 south into Fredericksburg, TX, where you’re sure to see tons of beautiful flowers and plenty of fun distractions. In Fredericksburg, hop onto US Highway 290 East and ride it through the 290 wine trail all the way to Johnson City, TX. After that, follow US Highway 281 North to Marble Falls, TX and you’ll be just in time for Pie Happy Hour at The Blue Bonnet Cafe where you can get a slice of historic pie and your drink of choice for $4. This will be the happiest happy hour ever.
Finish the trip by traveling up 281 back to Burnet, TX. And you, my friends, have just taken the ULTIMATE BLUEBONNET ROAD TRIP through the Hill Country.
According to local captain and tour guide Jack Graham, one of the best things about Possum Kingdom Lake is that it’s not overly crowded.
“It’s one of the most beautiful lakes in Texas, and what’s been great about it in the 39 years I’ve been coming out here is that it hasn’t been known. So you don’t have a lot of lake traffic.”
The cliffs of Possum Kingdom are unrivaled. One formation in particular is known as Hell’s Gate: two stunning and sheer cliffs that beckon all who dare to enter. The cove was created by an oxbow of the original river channel and it makes a great place for people to hang out on the lake.
“That’s where people congregate for recreational fun,” says Graham, smiling.
The craziest thing that happens here is the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship, in which divers compete from heights between roughly 85 and 91 feet. So even if the devil on your shoulder tempts you to try jumping yourself, it’s best left to the professionals. In fact, jumping from any cliff higher than 20 feet around the lake is illegal.
Jumping from shorter cliffs around the lake is legal, however, and remains a popular pastime. Do you think you could take on one of these cliffs like Chet does?
IMAGE CONTENT: A man dressed in a red demon costume (Chet Garner) stands on top of a tall cliff at Possum Kingdom Lake. There is a bright blue sky with clouds above him, green trees and cactus around him, and turquoise water below him. http://www.toddwhite.org
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This Memorial Day is the perfect time to get out on the water. And whether you’re looking for a back-country boat ride, an urban river tour or an adventure on the beach, Texas has got you covered. Hop on one of these 8 boat rides to float your way through the weekend.
In San Marcos, right where the San Marcos River springs out of the ground is this center where you can hop on a glass-bottom boat and take a tour under the water. Get a pristine view of the plants and fish below the surface that call this part of Texas home. And be sure to say “hello” to the Texas River Cooter turtle if you see him!
On these boats in Conroe, the party actually doesn’t start until you walk in (or start paddling…) Dryft Cycleboats are the only human-powered party boats in Texas! Grab your friends, pack your favorite drinks and paddle away. Once you’re tired of paddling, you can park the boat and dive right into the lake to cool off!
Sure, you might have seen the famous Mexican free-tailed bats that fly out from under Austin’s Congress Bridge at dusk…but the true action happens on the water. Hop on Capital Cruises for front row seats right underneath the bridge on Lady Bird Lake. Get an amazing view of downtown at sunset afterwards!
Caddo Lake in Jefferson is both interesting and a little eerie — and it’s also easy to get turned around in the wild maze of hanging Spanish moss and giant cypress trees. Let the folks at Caddo Outback Tours take you out on an otherworldly motorboat ride around the lake, which is also home to tons of alligators and alligator gars!!
Honestly, these river tours on the Colorado River in Lake Buchanan have everything: cascading water falls, rocky cliffs, tons of wildlife and — depending on what time of year you go — Bald Eagles! Eagle season is November through March (so it’s over this year) but they also host a multitude of fun cruises like Winery Tours and Sunset River Cruises year-round.
Hop on the Buffalo Bayou in Houston to see this town from the water. On your tour, you’ll not only see some of “Bayou City’s” most beautiful sights, but you’ll also get a history lesson on the town and its beginnings as a major shipping port city. It’s the perfect mix of education and scenery.
True, you might have to wake up super early in the morning, but Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures will bring you face-to-face with some of Rockport’s fuzziest locals who love to winter in Texas. The Whooping Crane is the largest bird in North America and is endangered — with only 300 left in the wild, so it’s incredible to see so many of them. If you’re visiting in the summer, you can also hop on a Dolphin Tour!
These might just be some of the most well-known boat rides in Texas, but they’re a necessary sight-seeing tour all the same. Take a gentle ride down the San Antonio River to see the vibrant, bustling Riverwalk without all the walking, but with a guided tour of the city.
It’s fall and you’ve been seeing pictures of wondrous places all around the country with fiery orange and candy-apple red leaves blanketing the tops of the trees. You’re probably feeling discouraged as you look at the green leaves or bare trees around you — thinking that your dear old Lone Star State doesn’t have colorful fall foliage. You may even be planning a trip to New England for a little fall beauty.
However, Texas does, in fact, have some of the most picturesque fall foliage in the country if you know where to look. So here’s TWO Ultimate Fall Color Road Trips (one in the Hill Country and one in East Texas) to give you all the brightly colored leaves and fall foliage fun your heart desires!
Here’s a little tip before you get started: Fall is a fickle creature. In Texas, fall foliage usually hits peak around the middle of November to the beginning of December, meaning the leaves could start changing colors as early as late October. Yet, even so, when fall color starts showing and how much there is depends on the yearly rainfall, as well as other factors. To make sure you’ll get peak red and orange beauty, call ahead to the parks you’re interested in or check their website to see what the color is like.
Hill Country Trip
Autumn beauty along the Frio River in Concan, TX. (Hill Country River Region/ visituvalde.com)
Route: Vanderpool, TX to Concan, TX
Destinations: On this trip, you’ll be driving through some of the tallest peaks of the Hill Country. Your journey starts in the Lost Maples State Natural Area, one of the most beautiful spots to see fall color in the entire state. For the best view of the fall foliage, take the Maple Trail. Surrounded by fiery red and bright orange Uvalde bigtooth maples, you’ll feel like you’re in New England. Next, you’ll drive into Utopia to dine at Lost Maples Cafe, which was featured in the movie “Seven Days in Utopia,”and serves each plate of breakfast with a mason jar of fresh salsa. Be sure to take a slice of freshly baked pie to go.
You’ll take Ranch Road 1050 out of town for a scenic drive over the serene Sabinal River and through the tree-covered hills until you reach Garner State Park. At the park, you’ll see beautiful red Bald cypresses towering over the crystal waters of the Frio River. For a peek at Old Baldy without paying to enter the park, head to Magers River Crossing (one of the best kept Hill Country secrets) where the Frio trickles over County Road 350, a canopy of colorful trees provides shade and the majestic mountain is in full view in the distance. Find the full map here and the Lost Maples Foliage Report here.
And here’s a trip tip: If the fall beauty is too breathtaking to enjoy for just a day, make reservations to stay the night at the River Rim Resort in Concan. Just miles away from Garner State Park and Magers River Crossing, this resort provides amazing cabins, cottages and lodges with access to the stunning Frio River.
East Texas Trip
Fall Color along the trails in Tyler State Park.
Route:Daingerfield, TX to Jacksonville, TX
Destinations: Take a journey through East Texas for fall color mixed with towering deep green pines. Starting at Daingerfield State Park, hike the Rustling Leaves Nature Trail to see the oak, maple and sweetgum trees reflecting in Lake Daingerfield like a gold and red watercolor painting. Next, you’re on to Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, which is also an East Texas trove of fall foliage as patches of red and orange pop up in the greenery around the lake.
Take Highway 37 for a scenic drive through part of theAutumn Trails of Winnsboro, TX, where they’ve been hosting a fall foliage festival since 1958. Next you’re on to see trails surrounded by reds, golds and oranges in Tyler State Park and the famous Tyler roses at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. If your stomach’s growling, stop by Coyote Sam’s Bar and Grille in Tyler for a Kobe burger so mouthwatering, it made Texas Monthly’sTop 50 Burgers List. Your last stop is at Love’s Lookout in Jacksonville, which — though small — provides a stunning bird’s eye view of the East Texas countryside. Find the full map here.
Here’s another tip: If you’re yearning to see even more fall beauty, continue on through Rusk, TX and then to Mission Tejas State Park in Grapeland, for just a bit more foliage combined with Texas history.
Take this easy 2-mile trail to see one of the most iconic sights in Big Bend National Park, Balanced Rock — a natural formation with a giant boulder resting upon two towering pillars of rock. This trail is also a good warm up for some of the more rugged trails in the park.
This trail is less than a mile, but at times it can be quite steep as you hike up the famous Old Baldy. Yet, once you summit the mountain, you’ll have an amazing view of the clear Frio River and rolling hills, and miles of lush greenery below. This hike is best taken in the fall, when the park is quite and peaceful, and the fall foliage is in peak color.
Enchanted Rock is definitely one of the hikes that needs to be on your Texas bucket list. The rocky dome made of pink granite in Fredericksburg, also called a batholith, was once known to have special powers by Tonkawa Indians. Today it’s best known for its killer 360-views of the Hill County. Be warned, though, the hike up this rock is quite steep!
Hop on this trail in Big Bend National Park to see the towering canyon that looks like something out of an Old West film. The hike itself is not too long — only about 1.7 miles round trip — but at times it can be steep and slippery. The trail winds through the canyon, giving you the best spots to take in the 1500 ft. walls that tower over the Rio Grande River.
Of course the highest point in Texas is on this list! This hike is only recommended for the seasoned pro, and for good reason — you will be climbing to the “Top of Texas,” which is roughly 8,749 ft. high! The hike is 8.5 miles round trip, and takes the average hiker up to 8 hours to complete. Yet, just as you’d expect, the views from the top of this peak are incredible.
If you don’t think that Texas has beautiful fall foliage, then you clearly haven’t been to Vanderpool. One of the best spots in the state to see colorful leaves is on the Maple Trail which is surrounded by the rare Uvalde Bigtooth Maples that are speckled with bright orange and red during the months of October and November. Check the fall foliage reports here.
Picture by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
This hike near Amarillo is a Texas classic. It is a long trail measuring 6 miles round trip, but the views of the iconic 310 ft.-high “Lighthouse” rock formation are incredible, and brave climbers can attempt their way up the steep pathway to the top for the best views of the surrounding canyon. Since this is the most popular trail in the park, it’s best to hike it in the morning, when the temperature is lower and there are less people on the trail. Remember to bring lots of water!
Picture by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Seminole Canyon State Park offers various hiking tours to see the rare rock paintings left by prehistoric peoples over 7000 years ago in the Lower Pecos River Region. Take the hour-long Fate Bell Shelter guided tour to see some of the oldest Native American pictographs in North America. More adventurous hikers can opt for the Presa Day Hike or Upper Canyon Hike; both guided half-day hikes offer exclusive looks at rock art sites in more remote areas.
South Rim Trail leads to Emory Peak, the tallest point in Big Bend — towering 7,825 ft. high. The 7.5-mile trail is no easy task with the rough trek turning into a straight rock climb at some points and an ever-changing terrain keeping you on your toes, but the panoramic view of both Texas and Mexico at the top is surreal and might just be the most rewarding summit you’ll ever take. Find more in-depth tips on tackling this bear of a trail in our Big Bend National Park travel guide.
Get lost in the towering pines of the Davy Crockett National Forest for as long as you want. The Four C Trail meanders through 20 miles of East Texas beauty, passing by lakes, swamps and ponds, with plenty of camp sites along the way. Make it an overnight trip, a full weekend or just take an afternoon hike down part of the trail.
Picture by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
This abandoned 1920’s railroad tunnel that’s open for hiking and filled with Mexican free-tailed bats just might be one of the strangest hikes you’ll take. The rail-turned-trail is a part of the 64-mile-long Caprock Canyon Trailway in the Panhandle, but if a week long hiking trip isn’t something you’re up for, you can still check out the tunnel without hiking the entire trailway. From June to September, you can take a guided hike to the tunnel to watch the bats fly out at dusk, or you can take your own day trip by hiking west about 4.5 miles from the Monk’s Crossing parking lot at mile marker 289. The hike from Monk’s Crossing is about a 9-mile round trip, and the trail through the tunnel is about 1/8 mile. Be sure to get a permit for the trailway at Caprock Canyons State Park, bring lots of water and be mindful of the bats above your head when you’re in the tunnel.
Central Texas is well known for its sprawling hills, pristine rivers and all-around breathtaking views — but, what you may not know that its just as mesmerizing down below as it is on top. That’s because it’s home to four of the most incredible caves in Texas: Inner Space Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns, Cave Without a Name and Caverns of Sonora. And what’s even cooler is that these four caves have teamed up to make one EPIC road trip called the “Texas Cave Trail.”
Starting this year, when you visit one of the caves on the trail you’ll receive a passport or you can print one. Your mission should you choose to accept it (and you should cause it’s awesome) is to take that passport and visit the three other caves in any order within a year to get stamps for each one. Not only will you walk away with an experience unlike any other, but you’ll also receive a FREE T-SHIRT at the end of your cave-trippin’ journey! Read on to learn more about your destinations.
The caverns were first discovered when highway crews were checking to see if the ground was sound enough to build Interstate 35 on it in 1963 — it was, but they found the Inner Space Caverns when their drill bit got stuck in the limestone below. Explore the massive cathedral-like rooms in these caves on foot on the Adventures Tour or crawl through undeveloped sections of the cave on the Hidden Passages Tour. Either way, there’s nothing more awe-inspiring than the rumble of cars passing on the highway overhead or the complete darkness you can experience in the caves. One sight you can’t miss is the Lake of the Moon — a sight that seems more fitting for astronauts in a spaceship.
Natural Bridge is the largest show cave in Texas, with tours leading you down 180 feet beneath the earth! You can explore the depths by taking a walking Discovery Tour where you’ll learn about the ancient stalactites and stalagmites or you can get an up-close and personal look at these giant formations on the Hidden Passages tour as you venture through untouched parts of the cave and experience total darkness. If you’re really up for a challenge you can take the Lantern Tour where your only source of light is a few lanterns; you’ll see what it was like when the cave was first discovered by college students in 1960. When you’re done exploring underground, head back to the surface for ziplining and a giant maze. See our time at Natural Bridge here.
Yes, the Cave without a Name is the actual name of this “nameless” cave…confused yet? After it was discovered by three children, the town hosted a contest to decide a name for the cave. One entry said “That cave is too beautiful for a name” — and well, the rest is history. But the name (or rather non-name?) of this cave is not the only cool thing here. You can tour Cave Without a Name and see the many breathtaking formations or attend a musical performanceinside the cave where amazing acoustics and wondrous rock formations combine to make one incredibly unique opportunity. See our time in the cave here.
This beautiful cave halfway between the Hill Country and West Texas was actually discovered when a dog chased a raccoon into the caves in the 1920s. Take in the astounding sights of this cave to find alien rock formations and otherworldly beauty on a Crystal Palace Tour or become Indiana Jones and rappel down into the dark depths of the cave on the Discovery Challenge. If you’d rather, you can capture every rock, water droplet and moment on a Photography Tour.
Get to exploring and find more information about the Texas Cave Trail here!
It’s not hard to find beauty in Texas – whether you’re looking out over the sprawling lands of West Texas or taking in the luscious woods of the East. But sometimes to truly appreciate all there is to see, you gotta get a bird’s eye view! From hilltop and mountain to bridge and skyscraper, here’s a list of 11 of the most stunning views in Texas!
From giant canyons and towering mountains to majestic sand dunes and intriguing caves, Texas is home to a wide range of natural wonders and you never have to travel far to find them. To celebrate the beauty of this great state and help you discover the awe-inspiring landscapes of Texas, here is a list of 13 State and National Parks. Now go explore!
About 60 miles north of Van Horn, TX, you’ll find the tallest peak in Texas! Atop Guadalupe Peak, which sits 8,749 ft. in the sky, you’ll get the best view of Texas for miles and miles around. The trek to the top of the peak covers a grueling 8 miles and can take 6-8 hours to complete, but it’s worth it once you reach the top (watch our trek here). For those who can’t make this hike, there are tons of other things to do at this national park including birding, hiking (they’ve got over 80 miles of trails – including handicap-accessible trails) and backpacking!
When the nights get longer and the leaves start turning in October and November, the place you need to be is at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool, TX. At Lost Maples, you can hike along the limestone of the Edwards Plateau and bubbling Sabinal River surrounded by the breathtaking bright orange and red fall foliage in the maples around the trails. Be sure to check the Fall Foliage Report before you arrive.
Texas is not flat (which you already know if you’ve watched our Turkey, TX episode), and at the Caprock Canyons State Park, you can roam massive, rocky, red-orange canyons. The Caprock Canyons, as well as Palo Duro Canyon in Amarillo, are a part of the Llano Estacado where the flat Texas land dips into gorgeous canyons. As you explore this rugged terrain, you might just spot the Official Texas State Bison Herd, direct descendants of the preservation herd Charles Goodnight started in 1878. It’s also a great place to horseback ride, mountain bike, fish and, of course, feel like you’re a cowboy in an old Western film!
In Blanco State Park exists one of the most underrated swimming holes in Texas, The Blanco River. The calming blue waters flow right through the middle of this park and cascade into dozens of waterfalls over the dam, making it the perfect spot to cool off on a hot summer day or fish for trout or bass when the weather is too cold for a swim. There are also great nature trails for hiking along the river. View our time at this park here.
Big Bend National Park sits on the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert right next to the border of Mexico and near Terlingua,TX, It includes the Chisos Mountains with the tallest point, Emory Peak reaching up to 8,000 ft. There are so many stunning sights to see in this park like the famous Balanced Rock, a giant boulder balancing atop two stones, or the Santa Elena Canyon, a 1,500 ft. limestone canyon towering majestically over the gently rolling Rio Grande. Big Bend National Park is the perfect place for hiking, mountain biking and backpacking as it is the largest expanse of roadless land in Texas, but they also have scenic drives ranging from smooth, paved roads to primitive, dirt roads for those that prefer to drive. Check out this view from atop the South Rim.
The Monahans Sandhills State Park looks more like it belongs in the Middle East rather than the middle of West Texas in Monahans, TX. You can explore the miles of ever-changing sand dunes on foot or by renting a sled at the park office for “sand surfing.” At the visitor’s center, there are also hands-on activities for children and windows overlooking a waterhole for observing wildlife. Check out our time at the park here.
Palo Duro Canyon in Canyon, TX is the second largest canyon in the United States (the Grand Canyon being the largest) and a must-see spot for every Texan. As a part of the Llano Estacado, Palo Duro contains rocky ridges that plunge down 800 ft. into beautiful canyons and rivers. (Check out our time at the canyon here!) The park has over 30 trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding through the colorful canyon and contains a variety of wildlife that only call Palo Duro Canyon home like the Palo Duro Mouse and part of the Official State Longhorn Herd. And don’t miss the famous Lighthouse rock formation! While you’re near Amarillo, check out the Historic Route 66!
There’s nothing better than a State Park that you can make a splash in! And at Mustang Island State Park in Port Aransas, TX, there are miles and miles of open beach where you can swim, float or even build a sandcastle! If you’d rather explore than splash, paddle the Mustang Island Paddling Trail – the 20 miles of trails pass through waters that are great for birding and fishing. Either way, enjoy some good ol’ fun in the sun!
For an amazing view of Fort Davis, TX and the surrounding town, visit Davis Mountains State Park where you can hike or bike this West Texas mountain range that was formed by volcanic activity over 25 million years ago (you can see our time at the park here). Check out the epic sights like Frazier Canyon and The Sleeping Lion formation. Also in this mountain range is Baldy Peak, the fourth tallest peak in Texas at 8,379 ft. And if mountain climbing isn’t your thing, you can also stargaze at the McDonald Observatory or explore the Indian Lodge which was built in the 1930s and is still serving guests as a hotel.
Caddo Lake, in Jefferson, TX, is one of the most eerily beautiful sights in Texas. Don’t come expecting wide expanses of blue sky and open lake waters because Caddo Lake is actually more of a swamp that sits along the Cypress Bayou where you’ll find watery lanes slowly twisting and turning through thickets of tall Bald Cypress Trees and marshy backlands. The whole sight is awe-inspiring. Caddo Lake is a great place for fishing (the 26,000-acre lake contains over 70 species of fish), paddling and just admiring the East Texas wildlife.
This State Park in Fredericksburg is one of the strangest in Texas. The park, which is the smallest State Park in Texas, features a cave that was built by Fredericksburg residents in 1913 to provide a faster trade route to San Antonio and ran until the 1940s. In 2012, Texas Parks and Wildlife discovered the abandoned railroad tunnel housed a colony of over 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats, and bought the land to preserve the colony. The park is open nightly May – October so visitors can watch the bats fly out of the cave in search of food. There is also a half-mile nature trail where you can view the various wildlife that call this habitat home.
At this State Park that is called “The Home of the American Alligator,” you can get up close and personal with gators. Brazos Bend contains 5,000 acres of diverse ecosystems like forests, wetlands, swamps and coastal prairies. Throughout the park, you’ll find animals like Armadillos and American Alligators living in their natural habitat. Activities provided by the park include self-guided and guided nature tours, hands-on exhibits about wildlife at the Nature Center and fishing.
The cavern was formed by an underground river meaning it has smooth, carved stone instead of stalactites and stalagmites. One room is full of colorful crystals! Yet, the Longhorn Caverns State Park’s human history is just as amazing as it’s natural features. The largest rooms have been Indian tribal council rooms, a speakeasy, a church and more! Legend holds that famous outlaw Sam Bass buried treasure in these caves and LBJ had an emergency bomb shelter. Spend the day exploring the caverns and uncovering history on one of their many guided tours
Howdy Daytrippers. We’re Mason and Lexi, the latest addition to The Daytripper Blog. Just call us the Dogtrippers. Chet asked us to travel the state, looking for the best destinations for “Man’s Best Friend.” For our first travel installment, we wanna show you how to explore our hometown of Austin, but on 4 legs instead of 2.
For a place that’s happy to kennel both dogs and their humans, check in to the Hotel San Jose on South Congress.
The rooms all face outdoors (no early morning elevator rides to attend to “business”), and there are plenty of places to explore and relax outside the rooms. They charge a very reasonable dog fee of $10/night.
Staying here, we were right in the heart of the South Congress District. Many of the shops are dog-friendly and some even keep a treat jar hidden behind the counter. Just make sure to look extra cute. There’s a reason you’ve got a puppy dog face – use it. Also, most of the restaurants have outdoor seating and are happy to bring out a bowl of water for well-behaved pups.
Of course, after a busy morning and lunch, we decided to head back to the hotel for some much deserved napping.
Now no dog-trip (or any trip for that matter) to Austin would be complete without heading to Zilker Park and Lady Bird Lake.
Zilker’s “Great Lawn” offers plenty of room for off-leash exploring. The nearby Hike and Bike Trail is another great way to explore the city with your owner.
And if you’re tired of just admiring the lake from the land, head over to Zilker Park Boat Rentals for some on-the-water adventure.
None of the life jackets fit us, but oh well. Luckily our owners were decent paddlers and we never had to swim. Although we were tempted to jump out and start chasing some ducks.
There is plenty of wildlife to check out as you paddle down Barton Creek and onto Lady Bird Lake.
Finally, our owners were hungry for dinner and there are tons of places in town that practically encourage doggy dining. In East Austin, Silo or Takoba are both great for pets. And for one of the most family-friendly and dog-friendly places in Texas, head to Freddie’s Place on South First. But for a great outdoor biergarten with its very own fenced-off dog run, we headed to Banger’s Sausage House in the Rainey Street District. Our humans were so busy enjoying house-made sausages and their expansive beer selection, they never noticed their phone was missing.
As you see, there are tons of places in Austin that both pups and people can enjoy. After all, doggies love day trips too. Until next time, we’ll see you on the road! Vaya con Perros.
Every so often I get the urge to stay somewhere longer than a day (hard to believe, right?). So with the Season 2 in the books and a brief window before Season 3 hit with hurricane-force winds, my wife and I snuck away to the Lakeway Resort and Spa on Lake Travis.
I’d always heard tale of the resort, but it’s secluded location kept it far from my travels. It’s one of those place you’d never pass by unless you were intentionally passing by. Which, I think, is the definition of a getaway.
Somewhere between the incredible views of Lake Travis, complimentary lemonade all over the place, multiple swimming pools, massage, and Dr. Pepper-fried quail, I was able to cram what felt like a week’s worth of relaxation into a single overnight trip. We had an excellent time. I mean truly, truly relaxing.
Our kids would have eaten this place up too, but sometimes you just gotta leave them at home.
So if you’re looking for more of a Weekend-tripper type of location, romantic getaway, or launchpad for seeing Austin and the Texas Hill Country, Lakeway Resort and Spa is highly recommended.
This sandwich was AWESOME. It was turkey with brie cheese, cucumbers, and sprouts. I’m surprised I’d never had the combination before. I know, I know, you don’t expect The Daytripper to recommend something with brie and cucumbers on it, but Trust Me on this one.
And here is the Dr. Pepper-fried quail. That is a honey-butter drizzle all over it and a blue cheese potato salad underneath it.
Daytripper Disclaimer: Sometimes I receive free stuff and sometimes I pay for stuff. Either way, it NEVER influences what I say, what I put on the TV show, and what I put on this website. NEVER EVER EVER.
