We love this park! There's a huge play area with swings, slides, climbing rails and a few more fun…read moreactivities for kids. There's also a soccer playing field, a hiking trail that leads to secret beach with views so downtown and a shaded picnic area. The picnic area can be reserved for a day through Austin Parks&Rec and can be used for group gatherings or birthday parties.

Wow... the secret beach.. how beautiful. I came from Houston on a day trip. I won't tell everyone…read morespecifics to try and keep this secret as much as possible, but if you're coming here the first time.. it isnt easy to find. I can see how most times people just drive off.. me being the curious person I am just started walking by myself in the woods on a trail. I fortunately just so happen to see one woman walking her dogs and followed her in that direction but i swear to you she was walking fast as to not give this place away hahah! She actually disappeared onto another trail and couldnt find her.. (like Alice and Wonderland and the white rabbit style).. finally I heard splashing! I looked to my right and saw a weird trail that went down a steep side hill. So I followed the noise.. its pretty steep so be careful! After the brush and trees cleared THERE IT WAS! CLEAR, COOL WATER!! It was shallow when I got there and only about 8 people were there at 1pm during a Saturday. As time goes on it gets deeper and the water rises! Also more people start coming too. It feels sooooo amazing! You can grab a chair and just sit in the middle drinking and cooling off. Dog friendly! I spent a few hours with my boy before heading back. I live for finding places like this!

If you've never been to a state park in Texas you don't know what you're missing…read more Texas state parks are super well cared for and are always beautiful and a great time. They are super cheap and if you go regularly you can get a park pass and its even cheaper. If there's a fishing spot often you can go to the park office and borrow fishing gear. Texas Parks & Wildlife is definitely doing something right.

You make to make too many rules for a disabled veteran to obtain a pass and the rules are not…read morealways the same , some rules say you can have a companion and others say they have to pay half price? You need to get on the same page with everyone in making the rules .

There are definitely reasons why this park is so popular and why the website recommends purchasing…read moreday passes in advance. McKinney Falls is gorgeous! We went for a hike there right after a big storm and the grounds were so green and vibrant. We mostly stuck to the Onion Creek Trail as it is paved; however, the storm brought in mud to a few places on the trail, so be prepared to maneuver or wear proper footwear if you go during rainy season. Many families line up to take pictures in front of the upper falls (outside the Smith visitor center), so go early if you'd like a picture free of other guests. We then went to the lower falls area where there is an expanse of limestone (I believe) to get to the falls. There's a very small beach and swimming hole area that many families were enjoying. It's important to note that dogs can't enter any of the water at this park. The park also had multiple designated fishing areas as well. We drove around the campgrounds and they have well-maintained water + electric sites at every site. We would highly recommend a visit if you're in the Austin area.

Austin, Tx. Actually the park is pretty nice, except…read moreconditions on a hot summer day were not ideal. The lower falls had little water and there was a huge slew of trash and litter in it and it looked disgusting. The upper falls were better but very little water flowing. We were leaving soon but my wire told me to pull over so she could photograph some wildflowers. I did because there was nobody there that day, but a Ranger had to come scold me anyway. Well I did leave behind my $12. I hope it goes for trash removal.

This place is a hidden gem. I almost hesitate to write about it because it's so special and I want…read moreto keep it all to myself...BUT, it's so worth it and the people there are so kind...so I will put it on blast for them. A short and not to mention, beautiful drive from Austin, Cook's Canoes is out in the small town of Webberville. The canoe shop itself helps me remember why I moved to Austin in the first place (though as we all know, Austin has lost a lot of its charm along the way). Cook's has character and the folks there (Syd and crew) are so welcoming and nice. I have rented both a canoe with my boyfriend and a kayak solo this summer and both experiences were fun and relaxing. The Colorado River is peaceful and the scenery is stunning. Not to mention, you might spot a few river cows and bird friends along the way. At the end of your river trip, someone will come pick you up...so the convenience factor is definitely there! Especially since Covid, I find it important to discover things that help me feel free and safe. They practice safety protocol there including mask wearing and social distancing and are respectful as can be. I will definitely be back and you should too!

This is a great, out of the way place in Webberville. The setup looks a little odd when you get…read morethere, but Art and his team couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. The transaction was easy through Venmo, and we quickly got in the water. The kayaking was easy and almost totally secluded. It's really a beautiful setting on the Colorado River. I really enjoyed the river trip over some out-and-back kayaking we've done on Lady Bird Lake and others. We had a fantastic three hour trip down the river, and when done, Art picked us up and got us back to our car quickly. I can't wait to go back and do it again.

Captain Zach was an amazing driver/ host and made our trip memorable for me and the birthday crew.read more

We booked this boat ride for a birthday, so it was meant to be a special experience. Overall, the…read morescenery was beautiful and the ride itself was enjoyable, but there were several issues that took away from what should have been a smooth private charter experience. The communication beforehand was not great. The driver texted me the night before around 7:45 PM, and when I replied immediately with concerns about the weather and rain, I didn't receive a response until after 10 PM. The email also stated that the driver would contact us 15-30 minutes before the reservation time, but that never happened. Our reservation was from 9:00-11:00 AM. When we arrived at 9:00, no one was there, so I had to text the driver myself. He responded saying he was getting the boat ready and putting gas in it. In my opinion, those things should have been done ahead of time so guests are properly greeted and the ride can begin on time. When we boarded, the seats and boat were still wet from the rain. Since it was chilly outside, sitting in wet seats for a two-hour ride left our clothes damp and uncomfortable. To give credit where it's due, the driver was friendly and enjoyable to talk to during parts of the ride. However, he also took phone calls during the charter, which felt distracting during what was supposed to be a private birthday outing. The biggest disappointment came on the ride back. The driver stopped to assist another boat that had already said help was on the way. He tied their boat to ours and pulled them in, which significantly took away from the private experience we had paid for. While helping others is kind, it felt inappropriate during a paid private charter, especially one booked for a birthday celebration. Additionally, the trip ran later than scheduled, and there was never any communication about the delay. Our reservation was clearly scheduled for 9-11 AM, and it shouldn't be assumed guests are okay with going over time simply because the ride started late. People may have plans afterward, and communication would have gone a long way. Overall, the lake itself was beautiful and parts of the experience were enjoyable, but the lack of communication, late start, wet boat, interruptions, and detour during our private charter made the experience fall short of expectations.

Met friends at Town Lake also called Lady Bird Lake for the Links Family Health Expo & Walk for…read moreHealthy Living, an uplifting community event promoting wellness. The walk motivated people of all ages to stay active, highlighting the health benefits of simple actions like walking. The expo provided valuable resources from health professionals and focused on family and community well-being. The Links, Incorporated showed strong leadership, addressing health disparities and fostering long-term wellness through education and collaboration. The event was well organized, inspiring attendees to prioritize their health beyond the day.

It is so nice to see the completion of the Wishbone Bridge. So now it will be a smooth transition,…read morewith no interruptions, as you walk the whole trail. I have been walking this trail for a long time and have really enjoyed the views and the many stops along the way. I first started coming with my furbaby. I brought my mom here over the years, and she loved it too. Let's say I have many memories here. But do you know that you can easily exit the trail at so many different spots? I think some people think you have to walk the whole ten miles. Well, let's end that myth! Also, you can start at any point you like, too. I have also started the trail on both sides of the I-35. Also, if you hear someone say "Town Lake," they are speaking of this trail. Another favorite thing about this trail is stopping at the different exits to grab a bite to eat, shop downtown, and hop back on the trail. There's so much to do on this walk, but all in all, this is the most beautiful trail to exercise or take a scenic stroll!

This is my favorite boat rental for canoe/kayak in Zilker Park. I have been here throughout the…read moreyears and service is always quick and great. *** You need your ID! & a card on file & need a waiver signed *** I always keep this in mind when going & it saves me time The rental prices is $21 per hour Usually 1 hour is enough and it is a great time

Super welcoming staff! It was helpful that they let us know about a two for one deal before 12pm…read morewhich made for an easy and affordable family group activity. Easy to sign waiver via QR code and lockers were a bit pricy at $5. I would recommend leaving most of your belongings in the trunk if possible. Lovely way to get some fresh air on a spring day.

This is a great option for exploring Lady Bird Lake by kayak or paddle board. They have a modest…read moreparking lot but depending on when you get there, it may be full. For a weekend morning we were happy to snag a spot and made our way down to the rental area. You can decide on single vs double kayaks or paddleboards and rent by the hour. We decided on an hour of double kayak and thoroughly enjoyed our time out on the water. They have plenty of life vests and the staff were helpful in helping us get in and out of the kayak. It's a gorgeous lake and on a hot summer day was nice and cool on the water. Great opportunity to get some exercise in while looking at the beautiful vegetation up and down the lake. Highly recommend!

We were excited to go paddle boating, but the experience was extremely disappointing…read more The lake had so much algae that it wrapped around the paddle boat's propeller every few seconds, making it incredibly difficult to move. Instead of enjoying our time on the water, we spent most of it stopping to remove algae just so we could keep going. My biggest issue isn't the algae itself--nature happens. My issue is that the staff never warned us about the lake conditions before renting us the paddle boats. If we had known the algae was bad enough to make paddling this difficult, we never would have rented them. On top of that, one of our paddle boats had a broken piece on the hatch used to access the propeller. I personally had to go over and help my sister because she couldn't properly open and close it to remove the algae. Every time the propeller got wrapped up again, it made the process even more frustrating. I explained the situation to an employee and pointed out the broken piece. Instead of offering a solution, I was told there was nothing they could do and that she just needed to keep removing the algae and paddle her way back to the dock. Later, when she was still struggling, we were told it would cost $50 for someone to come tow or assist her. Because we were moving so slowly due to the algae, we ended up spending more time on the lake than expected and were charged an additional $16 for another 30 minutes. That extra charge could have been avoided if we had simply been told about the lake conditions before renting the boats. Instead of taking our concerns seriously, the response was essentially, "It's better in the spring." If that's the case, then customers should be told about the current lake conditions before they're charged. We could have chosen a different activity instead of paying for an experience that turned into a struggle from start to finish. Honest communication and properly maintained equipment would have made all the difference.

I love that the trail now goes full circle. This trek to east austin is magical. I've seen turtles,…read morecranes, sailboats, tight rope walkers, fisher people, artistic graffiti and so much more. They now have bathrooms and entrances with coffee shops in case you need to make a stop. Also the trails are wide on this side so you won't get mown over by drunk people on electric scooters or tech bro mountain bikers.

This is easily the best section of the Ann and Roy Butler Trail off Lady Bird Lake. The view of…read moredowntown Austin over the river is beautiful, the trail is well supported and wide, there is plenty of break off points to sit and enjoy the view, and plenty of entrances to get on and off the trail. RIYL: Good vibes and good walks