Think of the most awesome park you (or your kids) have ever been to. Now forget everything about…read moreit, because that park is nothing compared to the awesomeness that is Playscape. Playscape was built when I was but a wee child, and all of my most fond playground memories are of me running amok among the bridges, towers, swings, slides, sandboxes, and tunnels at Playscape. If you have ever wanted to play pretend that you were in a castle, well, that's what Playscape is modeled after! They even have painted dragons and trolls on the sides (along with some other non-castle themed images) to further spike you or your child's imagination. There's lots of picnic tables and BBQ pits around the park, so you can bring a lunch or have a birthday party here and keep all the kiddos entertained and active. The only downside is that the bathrooms are disgusting. Granted, public restrooms in parks aren't known for their cleanliness, but be sure to bring hand sanitizer and scrub your kids hands down well after they use these filthy facilities. Otherwise the kids will hopefully wear themselves out of energy, get some great exercise, and be ready to come back tomorrow!

I had seen this park numerous times and was excited to take my son there. However, they have now…read moretorn it down

San Marcos City Park is pretty big. I think it's close to 18 acres. It sits next to the smaller San…read moreMarcos Plaza Park. I love coming to this park because river swimming is easily accessible as is tubing and other water activities. It's also pretty great because they have recently installed outdoor gym equipment (within the last year or so). The park has picnic areas and playgrounds and lots of green space. There's a basketball court too, so if BBall is your thing have at it. This park also provides free wifi access...BONUS! The parking lot is free if you live in San Marcos and non-residents are charged a fee. I think we only paid $5 to park. Such a fun way to get to enjoy San Marcos and the water!

This was a great place to park and enjoy the crisp clear water…read more Make sure you pack a life best for the children. The water current can be swift but fun. Lots of young college kids and some city folk looking for a good time in the water. Have fun.

This is a really lovely place to spend some time outdoors. A beautiful park right by the water,…read morewith a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. There's a café along the shore where you can sit, have a drink, and enjoy the view of the waterfall -- such a nice spot to slow down and take everything in. It's a great area for walking and casual strolls, and there's also a playground for kids. Overall, it's a wonderful place to relax, whether you're visiting with children or just coming on your own. Perfect for a walk, some fresh air, and enjoying the water. Definitely a spot worth coming back to.

Come with your family don't bring a lot of things. It's very unwalkable with bigger items like a…read morerolling chest. Don't bring those bring a shoulder bag version. don't think you're gonna be able to lay out your towel and sit down. It's not a beach. It's very much a river first come first serve. It starts getting dirty later in the day with all the water but that's what we get for moving a lot. There is no camping on the other side of the wall. If you're facing up to the restaurant that would be the right side. Be careful bring your water shoes!!!!!

Nestled in a quiet neighborhood where Torrey St. meets the 2100 block of Gruene Rd, is a small…read more neighborhood park. Anytime of the day including summer afternoons you can find moms with strollers, dog owners, and other people walking the path around the park. If you walk the path 4 times that equals a little bit more than a mile. There are about 7 picnic tables , no BBQ allowed. No swings or playscapes. Just a nice quiet shady park that looks to be 3 acres . There are probably no more than 8 parking spots, but I've never seen the lot full. It's just a nice place to come and chill.

This is a cute, quiet and quaint neighborhood park. There is a paved .25mi loop that has great…read moreshade from lots of pecan and oak trees. There are benches, picnic tables and a big grassy area in the middle- sometimes you'll see dogs playing fetch or kids running around. I feel like this park is overlooked as it's on a street corner and small, with a tiny parking lot. But it's perfect for exercise when you don't have a lot of time, or for older people and kids. My toddler loves just going around and around. Everyone here is friendly and it's just a great place to walk, sit or have a picnic. There is no playground but why do you need one when there are tons of birds to watch and listen to.

Great value for money - well worth doing. The student taking the tour was fantastic - he was very…read moreinformative and it was so great seeing the birds, including vultures and turtles in the lake. So pleased we did it!

From Chicago, just moved to Austin. First time at the Meadows Center at Texas State. Here are some…read morethoughts: -Run entirely by students, done very well, very enjoyable. -We wanted to check out the glass bottom boats, and we were not disappointed! -We went on the 45-minute tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, funny, and passionate--great combo! Cost was about $15 a person. -Saw a lot of wildlife, including deer, many birds, including a hawk, turtles, and many fish. Don't forget to check out the aquarium! -About a dozen people on our tour boat, from toddlers to 60's. Everyone enjoyed the experience. -Boat was covered, so it felt cool enough on the water even on a warm spring day. Highly recommended!

Absolutely great park! They have plenty of space for all kinds of occasions. They have real…read morebathrooms not portable bathrooms. They have space for picnic or barbecue, as well as a great playground for kids. The trail was amazing to walk especially because it had lots of shade and benches to get through that Texas heat! Amazing park and will definitely be coming here more!

Amazing playground, clean bathrooms, and nice walking trail. What more could you ask for in a park?read more

Our kids love this park and ask to come all the time. This park offers quite a lot including a…read morewalking/running track, basketball court, baseball field, several playgrounds, covered areas for parties/gatherings, and a splash pad area for kids to play in the summer. They recently did some updates including a playground area for kids under 5. We come here often and it's a great, safe spot for kids to play.

This is the closest community park to our home and it was my first time here! I came for a story…read moretime event, hosted by the local library. They also had arts and crafts for the kids and of course we explored the rest of the park after story time! They have many options and separate playgrounds for various ages. They also have a splash pad! I was so impressed by this park and how lush and pretty it is! I'm excited to come more often on play dates and with my nieces and nephew! Highly recommend this park!

This review is targeting active adults who love the outdoors and like to run, hike, or cycle…read more(mountain bike) on trails with a variety of terrain: grassland, limestone rock gardens, oak groves, and lake shoreline. If that doesn't float your boat, or you are looking for a spot to have a family swim & picnic with the kids, knock the stars down to 2 and find another pretty park to explore during your visit to North Canyon Lake. Old Hancock Equestrian Trail is a free, public, day-use-only park on land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, like all the other land in the flood plain surrounding Canyon Lake. It is designated specifically for horseback riding, so everyone else must yield to those riders. If you get there before 9a on a weekday, chances are, you'll have the whole place to yourself for a 7-mile round-trip (out and back) trip from the trailhead around the north shore of the lake to Canyon Park Road (near Brookshire Brothers and Canyon Beach). The horses are more commonly seen on the weekends but may be there at any time, along with their owners' trucks and trailers in the dirt parking area. Just off the parking area, there are a few spurs that take you through the bushes to the lakeshore. This area is often used by anglers and kayakers to access the lake during good conditions for their sport, but its main purpose is for horses and their riders to take a dip after their ride. Toward the northeast from the parking area is the main trailhead, next to the informational kiosk. Take the path in the grass that heads north/northeast and follows the shore of the lake. About half the time, you'll have a water view; other times, it will be tall grasses, trees, or cow pastures. Depending on the time of day and time of year, you'll see a variety of birds, insects, deer, cattle, and maybe a big spiny lizard, a snapping turtle, or a harmless rat snake if you're lucky. In the spring, wildflowers and butterflies are abundant, but so can be the mud. In summer, it is hotter than Hades but the lake breeze is nice with the blue water and blue skies. In the fall, a few of the trees take on a magnificent red, orange, and yellow color scheme. In winter, everything is dried out and gray. I just love watching the seasons change here. At different points along the trail, you'll find rest benches, trail markers, and spurs down to the water, where you are welcome to go for a swim (at least at the time of this writing in June 2022). It's one of the last places around Canyon Lake where you can do that without paying a fee, but you've got to want it bad enough to hike there & back, and you can only bring what you can carry on your back. The trail (more like a dual-track dirt road) is mostly flat and open with sand, grass, or caliche surfaces, but there are a few challenging sections with short inclines, yards of bumpy rocks, and a couple of wet weather creek crossings. After a rain, there's also the possibility that some local dude from the adjacent neighborhood will have gone "night muddin'" out there in a 4x4 and made the ruts deep in some areas, but this has lately not been such a problem since the Comal County Sherriff has started warning about the potential $5,000 fine for using a motorized vehicle on the trail. A few words of warning: - This park property is between private land (residences, ranches, and businesses) and the lake. Be sure to stay on the trail and don't trespass over fences or beyond posted "private property" areas. - Shade is limited and the sun can be intense at least 10 months of the year, so wear a hat and sunscreen, make sure you're hydrated, go with a buddy, and try to time your trip for hours close to sun up or sundown. It would not be easy for an emergency vehicle to reach you out there if heatstroke happened. - No restrooms, water fountains, or trash bins are available to users of this trail. Pack in and pack out everything. Leave no trace. Litterbugs, shoo, stay away!

The Old Hancock Trail is primarily a trail for horses, but it also makes a good hiking trail. If it…read moreis warm outside, beware because there is lots of sunshine on this trail and little shade. Investing in some SPF 40 might be a good idea. It is mostly a dirt trail that skirts the northern side of the lake and stretches for about 3 1/2 miles to end at Canyon Park. To find the trailhead, just find your way to FM 306 (I took FM 12 out of San Marcos and it was a scenic drive). Once you pass FM 3424 on the north side of the lake, continue for about 1.9 miles on FM 306 until you see a street sign for Hancock Road. This road passes by a small airport and then dead ends at the trailhead where there is tons of free parking. Take a picnic with you and maybe a swimsuit, because there are several places along the trail that would be a good stop for a swim and a bite to eat. I mostly felt like I was hiking on someone's ranch road that happened to be next to a nice lake. I saw several deer and birds along the way, and there were a few people on horseback also. I'm sure this trail would be full of wildflowers and butterflies in the Spring. Anyway, I hope this encourages you to check it out when you have a free day to play in the sun. I'm not sure how Yelp ended up with this in Lubbock, but don't worry, I am working with them to fix this error. Yes, it is on Canyon Lake. Google Maps must hate Canyon Lake for some reason. :-)