Soon you will be jumping into your vehicle for an impromptu road trip to visit Austin, San Marcos, and San Antonio. The San Marcos River is one of the best locations to hop onto a tube and enjoy 2 hours in what feels much like a nature magazine. San Antonio and Lady Bird Lake do not allow swimming but do have other activities. Not only are these locations amazing for water fun, but the local cuisine will have your taste buds in bliss.
All 3 locations bring in thousands of visitors beginning in mid-March until early September. Planning your trip will be key. The San Antonio River is 15.2 miles long, The San Marcos River is 2.5 miles and Lady Bird Lake in Austin is 10.1 miles long. I don’t know about you, but a good way to disconnect from your electronics is to be outside and connect to some amazing Texas water spots. The fresh air is all around you and the crisp cold water is what keeps everyone coming back for years.
Before there was Lady Bird Lake, which was changed to honor the first Lady Johnson in 2007, there was Town Lake which was formed in the 1960’s because of the creation of the Longhorn Dam with the operation of the city of Austin and the cooperation of Lower Colorado River Authority. But why would the Lower Colorado River Authority be connected? Lady Bird Lake is a part of the Colorado River by an artificial lake that is about 5 miles off the south side of Austin. The reason why the Longhorn Dam was created was mainly for flood control, but also for recreation.
As time goes on more buildings like hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars the University of Texas, and many more accessibility builds that people may need. However, by Lady Bird Lake there is a hiking trail for people who are active or want to hang out. Which can include boat rides, kayaking, walks by the trails, or playing with your dog in a close park for everyone to relax, having a picnic, and many more. However, people are not allowed to swim in Lady Bird Lake because of the movement and surrounding area of the lake. What I mean by this is that Lady Bird Lake has a strong current and how deep it is, 10-16 feet, yes dogs are allowed but some dogs and people have lost their lives because of it. It is recommended to wash off your dog once out of the lady water on how polluted the water is or how high there is of algae that can cause toxic algae to appear. Also, the tree around the edge or under the lake can cause injury because it is difficult to see underwater. There are also animals living in or around Lady Bird Lake, so respect the area. After a long day of fun and if you are in the early spring to late fall, 30 to 60 minutes before sunset you may see the Mexican free- tailed bat. Also maybe getting hungry there are so many good areas to go eat and enjoy the rest of the day.
“It feel like a safe space so I count on it to be here so all other things and dogs as well.”
“Lady Bird lake is a place I come to for quite and for open movement, but also away for me to be around other people without necessarily interacting, but you know hope dissolve loneliness at time to around people and dogs. ”
“This one is a nostalgic for me, I guess I went undergraduate here and so coming back here for graduate school is kinda special and this river a palace I would come between class and now after class world or read and hoang out with friend and really calming place to be.”
The San Marcos is a natural river that many archeologists say the river is about 10 thousand years old and could be one of oldest inhabitable sites of North America. Cave paintings show that Native Americans have lived along the river. However, in 1812 European/ Spanish settlement forced Native Americans out of San Marcos. As the 20 century came around many people started to develop the community. Fred Cocke started Southwest Texas State University in 1899. In 2003 the name was Texas State University. As the Population increased around San Marcos, in 1950 there was a Thereated called the Aquarena Springs that was based mostly in the water, like a mermaid or a glass boat tour, which is a boat that has a glass in the middle to see all the underwater without being in the water. In 1994 the place was sold to the University and the last reminder of the theater was gone by 2012. There are new things around the San Marcos River, which stays 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year around, like a park for college students or a little ahead of the river a park for families. They both have places to rent out items and have restrooms. After a long day of having fun and relaxing, getting hungry is no problem many restaurants around the river are amazing to go to and eat but since there are more bars since it is a college town, food is also available. Once student graduate they can jump into the river and this has become a tradition.
“ I guess physically really helpful is stay cold year round so it's refreshing. I think you know going back to even being here is like a break away form the buildings we can kinda get stuck in our screens and buildings and then just remembering to connect with nature is always nice.”
San Antonio History:
San Antonio is a natural river that has been around for a thousand years. However, the canal is man-made because things changed in the early 20th century. In September 1921, a heavy flood hit San Antonio that caused people to lose their lives and caused damage that cost millions of dollars at that time. because the riverwalk had over flood that lasted almost a day of non-stop rain. But all that stopped because Robert H.H. Hugman was the man who had the idea to create a canal to stop floods which took about 10 years to have money to start building the canal. In 1937 the San Antonio Authority was founded which helped to control the floods because of all the dams. They help from a Disney designer with the project and his name is C.V Wood, Jr. In 1941 was now open to the public and a tradition started on that day like a parade and carnival. Also, different types of animals call this river home too since since the river can go deep to 2- 24 feet. As the city grows with different cultures surrounding the river, there are hotels, restaurants, museums, and homes. Some events happen in the rivers to have the community come out and have fun and relax.
“I would move out of the city, In general people in the United State there little bit of people who go out and walk, I feel like this area is what is for walk and people thankful walk because of it.”
“Tranquility”