About Lake Travis
Manmade Lake Travis is one of the more desired locations in the region for outdoor recreation. There’s fishing, boating, swimming and hiking for traditionalists, with zip lining and scuba diving for the adventurous. With the only legal clothing-optional park in Texas located along its eastern shore, the lake offers an array of interesting opportunities both inside and outside the water. Lake Travis, just under 64 miles long, isn’t just a vital water supply for nearby Austin. It’s delightful resting place where the lake, woods, hills, and prairie come together in breathtaking harmony.
Things to do in Lake Travis
Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Travis and the surrounding area on an aerial tour. Up Above Austin provides 30 to 45 minute tours of the city and its vicinity, including Lake Travis. Austin Biplane is another tour company to consider. If you like flying but get claustrophobic, parasailing is an alternative that will let you enjoy the bird’s eye view without being inside a plane. Back on land, you’ll find 15 parks on the reservoir, operated by The Lower Colorado River Authority and Travis County Parks. Sites provide beaches, picnic areas, campgrounds and even places on shore to go fishing. One unusual park is located on the eastern shore. It’s called Hippie Hollow Park, and where nude swimming and sunbathing is allowed. If you’ve never been wakeboarding, diving, jet skiing or sailing – now’s your chance to try something new! Facilities in the area offer lessons, so even beginners don’t have any excuse!
Day trips from Lake Travis
Austin is about 20 miles southeast of Lake Travis, an ideal distance to squeeze in a day trip to the city. Austin is known for its eclectic live-music scene, especially country, blues and rock. Its many parks and lakes will provide visitors many opportunities for nature activities even while in the city. A day trip for foodies points to Lockhart, known as the “barbecue capital of Texas,” about 50 miles away. Here, visitors will find Black’s Barbecue, one of the oldest barbecue joints in Texas, as well as Kreuz Market, where they claim good barbecue doesn’t need any sauce. Fredericksburg, 80 miles from Lake Travis, is the regional German town, and also home to numerous events and festivals including the Crawfish Festival, Chili Pepper and Salsa Festival and Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest. San Antonio is also a delightful venture from Lake Travis, less than 100 miles drive. Stroll along the River Walk, a series of pathways along the San Antonio River; remember the Alamo at the famous colonial fort from the American Revolution; and tour the San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest continually functioning church in Texas.
Lake Travis accommodations
Finding accommodations to best suit your needs won’t be difficult at Lake Travis. There are optimal housing options for a wide range of occasions and budgets. A romantic getaway calls for a beautiful retreat property such as a peaceful bed and breakfast or a comfortable hotel. If you’re traveling with a team of outdoorsmen, many Lake Travis parks have camping grounds including Pace Bend, Sandy Creek and Mansfield Dam. Larger groups might want to look into conference or retreat centers, or larger vacation rental homes. There are also a number of spa options for those in need of relaxation, and RV Park for those traveling with their campers.
Transportation in Lake Travis
Private transportation is your best bet around Lake Travis. Rental car service companies such as Enterprise and Hertz are available nearby, with branches in neighboring metropolitan areas as well. Taxis and shuttle bus rentals are also options. Local tour companies may have the answer to mitigating transportation worries. Most offer handcrafted experiences of the greater Lake Travis area – transport included – whether visitors are looking for wining and dining, sightseeing or traveling on the water.
