Magazine Articles

A Summer Day in the Great Texas Outdoors

By  | 
Tony Maples Photography

 

Originally published in Heart of Texas Magazine

Few could contradict the fact that the heart of Texas radiates a natural beauty beyond compare. Chockablock with ways to spend time in the great outdoors, the area has a sort of unwritten agenda that waits to entertain you. Get your hiking shoes, your sunscreen, and camping gear, pack up the family, and get ready to take the leap into the good life. Spend summertime outdoors in the Texas Hill Country.

Lace up your hikers and prepare to roam the trails at places like Hill Country State Natural Area and Cibolo Nature Center. Two very different yet similar experiences, they offer a peek into the ecosystems that fill our outdoor space and generally are the heartbeat of the region. Tall prairie grasslands, riparian forests filled with towering, leafy tree canopies, marshlands, and rocky limestone formations and outcroppings can all be found in these quiet and peaceful settings, designed with hiking and summertime outdoor experiences in mind.

A Summer Day in the Great Texas Outdoors

Photo: Pexels

When you’re finished hiking, little uncertainty exists that one of the best places to cool your heels in the Texas Hill Country is in the water. Blessed with a variety of lakes (natural and man-made), cool rivers, and clear, spring-fed streams, the Hill Country is the perfect summertime spot to revive your energy while keeping your family entertained for the day. Flanked by acres of shaded space and offering quaint and comprehensive open picnic areas (some with added amenities), this part of Texas offers the utmost in summer fun near the water. There are many area swimming holes to visit for great scenic views and general good times, including Jacob’s Well in Wimberley, Blue Hole Regional Park, Hamilton Pool at Dripping Springs, and Krause Springs in Spicewood. If watersports are more your style, Inks Lake and Lake Marble Falls feature kayak and boat rentals, not to mention various area outfitters to get you into the right gear.

Spend some time in our area state parks designed for summertime family fun, including campsites ranging from fully serviced RV spots right through to roughing it. Arrive early, set up your site and bust out the football or frisbee for a game. Explore the parks on foot or opt for a trail ride. Afterward, you can take a quick dip to cool off before digging around in the cooler for lunch and a cold drink. Follow that up with some downtime under the trees and a picnic, before really hitting the water for some extended afternoon play. Many of our parks also offer stand-up paddleboard rentals, canoes, and kayaks for leisurely use. Ample opportunities also exist for other kinds of summer water fun in the parks such as fishing, floating, and swimming.

A Summer Day in the Great Texas Outdoors

Photo: Pixabay

As the sun sets on your summer day in the great outdoors here in the Texas Hill Country, you can polish it off spending time by a campfire and sharing laughs with friends, or find yourself at a local event, dancing the night away under the stars. Just because the day has ended doesn’t mean you have to rush inside. And don’t forget… there’s plenty more fun to be had the following day, when we get up and do it all over again! Here’s to summertime in Texas and enjoying all that you can outside.