Whenever you visit Austin you will have tons of attractions and activities to browse and explore. The city is huge and is always inviting. You will find many attractions that you have heard about but not seen yet in purpose. Perhaps one of the most popular attractions here in Austin is Lady Bird Lake. This massive river like pond is popular spot for locals and needs to be on your itinerary for your visit to Austin. Take a look at our guide to Lady Bird Lake here in Austin:
Our Guide to Lady Bird Lake
As the name suggests, Lady Bird Lake is a lake that you can enjoy for recreational use during your stay in Austin. Lady Bird Lake is a rare sight, as it is a lake found right in the middle of Austin’s city limits. Lady Bird Lake is actually a river-like reservoir that runs throughout Austin. It was created by The City of Austin in 1960 to help cool the new city power plant. Since then, Lady Bird Lake has become a primary spot for aquatic recreation, a much needed element for Austin’s warm summers.
Can You Swim at the Lake?
You are able to enjoy quite a few different activities at Lady Bird Lake, but there is one that is always restricted, and that is swimming. While many locals and visitors will find it easy to cool off by jumping into the water, you will have to do that elsewhere. Swimming has been prohibited in Lady Bird Lake for a while to ensure the safety of everyone around it. Lady Bird Lake is not in the shape of a typical lake and instead is shaped like a river. And similar to rivers, you will find that Lady Bird Lake can experience strong currents throughout the year. These currents pull down swimmers underneath the water quickly and unexpectedly. Since Lady Bird Lake was created within the city limits, the bottom of it is covered in boulders and tree limbs that can injure those who reach down low enough into the water.
Go Kayaking
One of the most popular ways to enjoy Lady Bird Lake is to explore it by kayak. During the summer season you can look out onto the lake and see hundreds of kayaks exploring the shores. Lady Bird Lake has a surface area of 416 acres making it huge to explore. Most of the lake is open to be explored so you can paddle around all day making this an exciting activity. Kayaks can also handle most of the currents found on the lake so you will not get stuck anywhere. Take out the family to enjoy the water in single, double, and even triple kayak crafts. Finding somewhere to rent a kayak at is extremely easy too. There are tons of places nearby that offer anything you need. Popular rental spots around Lady Bird Lake include Austin Paddle Shack, Capital Cruises, Float On, and many more. Most of the locations offer a variety of rental time lengths so you can pick how long you want to be on the water. Placing a reservation at a rental shop is highly recommended with how popular kayaking is on Lady Bird Lake, especially during the summer months.
Rent a Donut Boat
One of the more popular activities that has started here at Lady Bird Lake is relaxing on a donut boat. As the name suggests, the boat is round in shape but does not feature a hole in the middle. Instead, up to 10 people can relax in the circular shape that has an umbrella shade and table in the middle. You can take out snacks and drinks onto the lake with the boat and relax. Donut boats are able to be rented from Capital Cruises with pricing starting at $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
Book a Boat Tour
You can also explore all that Lady Bird Lake has to offer with a boat tour or cruise. Both Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat offers a public tour of the lake from the comfort of their massive boats. Tour guides will provide you with in depth knowledge of Austin letting you feel like a local. Pricing for the public tours is wallet friendly with private tours also available. You will find that everything is always more exciting when done right here at Lady Bird Lake.
Book Today for Austin
Lady Bird Lake is one of many attractions found here in Austin. Explore our listing of properties to find a home that is located near the lake. You will find that our homes offer comfortable amenities and features. Contact us to find your favorite property for the family today and get ready for a lively stay in Austin.
