by Melody Landeros

Created on: June 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 13, 2009

Austin, trendy, educated and eclectic has a variety of activities to enjoy during summer. People have a cornucopia of places and events to spend their summer days. Austin presents a variety of parks, lakes and creeks, biking trails and other outdoor activities. For those who prefer a less strenuous summer, concerts in the park, festivals and places to visit such as the state capital or museums are wonderful summer activities.

Lake Travis, a man-made lake offers 270 miles of shoreline. For boating and fishing, Lake Travis has many areas for people to explore and enjoy. Add to boating and fishing, sunbathing, swimming, picnicking and beautiful sunbathing, Lake Travis is a favorite recreation spot for people.

For the bold and adventurous, Lake Travis has one special area called Hippie Hallow. Hippie Hollow Park is the sole public clothing optional beach area in the state of Texas. This park allows people to sunbathe and swim in an area undisturbed by the boat traffic of the lake. Etiquette rules are enforced and naturalists flock there from all over Texas.

Barton Creek pool has been a favorite spot for Austinites to pass their summer days. With temperatures at or above one hundred degrees in summer, Barton Creek is always a refreshing 68F. This pool is spring fed and people enjoy the natural surroundings swimming in the refreshing water.

Lady Bird Lake, once known as Town Lake offers a favorite place for kayaking, canoeing, and rowing. With motorized boats prohibited from this lake, the water attracts people who prefer the quiet water sports. Lady Bird Lake also offers 10.1 miles for hiking, biking and picnicking. Named after former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, this lake offers a tribute to a woman who loved Texas, and initiated the campaign to Keep American Beautiful.

For the Austinite who doesn't mind the heat, or prefers the heat of the early morning or late afternoon, golf may tempt them to go and tee off. Austin has challenging golf courses to appeal to everyone that range from private, semi-private and public golf courses. One popular golf club is The Avery Golf Ranch that has received high kudos from golf aficionados. Golf courses in Austin may not have the lushness of say a Hawaiian golf course or a Californian, Austinites enjoy them and fun is what counts.

Austin offers many music venues to delight people during the summer months. From Blues on the Green to music clubs, music fills the warm summer evenings. Smaller parks offer concerts with local bands inviting families to come and enjoy music under the stars. There are other musical and theatrical offerings to tempt the music or theater lover during the summer.

There are festivals to delight people during the summer months. The Keep Austin Weird festival in June gives people the opportunity to celebrate the diversity that is Austin. AND Shades of Batman! Who could miss the Bat Fest in August celebrating the 1.5 million Mexican free tail bats filling the night sky as they leave their home under the Congress Street Bridge? The list is endless and the days of summer pass so quickly in Austin. Bored in Austin? NEVER!

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