Outdoor summer adventures are calling in the Highland Lakes. Whether your family loves getting close to nature or gazing at faraway stars, picking sunflowers or picking teams for a round of disc golf, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do below as well as under Highland Lakes Vacation at 101HighlandLakes.com.
Here are some of our favorite family-friendly outdoor activities.
PARKS
The Highland Lakes boasts plenty of parks, including local and Lower Colorado River Authority parks, state parks, and adventure parks. You can camp, hike, and fish at many of them. Or, choose your own adventure. Browse the Outdoors Guide for more.
STARGAZING
The stars are bright deep in the Texas Hill Country. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, you can join astronomer Jim Sheets in the Eagle Eye Observatory at Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park and Resort to behold the wonders of the universe. Another great place to seek out stars is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, an International Dark Sky Park. Other state parks hold occasional stargazing events. Visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website for details.
ATTRACTIONS
Pick seasonal fruits and flowers, putt around, or feed exotic animals at Highland Lakes attractions. Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls is open for sunflower season through July 4. Admission is free; you pay by the activity. Also in Marble Falls is the newly opened Putters & Gutters, where you can putt, bowl, skate, listen to live music, and more. The Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City offers guided and drive-through tours in its free-roaming park filled with a variety of animals you won’t see outside of a safari. You can even feed them! Visit the What to See and Where to Play guides for more attractions.
SPORTS
You don’t have to join a team to enjoy sports in the Highland Lakes (unless it’s one made up of family and friends). You can make it competitive or just for fun. Play disc golf and mini-golf, go skateboarding and mountain biking, or try your hand at rock climbing. Whatever you choose, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated in the Texas heat.
SWIMMING
Speaking of staying cool, the Highland Lakes offers some of the prettiest swimming spots around, including man-made and natural. Take a dip in the Swimming Holes Guide for more.
ON THE WATER
You can find other water activities and resources in our Highland Lakes Guide, including bow fishing, paddleboarding, rentals, and waterfall spotting. Get angling tips from the experts and find out what kinds of fish are lurking below the surface.
For even more family-friendly fun, flip through an online version of the Spring/Summer 2022 edition of 101 Fun Things to do in the Highland Lakes or see what’s under the Highland Lakes Vacation tab at the top of 101HighlandLakes.com. And if you need a break from the heat, check out Indoor Family-Friendly Fun in the Highland Lakes.
editor@thepicayune.com