Happy Hump Day everyone!! This is a very fun post indeed. I've been saving up some pictures that I've taken from all of our little adventures around town and out of town and have put them all together to share with all of you right now! Yay!
Texas is a very fun place (as you may already know). I don't care what anyone says... The River Walk in San Antonio is super fun. I know people from San Antonio always mention how it's "played out"... but I think it's just delightful. I guess if you've lived in San Antonio forever and have been to 
The River Walk a zillion times I could see how it could loose it's charm, but I've been there a total of four times and it's still makes me smile. I just love the stores and the delicious restaurants with all the old architecture all surrounding the quaint little walk way.
Don't forget The Alamo!!! It still amazes me just how small The Alamo actually is and how weird it is to be right next door to a Mall and across the street from Ripley's Believe It Or Not's wax Museum. Odd yes, but the history is just unbelievable. I still can't get over it!
I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with my baby cousin Sarah (whom just got hitched) to one amazing guy named Romy. Romy was staying on Base in San Antonio and Sarah just so happened to be visiting Romy before his training started... so The Mister and I jumped in the car and drove an hour to have lunch with them. I seriously never get to see Sarah and had to miss their wedding so this was a treat! It's so funny how much alike we are even though we are a handful of years apart in age and distance. You can't stop us Garriott's! Lol
Hey there little Froggy! These cute guys were everywhere when The Husbear and I went hiking a few weeks back down in The Gus Fruh in Central Austin. Austin is peppered with amazing little spots to go hiking and even go swimming (when we actually get a good rain). Swimming holes are a must as well as cliff jumping and even climbing. When I say cliff jumping I mean jumping from a little cliff into water of course. Ha ha!
The limestone cliffs and rocks of Austin are breathtaking... coming from an Ohio girl that has never seen a hill in her life these are pretty amazing. Check out this fun tid bit I found...
Austin, the state capitol of Texas, sits in the central part of this huge state in a region called the Hill Country. This progressive and beautiful city, dubbed the Live Music Capital of the World, is the Heart of Texas. The city sits amid rolling, wooded hills studded with lakes and traversed by Texas’ own Colorado River and numerous tributary creeks. The hills range in elevation from 100 feet above sea level to over 3,000 feet. It offers 11,800 acres of greenbelt areas as well as North America’s largest urban bat population. Austin basks in mild temperatures and 300 days of sunshine a year.
hills range in elevation from 100 feet above sea level to over 3,000 feet. It offers 11,800 acres of greenbelt areas as well as North America’s largest urban bat population. Austin basks in mild temperatures and 300 days of sunshine a year.
I bet you totally want to move here now don't ya? Check it out... 110 people move to Austin everyday! Yup, that's right. Based on The Chamber of Commerce's figures. Austin is the fastest growing cities in America flirting with the 2 million population mark. Wow!
Next on our list is The Blue Hole located in Georgetown, Texas. This watering hole
(actually it's a damn surrounded by limestone bluffs) is a hop skip and a jump away from Austin. Georgetown is super cute as well... it would make a perfect "day trip" for any Austinite.
The water source which is provided by The San Gabriel River runs a lot warmer than usual watering holes.... which is really nice.
There is a shallow side just past the damn that you can sit waist deep in the water. When there has been enough rain there is a beautiful little waterfall that little children and dogs play in. This was Sophie's first time at The Blue Hole... she enjoyed it very much. There is never any really HUGE crowds or loud people hanging out which makes for a very peacefully and happy experience.
There is however a little limestone bluff that kiddos like to jump off of. Technically you're not supposed to and there are signs warning not to.
This swimming hole is ideal for a floatation device since there isn't much to perch on... it's best to just float along the San Gabriel and soak up the sun. There is very little shade here so a hat is always key!
Next we have Pedernales Falls State Park which is located in Johnson City, Texas.
This too is a short 45 minute drive and it's so worth the view and the drive through the Hill Country is amazing! There is Hiking and swimming available for $6 dollars per person. It is super hot in the Summer with little to no shade so bring water to stay hydrated.
The swimming is delightful if you're not scared of leaches (inside joke).
Just look at that view! This isn't even after a big rain.... can you imagine what it would look like with even more water. There would be a waterfall and everything (hence the name of the State Park).
I went hiking with a group of friends and acquaintances for the whole day on Sunday and boy was I tired when I got back. Here's a good tip.... where hiking boots for sure and bring a camel back if you have one and sunnies and a hat. You will for sure need them!
Lastly, one of my all time favorite spots (every one's favorite spot) and the reason I fell in love with Austin is Barton Springs. They aren't kidding when they call Barton Springs "The crown jewel of Austin." Barton Springs is a natural spring located in Zilker Park fed by a segment of Edwards Aquifer. The springs where formed many many years ago during the cretaceous period and have continued to form leaving huge holes and caves for the spring water to collect in. Neato eh?
There are many beautiful Pecan trees scattered all along the poolside. The city is working hard to protect our trees and to save our spring as well as a very important little endangered salamander that live only in this area of water. That means there is a ton of maintenance that has been done here and will continue to go on in the future in efforts to keep Barton Springs at it's very best.
Here's the view from the other side. This is the "free side" of Barton Springs that people bring their dogs to to swim in. The pool side they charge $3 per adult but it's soooo worth it.
I hope you've all enjoyed this fun little post about my favorite places to hang out at in and around the fine city of Austin, Texas. There will be more adventures to come in the near future.
xoxo
