Such a beautiful tour! Mara was amazing! I booked an 11 AM tour . It was a hot day, but still not…read moretoo bad. Some areas have steep steps. The trail isn't a circle, so you would go back the way you came. There are several beautiful sites to see along the way. The steps headed to the cave can be a bit slippery Stay hydrated and be ready to take beautiful pictures. I had an amazing time, I hope you do too!

What a great nature preserve! I went on the Grotto Tour and our guide was very informational. West…read moreCave Outdoor Center is located in the middle of nature so there's no phone service available. Prior to our tour, they sent us instructions on how to get to the center and they were very clear. They had signs at the entrance and they were very easy to follow. We booked the 11AM tour and the hike was relatively easy with West Cave and the Grotto at the end of the trail. Our guide was very informational and was able to teach us about the different species of trees and the geography of the area.

It's a beautiful park in the community where you can park your car and walk around as well as…read morehaving picnic under the trees or swimming or fishing Pretty nice landscape and just enjoy having a relaxing moment! Come and cheers

It is a cute little park. I have been to it several times. The best is during Christmas season…read more This is when I make it a real plan to go visit it at night. It is always lit up with thousands of lights! For all the years they have been doing it I never failed not going to check it out

Wowzers, glad we located this park to enjoy a weekend with the dogs. The best place to come and…read moreview bluebonnets; mostly unpopulated space. You can camp and enjoy family gatherings. There aren't any trails to hike, but it's fun to take your well equipped vehicle muddin' through the rugged paths. I love the open fields to lay in the grass and listen to "Children by Robert Miles" , so tranquil. If you want to get into the water or fish, there's a body of water. I dipped my toe in it and it was icy cold. I absolutely loved this day spending time enjoying nature. Don't sleep on this recreation park. There's restrooms onsite.

I've been doing a lot 'nature focused' things as of late and this is yet another review to add to…read morethat list. Forty miles northwest of downtown Austin, Turkey Bend Recreation Area lies on the north shoreline of Lake Travis in both Burnet and Travis counties. Turkey Bend Recreation Area is located between Marble Falls and Cedar Park. If you and your fam are looking to campin, not glamping, Turkey Bend Recreation Area might be for you! The Deets: The price- Campsites - $27.50- Two park entrance fees are included in your stay. Entrance to Park (non campers)- Adults - $5 Children (12 and younger) - Free Disabled - $2 Seniors (65 and older) - $2 Free with LCRA Annual Parks Pass The winery nearby is Flat Creek Estate: Texas Winery & Vineyard Non crowded or over booked campsites like some places NO running water NO showers NO electricity Kayaking If you are looking for peace and solitude to get away from chaos, give this place a try. #bewellcentraltx

The lake is full, and the views are beautiful. There are four boat ramps and parking. Safety is…read moregood, and there's a park for kids.

This very large multipurpose park sits on the Sandy Creek Arm segment of Lake Travis. It is…read moresurrounded by upscale homes peering down from the hill country above. It boasts of numerous amenities such as a baseball field, volleyball court, basketball court and play scapes. There's also a hiking trail that links it to Firemans Park just a short walk away and they do have public restrooms. There's also lots of parking, although none of it is shaded. On the property you will also find a tennis court, a musical space for the kids, swings, sculpture garden and boat ramps. There's lots of covered picnic tables complete with grills for use by families and large groups. If you wish to use one of the larger covered pavilion areas, you'll need to make a reservation. You'll also find some covered picnic tables facing out towards the lake, but unfortunately on my visit, the lake bed was completely dry. This park is a kids paradise and the only things missing are a swimming pool and a soccer field (which could easily be squeezed in). I decided to shoot more videos than photos in order to capture the size and scope of this well appointed park.

We had come to this park once before because we had gone to the museum up the way but we came again…read moreto explore more of it. Walking down to the water was much easier from the other side. There are tons of little stacks of rocks, art and other things. It's very calm and peaceful. If we had more time we would have gone up the way but we wanted to see more of the area this time. Parking was easy and next to lots of other businesses. The only downside was the gross bathroom. I wish they'd take more time to make sure they're clean. Otherwise I'll be back again to see more.

Perfect mix of wooooow, yaaaaay, and weeeeee. BOY am I glad we stopped here. We were headed…read moresomewhere else entirely and I told the kids, "Change of plans - let's check this place out!" I'll bet we ended up staying for at least two hours. The funky and eclectic outdoor art was an unexpected surprise for sure, and it was cool! Love it when cities and towns allow and promote stuff like this. The rocks and water were our main highlight, as we explored and rock-hopped all over the place. Had it been warmer, we would have taken off shoes and waded across to the strip of land in the middle of the river. But the water was freezing and we didn't. :) I've driven by the area when it's warmer / hotter out and it's clearly a popular area for kids of all ages, including teens. The dam and old metal truss bridge add a lot of character to the area. Just a really cool spot overall. There are also a couple of picnic tables and public restrooms (not just port-a-potties) that weren't as filthy as expected. Much to my amazement and satisfaction, I could take my little girl to the men's room and sit her on the toilet without... well, without bailing out completely and finding another toilet! (hahahaha) We'll definitely seek this spot out again.

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

This isn't the best caverns I've visited within a Texas State Park, but it is pretty darn cool. The…read morebest caverns tour is at Kickapoo Caverns. I did a wild cave tour without the extra charges that Longhorn collects. At Longhorn, our guide, Johnson did an amazing job with our small group of six people for the 10:45 AM tour. My brother and I initially registered for the 11:00 AM tour and am glad that we were suggested another time. We passed by the 11:00 AM tour and they had 40+ people in their group. Johnson showed us cool geological formations. We saw dolomite, calcium bicarbonate, chert, limestone, geodes, stalagmites, stalactites, and quartz crystals. Johnson is somewhat funny; he had a bit of quirky and dry humor. I enjoyed the history of the caverns, but some of it I thought was interesting. It was really delightful to learn that in the 1800's, before the CCC got involved, the locals would dance and play music turning the cave into an auditorium of entertainment. Johnson said that if certain geological formations glows, it is growing. Very catchy phase for memory. I got to see a few bats hanging out. They were tricolor bats which are smallest bats. The cave is cool, but thankfully not slippery. I was wearing no grip support shoes, but I didn't fall or have the urge to fall. There are mats on the floor of the cave to prevent falls. Johnson gave us more time to look around and admire the geology. My brother and I weren't required to bring our own flashlights. Johnson had a flashlight, but forgot to grab the blacklights. What I find is strange is that this is a state park that you cannot renew your state park pass at. This park headquarters is very different than the rest considering that there's a third party company handing the cave tours, they sell ice-cees, popcorn, and the gift shop is very big and vast. The others don't have this. It is questionable to me. I was told that I needed to go to Inks Lake to renew my pass. The cave tours are very pricey. Kickapoo Caverns tour was very affordable at $10. You can use the park pass. You can't get your state park passport stamped at Longhorn Caverns either. It seems like Longhorn Caverns is more for profit and the history about the cavern could be overly exaggerated to attract customers. My opinion. It was hard to believe half of the things what Johnson was telling us. There's one portion of geological formation in the cave that is "dead" because in year 1919, the locals went exploring by touching the formation it "killed" it. I preferred Kickapoo Caverns and the Caverns of Sonora a lot more. Even Inner Space Caverns and Natural Bridge were very exciting to see. Longhorn is cool, but didn't give me that WOW-factor, but I still had a ton of fun on a Sunday morning.

The Japanese Garden of Peace is located at the National Museum of the Pacific War and was gifted by…read moreJapan in 1976. It's an extremely zen and tranquil space that brought us such harmony on our visit. It's as though you're able to breathe and relax without a care in the world whilst walking this lovely oasis. Everything is meticulous from the koi pond to the raked gravel. The grounds seem to have brought us so much peace and balance as we took it all in. If visiting Fredericksburg, it's a must-see. Bonus: No admission. Free to enter.

This elegant and well crafted garden area hides behind a high stone wall. Access to this garden is…read moreon Washington Street, however, keep in mind it closes at 5 PM. It is beautifully sculpted and even has a tea room on display. This garden is tied in to the National Museum of the Pacific War. There is no entry fee to the garden.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge makes for a great day trip if you don't mind about an…read morehour drive from central Austin, depending on traffic. I did a couple of stops while we were out there, Doeskin Ranch and Shin Oak Observation Deck. The main hike was Doeskin Ranch. There's a restroom right near the trailhead. It's not plumbed, just a chemical toilet, but it was clean, stocked with hand sanitizer, and being able to use the bathroom before starting the hike made the whole experience more relaxed. The hike itself was nice but very seasonal. I went in January, so the landscape was mostly golden-brown grass with limited greenery and not much tree cover. You're mostly enjoying bushes, rocks, and scattered trees rather than lush views. I'd really like to come back in late spring or late fall when things are greener and more alive. The trail is fairly rocky and there aren't many mile markers, although the trails seemed pretty easy to follow. After Doeskin Ranch, I stopped at the Shin Oak Observation Deck, which is very close by. There's a nice gazebo with a scenic outlook and a short, meditative gravel trail with three or four nature signs encouraging you to slow down and be present. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk through depending on your pace. I recommend starting toward the left and going counterclockwise so you encounter the signs head-on instead of from behind. Overall, both stops were enjoyable. They're not hikes I'd feel the urge to repeat soon, but they made for a fun day hike and I felt worth the drive.

This refuge is a bit spread out, we went to both the Doeskin Ranch and Warbler Vista portions and…read morehiked a few miles. There wasn't any shocking moment of awe, but there's lots of birds around and a neat little creek, it's a good place to get some appreciation of the Hill County and get (mostly) away from development.

This is very good size park for people to walk, play, and fish! There are two large ponds and lots…read moreof parking! Great place for a picnic and take the kids to have some fun outdoors.

This park is a great place to walk your dog! Lots of walking trails, with areas along the way to…read moretake a break. The frisbee park is cool, and nicely tucked away. There are a couple of areas for kids to play, sand volley ball and basketball , The park is also well maintained. I have not taken advantage of all the amenities, but was impressed.

Krause Springs was such a peaceful, whimsical little escape. The amount of lush greenery and…read moremassive old trees was unreal. Some of the tree roots were the biggest and most unique I've ever seen in my life. The whole place just had such a calm, magical feeling to it. One thing to note is that there are a LOT of stairs in many locations and most are very steep, so it's definitely not stroller-friendly if you are a family with young ones. If you're bringing little ones, just be mindful and watch your step going down the stairs toward the springs. The property itself is absolutely beautiful. You can either camp overnight or purchase a day pass. From what I remember, day passes were $10 per adult, kids under 3 were free, and camping was around $21 a night. They close the springs at 8:00 pm and for campers quiet time is from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. No loud generators allowed for campers. They had so many little hidden coves and tucked-away areas where you could set up camp, which made it feel really private and peaceful. I was also very impressed with how clean everything was. The bathrooms and showers were pristine, very sanitary, and conveniently located within walking distance of the entrance. One surprise I didn't expect was that they also have a separate swimming pool in addition to the springs, which ended up being great because the water at the springs was a little murky the day we went due to recent rain. Still gorgeous to look at though, especially with the waterfall. It honestly felt surreal, like you forgot you were still in Texas. They also have a beautiful butterfly garden with tons of unique plants and greenery that made the experience interesting. Overall, this place just gave off such a good feeling. Peaceful, relaxing, beautiful, and definitely a must-see if you enjoy nature. We'll absolutely be returning again.

Beautiful hidden gem in hill country. There is a modest entrance fee that allows you access to the…read morewhole space - the natural springs, the man-made pool, butterfly garden, and more. The man-made pool has spring water; this is where I would recommend families with children or inexperienced swimmers go. It's lovely and more of a managed pool setting. We hiked down the stone steps to reach the natural springs which are so beautiful with a picturesque mini waterfall and a rope swing as well! However swimming here can be treacherous. I highly recommend water shoes as there are lots of rocks and moss in the springs. Water depth also varies greatly from one spot to another so it's important to be aware of that. Water temperature was comfortable and cool - felt great on a hot summer day. Wrapped up our visit in the garden, which is so beautifully maintained. Absolutely lovely and zen. The changing room and bathroom facilities are clean and easily accessible. We left feeling dry, happy, and peaceful after a wonderful day in nature.