We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs!…read more First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best!

Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can…read morehelp you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great!

I came to Bastrop for a quick Sunday Funday and luckily found this park. I parked near a small…read moreplayground. There was a boat ramp nearby. There were several pretty ducks strolling on the green grass. It rained yesterday so everything was green and bright. It seemed like a safe place to walk and run. There were several others walking their dogs and some kiddos riding bikes. We walked along the river and saw the backside of a great looking bar/joint called Neighbors. There was nobody there seeing it was only about 10 am but it looks like a neat place.

The Splash pad at Fisherman's Park is the place to go in the blistering heat of Texas, especially…read moreif you have littles. They have shaded picnic tables for snacks, lunch, or a party. It's also gated so you don't have to worry about your child running out into the parking lot. They just redid the pad flooring making it safe to play. This has become such a favorite spot of ours that I keep an extra towel and my kiddos swimsuit in the car at all times because we'll literally stop in between errands. Totally recommend if you are looking for something "cool" to do this summer. PS adults are allowed to get wet too.

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.

This a great place to wake board. The owner and staff are fantastic. The facility is great and…read moreequipment is quality gear. Kyle did a great job coaching our boys so they could get up and board quickly (1st time beginners) all the staff were super helpful. I highly recommend this business, we will be back again soon!

This place is a hidden gem. My wife and I came out here not sure of what to expect. Travis, Mike,…read moreand Curtis were great instructors and before we knew it we were wakeboarding naturally. Im being told they have a ladies night on Wednesdays and its BYOB after you ride. I'll be back for sure. Oh and try the fish tacos from the food trailer! This place doesn't have a lot of reviews since when they opened they got flooded. So come check them out and write a review!!

This state historical site is such a cool place. It features ruins of Kreische Brewery (and the…read morestill standing home) as well as Monument Hill a tomb for those who died in the Dawson Massacre of September 1842. There is a beautiful overlook, and the grounds themselves are very well maintained. Only $5 per person for admission and leashed dogs are welcome. The Visitor Center has a few displays of relics that you won't want to miss! I do recommend wearing good shoes and carrying water if you are planning to walk down to the brewery. It's a bit steep in some places!

On a visit to La Grange, I looked up the top attractions in La Grange on TripAdvisor. Monument Hill…read moreState Park came up as number one. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. After paying a small fee to enter, we parked. The visitor's center has a small museum where you can learn all about the history of the park. It's a good way to kick things off. From there, you can hike around the park. Beyond getting a workout, you come across historical markers and other goodies along the way. Brewery ruins, a home, a statue, and more. You'll learn even more through this experience. I love these types of hikes: where you simultaneously learn and get a workout in.

It's called a park but, basically a parking lot with a porta John and a trail head leading down to…read morelake Travis. That's what a lot of these parks are. After decades of development it's getting harder to get to the lake free. I came here today to hike down to the lake which has gone from an almost all time low to almost full in a matter of weeks due to recent flooding.

Yay, a "new" place to get in the water. I'm always looking for somewhere new to go cool off in the…read morewater. A friend told me about this little park, so I headed out there. Let's start with the cons: it's seriously off the beaten path- there's nothing out there. Bring everything you need- water, food, sunscreen etc. Secondly, there is literally no beach- just rocks, lots of rocks. Lastly, it is not dog, kid, or "out of shape" friendly. You have to climb around and over all those rocks to get to the water. (Oh, and there is a fee per person, if there's someone on duty). Now the pros- it is seriously off the beaten path, which means there's parking and very few people. Secondly, the water is clear and beautiful as are the views. It is near a marina, so boaters give nice waves every so often. Lastly, I loved sitting in my float just listening to the water hit the rocky shore. Very peaceful. I enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone. Let me know if you go- enjoy!

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.

We love this park! There's a huge play area with swings, slides, climbing rails and a few more fun…read moreactivities for kids. There's also a soccer playing field, a hiking trail that leads to secret beach with views so downtown and a shaded picnic area. The picnic area can be reserved for a day through Austin Parks&Rec and can be used for group gatherings or birthday parties.

Wow... the secret beach.. how beautiful. I came from Houston on a day trip. I won't tell everyone…read morespecifics to try and keep this secret as much as possible, but if you're coming here the first time.. it isnt easy to find. I can see how most times people just drive off.. me being the curious person I am just started walking by myself in the woods on a trail. I fortunately just so happen to see one woman walking her dogs and followed her in that direction but i swear to you she was walking fast as to not give this place away hahah! She actually disappeared onto another trail and couldnt find her.. (like Alice and Wonderland and the white rabbit style).. finally I heard splashing! I looked to my right and saw a weird trail that went down a steep side hill. So I followed the noise.. its pretty steep so be careful! After the brush and trees cleared THERE IT WAS! CLEAR, COOL WATER!! It was shallow when I got there and only about 8 people were there at 1pm during a Saturday. As time goes on it gets deeper and the water rises! Also more people start coming too. It feels sooooo amazing! You can grab a chair and just sit in the middle drinking and cooling off. Dog friendly! I spent a few hours with my boy before heading back. I live for finding places like this!