A Downtown Park on Lake Austin (without the traffic)

I always feel so blessed when I drive across the Congress or Mopac Bridges and take a quick glance left or right, catching an eye full of our precious Town Lake (I still refuse to call it Lady Bird Lake. I'm all about short names and that just doesn't quite work for me). Walking around the lake will surely set your mind in relax mode, but I frequently don't want to search for a parking spot during the busy times.

I recently found another portion of Town Lake that not nearly as many people seem to know about. It's immediately East of I-35 on the North side of Town Lake at Fiesta Gardens. I had heard of Fiesta Gardens before (and had even been to a few events there myself), but I never traveled passed the facility. There is a massive park on a peninsula right next to it!

HOW TO GET THERE: From most places downtown, take E. Cesar Chavez passed I-35. Take a left on Comal. Go until it hits the water.

TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT: Keep driving down the park - going East - until you hit the small boat launch. The parking lot ends and the park becomes a peninsula of grass and trees.

COST: Free

Doeskin Ranch at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Doeskin Ranch is a special treasure hidden among the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, an 80,000 acre conservation area about the size of Austin. Of the two trails open to the public on the refuge, Doeskin Ranch in the largest-a little under 4 miles.

This is one of the most solitary hikes I've found near Austin. It's not rare to only pass 1 or 2 people during the hike. Doeskin Ranch is filled with lots of prairie grass, scattered trees, and a few small creek crossings. The hike is mostly flat, except for the small, but easy climb to the plateau that overlooks the prairie fields below.

How to get there:

From Austin, go north on US 183 to Cedar Park. Turn left onto FM 1431 and continue through Janestown and Lago Vista. Turn right onto FM 1174 and head north for 5.6 miles. The entrance to the preserve will be on the right. It's a little over an hour away from downtown.

Tips to make the most of it:

Take the longer route and drive on Cow Creek Rd (off of FM 1431). Go during the spring or fall. Because there isn't a lot of tree coverage, the summertime might be a bit much. In other words, don't go during the summer.

Cost:

Might take you a lil' gas to get out there, but other than that...it's free! Gotta love free.