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[T492]The Great Outdoors Lighting

by Liv Worthington, Liv

Texas is well known for it great expansive outdoor spaces. The areas surrounding Austin has some wonderful places to hike camp and just explore. If you are staying in the Austin area and are looking for quick day trips, then you have over 15 different parks to choose from.

Located about 30 miles east of Austin is Bastrop State Park. It is a quiet, isolated park that is open year round. Deep in the Lost Pines region of the Texas pine forests, the 3,500 acres are yours to explore. It is the perfect state park for bikers, either beginners or experts, as there is a 12 mile stretch through the scenic Lost Pines of East Texas. If biking is not your thing, then you can take a leisurely drive along the same route. If you want to become more one with nature, then hiking, backpacking and camping are just what you need, and the park answers this with a 8 and a half mile trek through the Lost Pines region with campsites just waiting for you. It is a great place to enjoy the Texan out doors, yet not so far away from civilization.

If you are looking for something a little bit closer to downtown Austin, then the McKinney Falls State Park is the place for you. This 600 plus acre park is located just 13 miles southeast from the heart of Austin. It has over 3 miles of a paved biking/hiking trail through the park. There are more rugged trails for those who prefer to go mountain biking or hiking off the beaten path. If you want to do something out of the ordinary, then by all means check out the swimming in Onion Creek. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the refreshing waters of Texas. This park is geared towards visitors as it always has activities and programs for visitors to participate in. This is a great way to explore the more rugged side of Texas.

If you are looking for something a little bit more stimulating, then Perdernales Falls State Park is the place for you. Located about one hour from Austin, it is worth the trip just to see the falls. This park again has all the aminities of the other parks. You will find hiking, camping, biking and backpacking. There are over 14 miles of biking and hiking trails to explore. The trail that is the most traveled however, is the short half a mile nature trail which will give you a beautiful view of the Twin Falls and lets you explore the wildlife and plant life native to Texas. If you like the feel of adventure, then the unexpected flash flooding that occurs will only increase the enjoyment of your adventure.

So, if you crave the outdoors adventure, then you definitely want to experience it while visiting Austin. Whether you are looking to just enjoy a quick day trip or make it an overnight adventure, Texas has many different parks for you to choose from. The fact that there are so many places to visit for a day is great. This will allow you to explore one during the day, enjoy a good meal at one of the many Austin restaurants, and get a good nights sleep and then head out the next day to do it all over again at another great outdoors spot in the hills of Texas.

Austin is a beautiful city, alive with music, shops, people and entertainment. If you are looking for something fun and interesting to do with a decidedly city feel, there is no better place, no better metropolis. But if you are looking for something less urban and a little more . . . woodsy, is Austin still the location for you? It can be. You just have to know where to look.

The best place to start is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.9-mile hiking trail on 809 acres located within the city limits of Austin. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the park offers visitors views of sheer cliff walls, lush vegetation and small water reservoirs (where many will happily swim). During the spring, when the creek is running, the sound of rushing water joins the view for a truly blissful experience.

For hikers, the most convenient access point is the Loop 360 access, which will take you right onto the trail in about the middle of the walk, so whichever way you turn you'll have a decent hike ahead of you. However, there are other accesses: Zilker Access is at Town Lake, and just a few steps away from the Barton Creek swimming pool, a natural pool that is over 1,000 feet long; Twin Falls is on the other side of the Loop 360 Access, and as its name implies usually has a little more running water than Zilker or the Loop; Spy Glass Access and Gus Fruh Access are other convenient points and are situated between Zilker and the Loop.

Wherever you enter, you're sure to have a great hike, but don't think that's all you can do. Bikes are allowed on the paths, too (although no motorized vehicles), and if you're interested in climbing, there are more than enough walls throughout the park. In fact, it's rare that day doesn't seem various Austinites grabbing their gear and journeying to Barton Creek for an afternoon climb. Now, if you're new to climbing, it's important that you take all the correct gear and choose wisely the wall you mount. Maggy's Wall is the easiest with routes from 5.7 to 5.11, while the New/Great Wall has routes from 5.9 to 5.13. Gus Fruh essentially matches the New/Great Wall with routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.12. You must use your own gear on all walls, but don't feel you need to get carried away with what you purchase. A 40-meter rope should do the trick, but to be on the safe side, a 50 would be ideal.

If you're looking to camp, look elsewhere. The park is not open to campers, nor does it allow dogs off-leash. This ensures that the park stays as garbage free as possible (thanks to no overnight visitors) and as peaceful as possible (thanks to no free-wheeling puppies). Other rules and regulations apply, but are the standard for all natural parks within the country - don't litter, don't destroy the wildlife and don't take away from the experience for others. Barton Creek Greenbelt is a rarity in cities - it is a natural oasis amidst an urban setting.

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Both Liv Worthington & Joe Cline are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Liv Worthington has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, Free Credit Report Score and Family. Tymon Hytem is a native Texan who has lived in the Texas Hill Country his entire life. He is knowledgeable about the lifestyles, foods and travel destinations of Texas. You can find some more information on Texas restaurants, destinations and attractions. Liv Worthington's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.

Joe Cline has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Based Business, Education Toys and Pets. Joe Cline writes articles for . Other articles written by the author related to. Joe Cline's top article generates over 5000000 views. to your Favourites.