Slicing through the centre of Austin is this oasis for watersports, hiking, biking and some plain old relaxing.
Lady Bird Lake is a man-made reservoir formed in 1960, and has since become a well loved recreational attraction. A sprawling 190 hectares in the centre of Austin, the lake divides the city evenly. Motorboats are prohibited on the lake (except for electric motors under 5 horsepower), so the calm, still waters are an ideal spot for kayakers and canoers. The massive population of fish in the lake make this a popular spot for recreational fishing. There are daily limits on the fish you can catch and keep, so check the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for details.
The extensive 16-kilometre Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail circling the lake is mostly flat, and is favoured by bikers, hikers and joggers alike. You can easily rent a bike from the bike shops around the city. There are also plenty of places you can rent a kayak, canoe or rowing boat to paddle on the lake. Swimming, however, is forbidden here.
Relax in the beautiful gardens along the shore, which resulted from the efforts of former First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson. The lake was named in honour of her to recognise the important contribution she had made to the city's image in the 1970s.
Under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge resides the largest urban bat colony in the world. Stretching from downtown Austin across the lake to the area of Bouldin, the bridge is home to about 1.5 million bats. Between March and November, this colony emerges from under the bridge in search of food. Head to the Statesman Bat Observation Centre for the best view of the sunset flight, where bats spiral out by the hundreds of thousands and flit off into the night. Have your camera on hand for this unusual, breathtaking sight on the Austin skyline.
Lady Bird Lake is a reservoir on the Colorado River in downtown Austin.
