PLAY VIDEO Bat Watching TOP TO BOTTOM: JTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY; JESSICA SERNA BOATING & PADDLING No motors are allowed on Lady Bird Lake , making it a hot spot for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Rent your float lakeside. Lake Austin is a man-made reservoir along the Colorado River. Cruise on the water until you find the perfect spot to stop for a dip. At nearly 30 square miles, Lake Travis has space to play. Water ski, boat and jet ski, or find a peaceful cove for fishing. Farther upriver, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area is a beautiful natural park along the Colorado River. Kayak or stand-up paddleboard in the gentle current. BAT WATCHING From spring through early fall, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats reside under the Congress Avenue Bridge . Wait on the bridge at dusk to see them emerge in a dark flurry of wings. You can also spread a blanket at the Statesman Bat Observation Center , a grassy hill adjacent to the bridge, for a sunset picnic. How about a view from the water? Lone Star Riverboat and Capital Cruises will get you close to the action in their open-air electric boats. Or paddle your own way with Live Love Paddle or Austin Kayak Tours , where you’ll get closer to nature and learn about this natural wildlife phenomenon. Blue Hole SCAN HERE to discover more Austin outdoor adventures 21
Austin Insider Guide 2026: Page 21
