Austin on the water…on Wordfree Wednesday

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Lindsay S

A walk along the boardwalk, at sunset.A chance to see some beautiful autumn color…

And watch the sunlight illuminate the buildings.

We couldn’t help watching these beautiful spiders spinning webs along the railings…

Or trying to figure out why there were belts on the handrail along the board walk…

But in the end, we kept coming back to the view…

If you haven’t checked out the new boardwalk, please do! It’s stroller/dog/kid friendly, and the perspective on the city is beautiful.

A walk can turn into art in Austin

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Lindsay S

One of the things I’m enjoying here in Austin is the walk-ability. And all the great shapes, colors, designs and fonts I find to look at and photograph along the way.

The images in this post came from a walk along Guadalupe across from the University of Texas campus. Typical snapshots are of buildings or statues…but finding and photographing the small details of signs, fences, walls and sidewalks can turn an ordinary walk into an art experience. Best of all, kids of all ages can get in on the experience. Big kids like us have as much fun as little ones, and the little ones will love taking their own pictures.

And if you’re looking for a unique date night activity….two cameras, a connector and a tablet or laptop to look at your finds together over dinner or dessert. Perfect! Or head out by yourself for some quiet time really seeing your city, maybe for the first time. It’s amazing how different things look when you’re looking for the details!

I know this isn’t the typical “A is For Austin” post, but once in awhile it’s nice to talk about something that’s free and fun and simple and easy to do no matter where in Austin you might be.

Town Lake trail offers nature in the middle of the city

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Lindsay S

There are very few U.S. cities that offer residents a huge green oasis in the middle of the city. Fortunately for us, Austin is one of them.

Town Lake (also known as Lady Bird Lake, or so I am told) and the associated Town Lake Trail offers Austinites and visitors walking and biking trails from just over a mile to almost 7.25 miles. The trails are wide, and most of the route meanders along next to the lake (which looks like a small river to me, but hey, I’m not from around here!) Wildlife is sparse, but there are swans, blackbirds and tons of butterflies.

Most of the path is shaded, which is critical given the summer temps around here. Parking is hit or miss at several locations, but if one area is filled you’ll only have to go a short distance to the next on-street parking or off-street lot. Most of it is free, too…another plus.

If you want to head out onto the water, there’s a boat rental here, offering canoes, kayaks and boards, plus lessons for the uninitiated.

There are lots of restaurants within a few minutes walk of the trail, so many people finish up their taste of nature with a taste of something more er, um cooked?

Pets are welcome and pretty much equal the number of people on the Town Lake Trail, but they must be on leashes and you must pick up their poop to avoid lake contamination. (Yes, there are trash cans, but bring your own bags.) Off-road strollers do well here, although I have seen people with regular ones, too.