Lady Bird Lake is the center of all things Austin during the year but especially in the summertime. “Bat Watching” is a favorite pass time and excursions run non-stop each night with throngs of people lining Congress Avenue Bridge (Officially called the Ann W. Richard Congress Bridge) in hopes of seeing swarms of bats flying out from under the arches of the bridge to forge for food. Bat season is from mid March to early November. Austin is the home of the largest urban bat colony in North America. Believe it or not the colony is estimated to be 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats.
Keep Austin Weird is a slogan associated with our city and bat watching falls under this category. That’s okay, its one of many traditions we all like to indulge in and reminds us the eclectic city we are privileged to live in!
In 1960 the City of Austin created a river like reservoir as a cooling pond for a new power plant. It was referred to as Town Lake ( I admit to still calling it Town Lake). it was then named Lady Bird Lake in honor of former First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson.
It’s hard to believe the surface area of the lake is 416 acres. It is the easternmost lake of a chain of reservoirs on the Colorado River and is located in Texas. The chain is known as Highland Lakes, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin.
The City of Austin considers Lady Bird Lake a major recreation area. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and Bike Trail surround the banks of the lake. Many businesses offer recreational watercraft services along the lakefront portion of the trail. There are no motorized boats allowed. Zilker Park, Austin’s largest downtown park is adjacent to the lake and Barton Springs is a major attraction for swimmers and flows into the lake
Everyone loves to spend time kayaking and paddle boarding, in groups or just by oneself reconnecting with mother nature.
Just running the trail around Lady Bird Lake is invigorating and a must do to really experience the authentic Austin and all it has to offer.
This is my first entry into the Active Rain July challenge of showing off our city and what they have to offer for summertime fun. Thank you Anna Banana Kruchten CRB, CRS 602-380-4886 for hosting.
