Austin, TX

We tried 5 hiking spots in Austin. Here’s our favorite. – The Texas Tasty

Published

7 months ago

April 10, 2024

We tried 5 hiking spots in Austin. Here’s our favorite. – The Texas Tasty

April 10, 2024

As part of the Texas Hill Country, Austin has great terrain for hiking. There are a ton of trails and natural areas to check out, all differing in elevation gain, difficulty, scenery, and ease of access. We took it upon ourselves to do the heavy lifting (or walking) and rank five of Austin’s hiking spots based on some of these criteria and, ultimately, our personal experiences. If you find yourself itching for a good hike in Austin, don’t hesitate to check out one of these picks – they’re all great for fitting in some activity and sun into your day.

5. Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

Address: First Street Bridge at Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX 78701

Difficulty: Easy

Scenery: Pleasant views of downtown

Easily accessible by public transportation: Yes

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail is perfect for those who like a good urban path. This path is adjacent to downtown Austin, making it easily accessible by public transportation and a stone’s throw away from a good after-hike drink or snack. Because of its proximity to the city’s center, it’s naturally not the most scenic on this list, but there are plenty of gorgeous views of Lady Bird Lake and the skyline nonetheless. It’s fairly flat and not too hilly, so it’s really enjoyable for a stroll or a bike ride.

4. Turkey Creek Trail

Address: 1401-1711 City Park Rd, Austin, TX 78730

Difficulty: Easy

Scenery: Picturesque creeks and critters

Easily accessible by public transportation: No

The Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a fairly short hike that still manages to immerse you in the beauty of Austin’s flora and fauna. It’s easy with some elevation changes and quite a few creek crossings for a bit of a challenge. Make sure to bring proper shoes and brace yourself to be in close proximity to other hikers; this trail is muddy and busy, so a slip may be imminent if you aren’t careful. The creek is abundant with cool water which is refreshing as Austin inevitably heats up. It only took us about an hour, so it’d be a great spot for families or those with dogs.

3. Barton Creek Greenbelt

Address: 3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy B, Austin, TX 78704 (main access point)

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, depending on distance hiked

Scenery: Views of the city, scenic woody areas

Easily accessible by public transportation: Yes

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a sort of all-encompassing natural area where you can hike, bike, boulder, and more along Barton Creek. There are 12 miles of trails, so you can definitely up the difficulty by simply increasing the amount you complete. Because it’s so long, there are a few elevation changes, so depending on the trailhead at which you enter, you can enjoy a rigorous hike or a pleasant stroll. Basically, it’s super versatile and an Austin staple for hikers. Certain access points of the trail can be a little dicey as of late, so we recommend hiking the greenbelt during the day or carrying proper safety gear for nighttime hikes. The main access point can be especially busy, so be aware that this is not an isolated hike. Its beauty lies in its easy accessibility and flexibility, and it’s a great way to see a lot of Austin in one hike.

2. Mayfield Park & Nature Preserve

Address: 3505 W. 35th St, Austin, TX 78703

Difficulty: Very easy

Scenery: Gorgeous wildlife

Easily accessible by public transportation: There’s a bus stop about a 15 minute walk away at Exposition/Warren, so not exceptionally easy but possible

The short trails at the Mayfield Park & Nature Preserve are easily the most beautiful of the hikes on this list. The nature preserve itself is a wonderful place to visit, walk through, and take in the wildlife, so the trails on the property are naturally a great addition. They aren’t long, are quite easy, and mostly loop around, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth checking out. Although this hike isn’t a super intense workout, it’s surely a great way to spend your day. If you want to get a few steps in and see a gorgeous enclave of Austin, stop by Mayfield Park.

1. River Place Natural Trail

Address: 8820 Big View Dr, Austin, TX 78730

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Scenery: Picturesque with lots of critters

Easily accessible by public transportation: No

The River Place Natural trail is my personal favorite hike in Austin and definitely the most difficult out of the ones I’ve tried. It’s about a 3-hour-hike round trip with lots of elevation gain and tons of stairs – like, the whole thing is basically stairs with what feels like a tiny bit of walking in between. But, somehow, it still reigns supreme as the most satisfying, beautiful, and well-constructed hike in Austin for me. You will certainly feel the burn of all of the stairs, but as you continue through the hike, you’ll see tons of pretty wildlife, waterfalls, creeks, and plants. It begins with a really nice boardwalk where many people enjoy to fish, so it’s easy to make a day out of this hike. Even better, after you’ve subjected yourself to the roundtrip, sit back and enjoy the rocking chairs at the boardwalk.

Conclusion

Austin isn’t necessarily home to the most rigorous terrain and hikes to ever exist, but don’t count this city out. All of the trails and natural areas on this list were a blast and it’s always good to get some steps and Vitamin D in. Whether you enjoy a more urban landscape with views of downtown or a more hidden natural oasis, there’s a lot of diversity in the sorts of hikes Austin has to offer. So, if you’re hard-pressed for a good trail to keep you occupied, don’t hesitate to check one of these spots out.

Mae Lackey is a dedicated journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. Having previously worked as an audio producer at The Daily Texan and an editorial intern at The Austin Chronicle, she enjoys reporting across a variety of mediums. She’s passionate about telling stories and digging deep, whether it’s about food or people. As a native Texan, she’s proud to be from a state that is home to so many wonderful stories and cuisines.

Source link

Click to comment

Austin, TX

Austin is the 2nd 'healthiest' city in America, Forbes says

Published

7 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

Austin is the 2nd 'healthiest' city in America, Forbes says

Is Halloween the new Christmas? Sure seems like it in Texas, which just earned top-5 status in a new study of the U.S. states that are the most into the Halloween spirit.

When it comes to doing up the spookiest holiday of the year, the Lone Star State comes in as the third-most Halloween-obsessed state in America.

The report by outdoor furniture retailer Backyard Oasis ranked all 50 states based on an analysis of search results for Halloween costumes, decor, candy, haunted houses, upcoming Halloween events, and more. State populations were also factored into the rankings to ensure the scores were “accurately comparable.”

Texas ranked No. 3 with a composite score of 48.16 points, beat only by California who ruled the list at No. 1, and New York which came in at No. 2, earning gilded costume crowns as the top two most Halloween-enthusiastic states.

According to the study’s data, Texas is home to 47 haunted houses. The state has more than 75 Spirit Halloween stores in 2024, including nearly 30 in DFW, a dozen in Houston, half a dozen in Austin, and four in San Antonio.

Austinites have plenty of Halloween events to choose from, including a night out at one of many themed bars or artsy showcases. Looking outside of Austin, there are approximately 3,000 Halloween-related events happening all around the state in October.

Many trick-or-treaters dream of getting full size candy bars for Halloween, but in a surprising twist, the study found that the most popular Halloween candy in Texas is actually Sour Patch Kids. The sour-then-sweet candy is also highly popular in New York and Illinois, the report says.

Here’s how Backyard Oasis broke down the rest of Texas’ score:

9,314,440 – Halloween costume searches in October 2023
1,168,320 – Halloween decoration searches
445,670 – Halloween candy searches

Backyard Oasis CEO Andy Wu said in the report that the spirit of Halloween isn’t just about giving out candy or dressing up in fun costumes, it’s about sharing in a “tradition that sparks creativity and joy across the U.S.”

“Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, bringing people together through creativity and celebration,” said Wu. “It’s amazing to see how different states embrace the holiday in their own unique ways, from massive costume searches to thrilling haunted houses.”

The top 10 most Halloween-obsessed states are:

No. 1 – California
No. 2 – New York
No. 3 – Texas
No. 4 – Florida
No. 5 – Illinois
No. 6 – Ohio
No. 7 – Pennsylvania
No. 8 – Indiana
No. 9 – Michigan
No. 10 – Massachusetts

The least spooky state in the U.S. is Wyoming, which came in at No. 50, joined by nearby states Montana and South Dakota. New Mexico (No. 46) and Vermont (No. 47) were the other two states on the list’s bottom five.

The full report can be found on backyardoas.com.

Source link

Austin, TX

AOG Living Breaks Ground on Novum Capital View in Austin, Texas

Published

15 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

AOG Living Breaks Ground on Novum Capital View in Austin, Texas

Firms Begins their Second Development Project in the 55+ Market

HOUSTON, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AOG Living has broken ground on their second active adult community, Novum Capitol View in Austin, Texas, adding an additional 168 units to its growing development portfolio across the nation.

Left to Right: Kenneth Schaper (Superintendent) Michel Aviles (Project Engineer) Paul Riley (President, AOG Construction) Toni Boyette (Regional Manager) Ricardo Rivas (CEO) Justin Hunt (Associate) Sherri Swope (Senior Project Manager)

Developed by AOG Living and financed by CBRE, Novum Capitol View is slated for completion in late 2025. The 55+ luxury community is located at 9009 Capitol View Drive in Southeast Austin and offers a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Designed by architects Humphreys & Partners, the community will offer amenities such as weekly programming and activities, saltwater pool, dog park, community gardens, putting green, grilling station, yoga/aerobics room, hair/nail salon, fitness center, multi-purpose activity room, theater and game lounge, and air-conditioned storage units. AOG Living will also provide management for Novum Capitol View.

“We’re excited to leverage our experience in construction and development of Class A properties as well as our management experience of both Class A and senior living communities with our new, active adult community platform,” said Justin Hunt, Investment Associate at AOG Living.” AOG Living Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Rivas continued, “This project represents AOG Living’s ongoing expansion and dedication to serving diverse housing needs. We look forward to bringing our quality standards, community-driven values, and innovative property management as we expand our footprint in the Austin area.” For more information visit aogliving.com.

About AOG Living

AOG Living is a leading fully integrated, multifamily real estate investment, construction, and property management firm headquartered in Houston, Texas, with additional offices in Dallas and San Antonio. AOG Living has acquired, built, or developed more than 20,000 multifamily units with a total aggregate value of approximately $2.4 billion and has a growing portfolio of more than 35,000 apartment homes and 170+ properties under management throughout the nation. For more information, visit aogliving.com.

For More Information Contact:
Carrie Saks
[email protected]
713-622-5844

SOURCE AOG Living

WANT YOUR COMPANY’S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

Source link

Austin, TX

Election 2024: Strong turnout in Texas for early voting

Published

23 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

Election 2024: Strong turnout in Texas for early voting

Early voting in Texas

Strong early voting turnout continued Wednesday, as more Central Texans opted to head to the polls ahead of Election Day.

TEXAS – Strong early voting turnout continued on Wednesday, as more Central Texans opted to head to the polls ahead of Election Day.

“It does look like this is going to be a relatively high turnout election in Texas,” said Joshua Blank with the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin.

“Higher turnout is good because it means people are supporting the system,” said Dr. Brian Smith, a political science professor at St. Edward’s University.

In Travis, Williamson and Hays Counties, significantly more people turned out in the first week of early voting this year, compared to 2020. Although COVID and population growth affect that comparison, there’s no doubt this year’s numbers are high.

“This has been such a nasty, divisive election at the presidential level that people have made up their mind, and they want to cast their votes sooner rather than later,” said Smith.

Large number of people turnout for early voting

In Travis County, the vote count may be coming from a large number of first-time voters. There is also a possibility some of those casting a ballot now haven’t voted in a while.

In Texas, some experts say that could spell an advantage for Republicans.

“So far, the data from early voting indicates that significantly more voters with a Republican primary voting history have voted than voters with a Democratic primary voting history. And that gap is unlikely to be erased,” said Blank.

Part of that equation could be people turning out who haven’t voted in a while.

“There’s been a lot of discussion lately about Trump’s ability to turn out low-propensity voters, people who are unlikely to vote, and his appeal among these voters,” said Blank.

MORE ELECTION 2024 COVERAGE

Other factors could help Democrats, though. Looking at Travis County, more young people and first-time voters are making their voices heard this year, with 18- to 25-year-olds showing the largest increase in registration.

“When we look at first time voters, this often helps the Democrats. They tend to do better with younger voters or voters who are new to the system,” said Smith.

In its latest poll, the Texas Politics Project delved into what issues are motivating Texans to show up.

“Voters told us that the economy and prices were driving them to the polls. This is an issue that most voters feel on a daily basis,” said Blank. “Abortion remains a concern, but more so for Democratic voters.”

46K in Travis Co. vote on first day of early voting

Around five percent of registered voters in Travis County cast their ballot on the first day of early voting Monday.

That same poll showed former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by five points in the presidential race in Texas. In the race for U.S. Senate, it showed Sen. Ted Cruz, leading Democratic challenger Rep. Colin Allred by seven points.

“There’s no indication in our polling or any of the other polling at this point, along with what we’ve seen in early voting turnout to date indicate a Democratic surprise here in Texas,” said Blank.

Eight early voting locations in Travis County will have extended hours Thursday and Friday. They’ll be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the last two days of early voting. Those locations are:

Austin Permitting and Development Center