Paddling Texas Rivers

Texas, with its extensive river system, stunning lakes, and lengthy coastline, offers plenty of opportunities for kayakers, canoe owners, and other water enthusiasts. Texas Parks and Wildlife has a program, called Texas Paddling Trails, designed to develop public inland and coastal paddling trails. The network of trails, supported with maps, signage, and other information, provide paddlers of all levels the structure necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing. Additionally, the trails are free to the public.

There are over a million paddlers in Texas alone, and demand for trails is high. Texas Parks and Wildlife often works with partners to develop new trails. For example, in February 2013, as part of World Wetlands Day, Texas Parks and Wildlife partnered with local community groups to launch ten paddling trails along the Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake in east Texas. With these ten new trails there are close to 50 inland and coastal paddling trails documented by the state. Each trail is fully documented, complete with notes on getting to the launch site, what to expect while on the trip, and other things to do in the area. To view more about the paddling trips, visit: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/

Texas offers plenty of options for the outdoor enthusiastic. The paddling opportunities developed by Texas Parks and Wildlife complement the extensive off-road biking, hiking, and camping options. Combine two or more of these activities to create an action-packed outdoor adventure vacation.

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife

You Don’t Need A Gym Membership To Work Out In Austin

You don’t need a gym membership to work out in Austin. At any time of the day you can drop in on classes, group runs, and many other fitness opportunities all around the city at no cost. Any native Austinite would tell you that they love health and fitness. Here are just a few examples of things you can do to get in shape in and around the city.

Yoga:

www.blantonmuseum.org

www.lululemon.com

Bring your own mat to these free yoga classes. You’ll enjoy classic stretches and meditation.

Boot Camps:

www.bodybyframe.com

www.crossfitrep.com

www.fitandfearless.com

Come prepared for all different kinds of workouts at these boot camps, including CrossFit, lifting weights, and various strength and cardio exercises.  Some require you to bring your own dumbbells.

Cycling:

www.austincycling.org

www.jackandadams.com

Here you can find group rides and spinning classes. You are often required to bring your own helmet and bike.

Running:

www.austinrunners.org/GroupRuns

www.austin.lukeslocker.com

www.noexcusesrunning.com

In Austin there are countless free group runs that you can join on any day of the week, in addition to classes and workouts to build up endurance. In some, such as Luke’s Locker, free food is offered after the run.