The Colorado River runs right through the heart of Austin, and its crown jewel is Lady Bird Lake and the 10-mile-long Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail that provides recreation for Austin residents and guests of the city. In 2014, a one-mile-long boardwalk completed the trail, and it's truly a fairytale lakeside boardwalk.
Lady Bird Lake is an oasis in the city. The 468-acre lake was built in 1960, and it's been a source of beauty and recreation since its shores were developed in the 1970s.
During the 1970s, Lady Bird Johnson served as the honorary chairman for the lake's beautification project. Her work and donations enable the lake, then called Town Lake, to become the beautiful place it is today. After her death in 2007, the lake was renamed in her honor.
The 10-mile-long Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail takes joggers, cyclists, and those on foot along the shoreline past Austin's skyscrapers and neighborhoods.
When the boardwalk was completed in 2014, it filled the 1.3-mile gap in the trail.
The project cost $28 million and took nearly two years to complete. It includes 3,000 piers and 1.3 million pounds of steel.
The boardwalk includes seven viewing areas, an ADA-accessible fishing pier, and a restroom.
On a bright, sunny day, a stroll on the boardwalk is a scenic adventure. You'll want to make sure to bring your camera along, because the views of the city's skyline are unbeatable.
You'll also want to bring along some sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water - it can get pretty toasty on the boardwalk, especially during summer months.
You're almost certain to see plenty of turtles during your stroll. Snapping turtles call this lake home, and they can often be seen swimming around, or sunning themselves on logs.
You'll also see many species of birds, from swans, ducks, and pelicans swimming on the lake to gulls, hawks, and songbirds overhead.
If you're on foot, make sure to stay to the right of the boardwalk so that runners and cyclists can pass you safely. Bring along your pup if you'd like, but keep him on a leash.
There's also on art installation on the boardwalk! Artist Ken Little's installation "Belting It Out" includes 36 bronze belts, each with lyrics from well-known Texas songwriters. Check them all out, and choose your favorite.
The boardwalk is just as magical at night as it is during the daytime!
The boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake is open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Learn more about the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail on the Austin Parks & Recreation website and follow its Facebook page to stay abreast of all the recreation opportunities in Austin.
You can't swim in Lady Bird Lake, but you can swim in Austin's wackiest water park, and you're going to want to visit this summer!
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