The Parks and Recreation Department calls Austin: “A City Within a Park.“
One of the many great features of this central Texas city is its extensive system of walking and biking trails.
I was walking on part of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail the other day and was amazed at the hundreds of people using the 10-mile compacted-dirt trail. It’s a great place to see people because users include everyone from serious runners to casual bicyclists and families walking dogs. There are numerous access points and convenient parking locations scattered along Town Lake.
For a look at the hike and bike system in Austin click here.
As for RV and tent camping there is … Austin’s Emma Long Metropolitan Park on the shores of Lake Austin. It consists of 1,150 acres, 70 of which are developed. The park features 20 camping sites with water and electricity hookups, and 46 tent camping sites where water is available at every third site. A sanitation dump station is available.
According to the park’s Web site, Emma Long Park is open daily: 7 a.m. -10 p.m. Call (512) 346-1831. Costs: $5 per vehicle, Monday-Thursday; $8 per vehicle,Friday-Sunday and Holidays; $6 camping without utilities; $15 camping with utilities.
For other campgrounds in the Lone Star State, click on the Texas Association of Campground Owners.
For a vast selection of books and DVDs about campgrounds in North America go to RVBookstore.com.
Photos: Town Lake Trail (top); Emma Long Metropolitan Park. Source: Austin Parks and Recreation.
