Places To See And Things To Do For Spring Break

While it may already be Wednesday, Spring Break isn’t over yet. There’s still time to plan a day vacation or even a weekend.

By Mary Elizabeth Shivers

Looking for a place to chill and hang out with your friends and family? From locations including San Marcos and Austin, here are some places to start with:

San Marcos –

San Marcos River: Flowing through San Marcos, this refreshingly cool river offers opportunities for swimming, kayaking and floating. Dazzlingly clear, the San Marcos River will give families and students an experience of fun like no other. One area where students and families can feel the river is Sewell Park. It should be noted, however, that at this spot at least, the San Marcos River has a very strong current.

Saltgrass Steakhouse: This restaurant is the perfect place for hungry students and hungry families, offering not only a variety of steaks and other food choices but also balcony seating where diners can view the breathtakingly beautiful San Marcos River.

Austin –

2018 SXSW Austin: Like movies, music, comedy, gaming? Come to the SXSW Festival in Austin, which runs from March 9-18. For movie lovers, there was the Film Festival running from March 9-13, which will include Ready Player One.

For music lovers, the Music Festival will be on from March 12-18 and will feature all kinds of music from many different places. For those who enjoy comedy, the Comedy Festival day-to-night showings from March 9-13 and night showings from March 14-17.

For those who are avid gamers, there is the Gaming Festival from March 15-17 that will include a Gaming Expo and an awards show. In short, this festival has something for everybody.

Spring Branch –

Guadalupe River State Park: Located near San Antonio and Austin, this state park centered on the Guadalupe River not only offers opportunities for families and students to swim, fish, tube, and canoe but also camp, hike, ride horses, picnic and hunt treasure!

Burnet –

Inks Lake State Park: Located in the Hill Country an hour northwest of Austin, this park features a lake, a small canyon, hiking trails and a waterhole. Families can swim, boat, water ski, scuba dive, fish and paddle.

Swimming can also be done at the waterhole – Devil’s Waterhole. Families will also be able to hike, camp, hunt treasure, have a picnic and play volleyball.

Longhorn Cavern State Park: If you love caves, choose from a variety of tours and explore the beauty of Longhorn Cavern.

Marble Falls –

Lakeside Park: Located right next to Lake Marble Falls, this park not only offers a beautiful view of the lake but also features a basketball court, a tennis court, barbeque pits and a swimming pool. Families can have a great time and enjoy the lake!

Bertram –

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: If you like looking at scenic views, come check out this refuge that protects the nesting habitat of two endangered bird species – the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo. Go on a free field trip to the refuge’s Doeskin Ranch Unit in Bertram, where you can see a prairie, a lovely creek, woodland trees, oak trees and the Texas Hill Country!

San Antonio –

San Antonio River Walk: Check out the sites of San Antonio using the River Walk! Walk under cypresses, travel the river by boat, and dine under an umbrella by the river at one of San Antonio’s restaurants. It is sure to be an experience that a family will never forget!

South Padre Island –

Beaches, wildlife refuges, restaurants, bars, nightclubs – this is the place for a good time! Here, families can surf, jet ski, zipline, snorkel, scuba dive, and tandem skydive as they are awe-inspired by the island’s Christ of the Fishermen.