We All Float On

Fun things to do + top tips to know about a San Marcos River vacation

It just doesn't feel like summer in Texas without floating the river. COVID-19 put a halt to this tradition last year, but now the San Marcos River is open and ready to welcome visitors again.

Rising up from hundreds of springs in the center of the city, the waterway is a remarkably pristine body of water that’s 10 times cleaner than the EPA standards for drinking water. It’s also 72 degrees year-round, making it the perfect destination for both hot summer afternoons and cool winter days.

Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely float, whitewater thrills, a sightseeing tour, or something completely unexpected, the San Marcos River is the place to be.

Here are five of the best ways to have a Texas-sized adventures on the river, and a few things to keep in mind before you go.

1. Kayaking
Is chilling out in a tube and watching the world float by a little too tame for you? Then try whitewater kayaking at Rio Vista Park, where there are three man-made rapids where you can test your skills. You can even paddle at night, as the park stays lit after the sun goes down and remains open until 11 pm.

Never whitewater kayaked before? No problem! The upper San Marcos River is a great place to paddle in calm waters — perfect for new kayakers or those looking for a beautiful, leisurely adventure.

2. Glass-bottom boat tours
The San Marcos River is known for being so clear that you can see to the bottom, so what better way to experience it than with a glass-bottom boat tour? Head to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, which is at Spring Lake, the headwaters for the San Marcos River.

Tours run continuously every 30 minutes and offer you a chance to sit in a comfortable, covered boat, where you can peer into the water below and observe turtles, salamanders, fish, and more. While you’re there, take a stroll on the wetlands boardwalk for another very cool view of the local aquatic flora and fauna.

3. Diving
Scuba diving isn’t just for the ocean — you can get your scuba on deep in the heart of Texas, too. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment offers a unique opportunity to dive into the clear headwaters of the San Marcos River. While you can’t dive recreationally, volunteers can dive in this stunning part of the San Marcos River in order to help preserve the ecosystem.

The center offers a course for those who are already scuba-certified that allows them to dive in this critical habitat in exchange for science-based volunteer work. For those not scuba-certified, snorkeling downstream of Spring Lake is an excellent option for great views of the river.

4. Tubing
If you so much as mention heading down to the river, you can pretty much guarantee that your friends will start airing up their tubes for a day of floating. If you’re looking to tube the San Marcos River, you have the option of either renting a tube or bringing your own.

One of the most popular spots for tube rentals and river shuttles is the Lions Club Tube Rental at San Marcos City Park. Here, you can rent tubes every day of the week and float from San Marcos City Park to Rio Vista Park. Once there, you’ll find natural pools to take a dip in and fun waterfall chutes.

The journey from park to park takes about an hour, and you’re welcome to sip a cold beer along the way so long as it’s not in a glass bottle. For a longer tubing option, rent a tube from Texas State Tubes or Don’s Fish Camp and take advantage of shuttle pick-up services along the way.

5. Stand-up paddleboard
Also known as SUP, stand-up paddleboarding is one of the coolest ways to experience the San Marcos River. You can rent a stand-up paddleboard and paddle the mighty river, or you can take part in a nighttime paddleboard glow experience.

Picture the moonlit San Marcos River, plus you, your friends, and a whole bunch of technicolor neon. This must-try adventure allows you to take to the water on a SUP that’s equipped with underwater LED lights boasting different colors and settings. Bring your own glow sticks to light up the night even more. The unforgettable tour is guided and takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half.

And now for some helpful tips:

Where to park
Parking is permitted at the Fish Hatchery, Ramon Lucio Park, and along CM Allen Parkway and Cheatham Street.

Don’t forget a bag
San Marcos is full of natural beauty and we all want to keep it that way. Make sure you bring a bag for your trash and belongings so nothing goes astray or ends up unintentionally becoming litter. The plants, animals, and locals will thank you for taking extra care of their beautiful city.

Remember, it's a real river
The San Marcos River is a natural-forming body of moving water, so visitors should be aware of currents and wildlife when enjoying it. Wearing a life vest is highly suggested when exploring the river, especially for children and those who are inexperienced swimmers.

Protect your skin
No matter what SMTXperience you have planned, you should always be prepared for the hot Texas sun. Always wear sunscreen — even on a cloudy day — and reapply every two hours or when needed. Wearing hats or sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the bright sun. After all, the worst memento from a fun day in the sun is a painful sunburn.

Hydration is key
Staying hydrated can be tricky during the hot summer months (because, no, beer doesn't count). Bring plenty of water and try to drink it consistently throughout the day. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, and make it harder for your body to stay hydrated. Alcohol is not allowed in parkland, but it can be brought into the river through the public access points for your water recreation activities.

Leave glass and styrofoam at home
Glass bottles and styrofoam (yes, even styrofoam coolers) are prohibited in San Marcos parks and waterways. Glass can easily break and end up on the river bed and bank. Styrofoam breaks down into bite-sized pieces for fish, birds, and turtles where it remains in their stomachs, causing them to feel full and starve to death. The best option is to bring your drinks in a reusable steel or plastic bottle to decrease your carbon footprint.

Wear appropriate shoes
While flip flops are a convenient footwear choice for the summer season, you're better off wearing a sturdier shoe that secures to your foot. The extra stability makes it less likely you’ll take a tumble, break a strap, or lose them altogether. The river current is stronger than you think, and your improperly secured shoes can vanish downriver faster than you can react.

Stick to public access points
The San Marcos River connects with the Guadalupe River and flows into the Gulf of Mexico, so don't forget to get out of the river at one of San Marcos' many public access points. These public access points allow you to get in and out of the water without trampling some of the much-needed flora on the river banks. It also designates public parkland, so you don’t end up trespassing on someone’s private property.

For a full list of park do's and don'ts, visit keepalidonit.org.

It doesn't get much better than San Marcos in the summertime. The river is waiting — all you have to do is dive in.

Certified scuba divers can volunteer to help preserve the ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of San Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau

Certified scuba divers can volunteer to help preserve the ecosystem.

nature promoted vacation

Your Expert Guide

Oak Cliff: The underestimated historic and culturally rich 'hood

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman

Kay Wood

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Bishop Arts is a huge attraction, but Realtor Kay Wood wants people to know that Oak Cliff is a lot more than just Bishop Arts.

"Oak Cliff has a really rich and complex history," the Briggs Freeman agent says. "I think it's one of the most underestimated neighborhoods in Dallas."

Wood has lived in Oak Cliff with her high school sweetheart-husband since 2008, but she's been helping people buy and sell homes there for the past 15 years, currently with her business partner Brian Davis.

"The neighborhoods here are close to everything but still relatively affordable compared to other areas of DFW," she says. "I love all the historic homes with their architectural interest and variety, the strong sense of community engagement, and how there's so much to explore. Whether you're looking for the best new restaurant, the most authentic taco, film festivals, the zoo, the best public high school in Texas, parks, nature preserves — I could go on all day!"

Wood offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in "the Cliff." Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
The list is long: Nova ("you have to get the hummus," Wood says), Encina (pro tip: don't skip the blue cornbread), Cibo Divino for pizza and wine on the patio, coffee from Peaberry ("my husband swears their Vietnamese coffee is the best in town"), oysters at Boulevardier, the Perfect Picnic at Eno's Pizza Tavern, tio's elotes next to El Si Hay, the pistachio ice cream at Joy Macarons, and the spicy lobster ramen at Ten Ramen.

Wood advises picking up a great bottle of wine from Neighborhood Cellars and some steaks from Cooper's Meat Market. And, of course, there are tons of taco options in the neighborhood: "We can't get enough of Maskaras, Trompo, and Taco y Vino," she says.

Where to play
Marvel at the best skyline views in town while playing a round at Stevens Park Golf Course, take a walk through Twelve Hills Nature Preserve, bike along the Trinity River, or play disc golf at Founders Park.

The Kessler Theater is "such a great and intimate venue" for concerts, while the Texas Theater adds a touch of history to movie-watching. Escape to The Wild Detectives for books, music, and poetry, or head to the Dallas Zoo for a wild day out — "our whole family loves to feed the giraffes," Wood says.

What to see
Oak Cliff is home to the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial at Kiest Park and the La Reunion Monument at Stevens Park Golf Course that honors some of Dallas' earliest settlers.

On Jefferson Boulevard, you can pop into the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for regular art shows, and "my daughters love to walk down the street and look at all the quinceañera dresses in the shop windows," she says.

Where to live
A few years ago, Wood helped her buyers purchase 626 Rainbow Dr., a rare, two-acre midcentury modern estate that's wrapped on three sides by a babbling creek.

"When you're there, it's really hard to believe you're less than four miles from downtown Dallas," she says. The buyers hired local architect Eddie Maestri to update some aspects of the house while carefully preserving its midcentury style. There was an original barn that had been previously converted to a studio, but the buyers reinvented it as a guest house and added a pool and outdoor kitchen.

"It's hard to say what a 'typical' Oak Cliff house would be, because we have some of the very best examples of almost every architectural style in town," Wood says.

"In Winnetka Heights, you'll find Craftsman architecture (four squares, bungalows, Sears catalog, etc). Kessler Park has Tudors and Colonials and Texas eclectics from notable local architects like Charles Dilbeck and David R Williams. Stevens Park has all of these, as well as Spanish Revival and Dutch colonials. Wynnewood, North Kiestwood, and Wynnewood Hills have some of the best midcentury moderns in Dallas, as well as wonderful ranches. East Kessler has cutting-edge contemporaries that take advantage of the rare-to-DFW hilly terrain. You could teach a pretty comprehensive architectural history of Dallas without ever leaving Oak Cliff."

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Kay Wood lives, works, and plays in Oak Cliff. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email kwood@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-908-5442.