Lake Getaways

3 great Central Texas lake getaways to beat the heat — and escape crowds

Horseshoe Bay Resort Lake Lyndon B. Johnson LBJ

Beat the heat and escape the crowds at Horseshoe Bay Resort on Lake LBJ.

Horseshoe Bay Resort/Facebook

One of the best ways to beat the summer heat is to head to the lake, but it often seems that everyone has the same idea. Why not check out one of these Central Texas lakes that offer less-crowded alternatives to Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis while also providing a wide variety of activities and water sports? Canyon Lake, Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, and Lake Buchanan fit the bill and can be easily reached for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

Canyon Lake
Located approximately halfway between Austin and San Antonio, and a mere 14 miles from New Braunfels, Canyon Lake sits in the middle of the Texas Hill Country and provides easy access to Gruene. Canyon Lake is also known as the "Water Sport Capital of Texas."

Hit the lake: Based on the number of choices — including boat, wakeboarding, parasailing, paddle board, fly-board, and jet ski rentals — Canyon Lake is indeed the "Water Sport Capital of Texas." Canyon Lake Adventures is the one-stop shop for whatever adventure suits your fancy. Make reservations well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Where to stay: Canyon Lakeview Resort features lake views from every room. Accommodations range from lodge suites to cathedral cabins for 10 to 12 people. The resort also includes a boat ramp, wedding venue, and conference center. It has a 7-acre waterfront, swimming pool, sand volleyball court, and numerous fire pits for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.

Nearby attractions: Catch a concert at Gruene Hall or Whitewater Amphitheater.

Lake Lyndon B. Johnson
Lake LBJ starts near Horseshoe Bay, around 45 minutes from Austin, and goes to Kingsland. It boasts a constant level lake over 21 miles and is perfect for sailing and boating.

Hit the lake: Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina near Marble Falls provides watercraft rentals ranging from a private luxury yacht to ski boats, pontoons, wave runners, kayaks, and paddle boards. You can also fish from the dock and rent tubes for the kids. Please note you must call to reserve watercraft rentals.

Where to stay: If you want to make it a real vacation, go ahead and stay at Horseshoe Bay Resort. With everything from a golf course to a luxurious spa, this Hill Country destination has it all. Escape as a couple or visit as a family — the resort has activities for every group, interest, and age.

Nearby attractions: With more than 30 wineries located within 90 minutes of Lake LBJ, it will be easy to plan a day of tastings. Nearby wineries include Flat Creek, Fall Creek, Pedernales Cellars, Spicewood Vineyards, Stone House Vineyards, and William Chris Vineyards. Play it safe and book with Heart of Texas Wine Tours.

Lake Buchanan
Located just west of Burnet, Lake Buchanan was the first of the Highland Lakes to be completed (in 1939) and is also the largest, with 39.4 square miles of water surface in Burnet and Llano counties. Much of the lakefront property is privately owned, making this lake a perfect escape for a relaxing or peaceful weekend of sailing or kayaking. The large number of trophy bass that come from this lake make sport-fishing a popular activity.

Hit the lake: Splash Boat Rentals in Kingsland will deliver directly to your dock, or you can go to their waterfront location and check out the wide variety of available rentals. If a day of leisure is in order, charter the Texas Eagle and enjoy a tour of this beautiful lake. The boat can hold up to 120, so invite all of your family and friends to join.

Where to stay: Named for the American bald eagles who make this area their winter home, Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park and Resort encompasses 940 acres of scenic Hill Country. Filled with an abundance of Texas wildflowers from spring through early summer, it is also home to several species of endangered birds and other wildlife. The lodge is rustic but comfortable. Accommodations are pet-friendly and many have a view of the lake. RV and campsites are also available.

Nearby activities: Take an ecological cruise with Vanishing Texas River Cruises. Although the eagles are only in residence in the winter, you can expect to see numerous species of birds and wildlife, waterfalls, and magnificent limestone cliffs year-round. Hungry? Grab a famous Big Chop at Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ in Llano. This is where it all started.

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LATE CHECKOUT

These 2 haunted Texas hotels promise a spirited overnight stay

The Emily Morgan Hotel/ Facebook

The Emily Morgan is steps away from the Alamo.

If you hear something knocking during a vacation in San Antonio, it might not be housekeeping. Two of the city's downtown landmark hotels — the Gunter and the Emily Morgan — have been named among the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 25 most haunted hotels in the U.S.

Each year, the nonprofit’s Historic Hotels of America program recognizes iconic properties where things are said to go bump in the night. It’s a playful way to highlight the organization’s work to preserve the nation’s diverse historic buildings and neighborhoods, whether one believes in the supernatural or not. The San Antonio pair were the only Texas properties to earn the hair-raising honors.

“The list invites heritage and cultural travelers to discover historic hotels where lore and legends make for memorable stays,” explained the trust in a release. “For believers and skeptics alike, these one-of-a-kind hotels preserve tales of guests who never want to leave and staff who never stopped helping.”

The Emily Morgan returned to the list after a year’s reprieve (maybe someone forgot this year’s blessing). The trust noted that the 102-year-old building is considered one of North America’s most active paranormal sites, owing to its original use as a medical building. Carved grotesques on the facade writhe from tooth pain and stomachaches. Inside, spectral nurses are said to be still providing care.

“On the fourteenth floor, guests have reported a hospital-like smell and, on rare occasions, visions of a hospital scene rather than their guestroom when they open the door from the hallway,” wrote Historic Hotels. “On the twelfth floor, guests have reported bathroom doors opening and closing on their own, lights flashing, and apparitions of nurses pushing rickety gurneys down the corridor before vanishing.”

Gunter Hotel Not pictured: Gunter's resident shadowy figure.Photo by Daniel Kelleghan Photography

Although medical manifestations are unsettling enough, the other San Antonio hotel on the list has a more gruesome claim to fame. Built in 1909, the Gunter Hotel boasts a room that is only slightly less notorious than The Shining’s Room 237. Room 636 was the site of one of Alamo City’s most famous murders.

In 1965, a housekeeper found ex-con Walter Emerick standing beside a blood-soaked bed. Police found empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, strands of blonde hair, and women’s clothing, but never found the body. Emerick left a psychic stain all over downtown, booking it to the St. Anthony’s room 536 (he reportedly asked to stay in 636 again), where he offed himself before arrest. The Gunter never quite recovered from his brief stay.

“Since the 1960s, guests and staff have reported unsettling phenomena, including unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps when no one is present,” said Historic Hotels. “Some claim to have seen a shadowy figure lingering near the doorway or caught the faint scent of cigar smoke despite the hotel’s smoking prohibition.”

Still, the dark specters have not kept the Gunter from receiving another honor this year. Historic Hotels recently named it the Best City Center Historic Hotel, given to the property that “best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.”

Both of San Antonio’s haunted hotels have largely embraced their eerie reputations. The Emily Morgan proudly touts its mysterious occurrences on one of its webpages. The Gunter glosses over some of the more grisly details of room 636 on its own page, and assures guests the room has since been remodeled.

alamo downtown halloween haunted places historic hotels hotels san antonio

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3 great Central Texas lake getaways to beat the heat — and escape crowds

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These 2 haunted Texas hotels promise a spirited overnight stay

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