Highland Lakes – 25 Fun Things To See and Do

This page is about 25 fun things to see and do on and around the Highland Lakes. The Highland Lakes is a chain of some of the best lakes in Texas – Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake. You’ll find beautiful scenery, huge magnificent homes, clear water, good fishing, restaurants, party coves, resorts, golf courses, and lots more. You can read our reviews of each of the Highland Lakes and see what we like about each lake as well as where to stay and party. We also have a Highland Lakes Map which has ramps, lodging, boat rentals, restaurants, things to do, campgrounds, golf courses, and more. Let us know if we missed any.

Top 25 Things To See and Do in The Highland Lakes

Get Wet	You’ve got to spend some time on the water at any of these six fantastic lakes – go skiing/boarding, house-boating, cruising (Lake LBJ at Horseshoe Bay), bar or restaurant hopping (Lake Travis has plenty), or just drop an anchor and swim or party in one of the party coves (Devils Cove at Lake Travis) – see these interactive lake maps to help you find something to do on the Highland Lakes. Check out our Lakes & Boating section to find lake reviews, fishing guides, boat rentals, and lots more.
Highland Lake Maps	Use these lake maps to find a ramp, a restaurant, boat rentals, resorts, and other fun stuff to see and do on the lake. Some of our favorites include: cruising up the Colorado River or through the beautiful homes on Lake LBJ; camping at Inks Lake State Park; devils cove for partying on Lake Travis or Carlos & Charlie’s for food, music, and a lively crowd; Emma Long park and Hula Hut on Lake Austin.
Highland Lake Reviews	On our lake reviews and ratings page, you’ll find reviews of the Highland Lakes (except for Lake Marble Falls), which will tell you what we like about the lake, where to stay, good restaurants, what to do, and other good information. The reviews also have lots of pictures and links to good information about the lake.
Go Fishing	All of the lakes are good for fishing, so stock up on some bait and beer and get on the lake. Or hire one of these lake fishing guides to take you out and help you land a trophy or enough fish for a fish fry.
Pitch A Tent Or Park The RV	The Highland Lakes is home to a number of fantastic State and County parks and some great RV parks loaded with amenities. You can camp on the lakes, in or near a city you want to explore, or rough it and backpack in to a primitive site. Go camping – there are some good campgrounds on Lake Buchanan (Big Chief), Lake Travis (Pace Bend), Inks Lake (Inks Lake State Park), and Lake Austin (Emma Long).
Rent A Boat	It’s just not right to spend time around the Highland Lakes and not get out on the water, so rent a ski boat, jet ski, or round up some friends and rent a party barge. Better yet, rent a houseboat on Lake Travis for what may turn out to be one of your best ever vacations or weekend getaways.
Go Golfing	The Highland Lakes has hundreds of choices for golfers and it is home to some of the best courses in Texas. You’ll find laid back courses like Willie Nelsons’s Pedernales Golf Course to the exclusive Austin Country Club to La Cantera Resort & Spa’s near perfect Resort course. Our Central Texas Golf Map will help you quickly find a course and our Texas Outside’s Favorite Texas Golf Courses will show your favorites.
Zip Across Lake Travis	Lake Travis Zipline Adventures has an exciting and thrilling 2 and half hour zip line tour that is a must if you’re near Lake Travis. You launch from a 20 story cliff, zip on 5 ziplines across incredible canyons and inlets on Lake Travis, and end up on a pristine beach on the Lake. And one of the ziplines is the longest in Texas at over 2000 feet! Doesn’t get much better than all that!
Take a Swim	Texas can get pretty warm but with a dip in the refreshing waters of Central Texas swimming holes, you can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Highland Lakes. Texas has some fantastic swimming holes, Texas rivers, and other places to go swimming. Get more information on our Texas Swimming Holes page.
Explore a Texas Cave	The Highland Lakes is home to a number of caverns that have been created over thousands of years by the dissolving and cutting action of water on the limestone bedrock. It is an incredible experience to explore one of these natural wonders.
Take a Hike	The Highland Lakes has an unlimited source for beautiful trails to hike with everything from lake views to grand hillside vistas. Don’t forget your camera to preserve your experience or catch that bird in flight.
Ride a Bike	A road cyclists dream, the Highland Lakes offers many miles of quiet hilly roads, substantially great weather; and friendly, entertaining towns. If you’re looking for some mountain biking, the Highland Lakes mountain biking trails don’t get much better and you can find an easy flat trail ride to a challenging twisting and turing fun experience.
Ride a Horse	What more traditional way to explore the Highland Lakes than on a horse? Learn something about nature while riding where the crystal clear streams and towering oak and cedar trees meet the majesty of the hills.
Weekend On The Lake	Round up the family or some friends and rent a lake house or cabin or book a room at one of the lake resorts for a weekend of fun. Check out Lake LBJ Resort on LBJ, Canyon of The Eagles on Buchanan, or any of the houses, condos, or more on Travis. If you some rich friends rent Circle H Lodge on Inks Lake.
Do Some Bird Watching	The Highland Lakes has some of the best birding in the state. So grab your binoculars, the birding guide, a camera and head out to see painted buntings to hawks.
Go Paddling	Canoeing or kayaking on one of the lakes or waterways in the Highland Lakes can be a solo activity, a great date or a family fun time.
Climb Enchanted Rock	The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground. It is one of the largest underground rock formation in the US. Visitors can enjoy primitive backpacking, camping, hiking, rock climbing, picnicking, geological study, bird watching, and star gazing.
Go To A Rodeo	Start the summer off right by attending a rodeo and where could be a better start than at the Cowboy Capital of Texas – Bandera
Sip Some Wine	Sip your way along the Highland Lakes Wine Trail and visit any of the many wineries in the Highland Lakes. Many of the wineries have won several international wine awards.
Go Texas Rock Crawling	There are 400 acres of granite rock providing an off road experience like no other. Called the “Moab of Texas,” Katemcy Rocks has over 400 acres of granite rock providing an off road experience in Texas like no other. You’ll find diverse terrain for all levels of four wheelers and multiple trails with numerous obstacles from easy to extreme.
Hop a Train	The Austin Steam Train offers a rail’s-eye view of the Highland Lakes. Whether it is a specialty train ride during certain times a year or just a day spent with family as in the days of the Old West, it is a great way to experience the countryside.
Picnic In The Park	You can find just what your family needs at the many community parks. Whether you prefer a playscape, fishing spot, or a place to picnic or nap check out one of the city parks.
Stay in a Resort	Splurge for a night or weekend and stay in a nice resort and pamper yourself. Enjoy the resort’s spa, the golf courses, excellent restaurants, fantastic pools, and other amenities. Some of the best are located in the Highland Lakes. Try Horseshoe Bay Marriott on Lake LBJ, or La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio. Read our resort reviews of some of the best resorts in the Highland Lakes.
Attend a Festival	They love a good time in the Highland Lakes and they pack the festivals and events in through the spring and summer. Check our Upcoming Events Calendar for some of the best music and other festivals. Old Settlers is one of our favorites.
Check Out the Local Blooms	Bluebonnets are the most popular Texas wildflowers in central Texas and people come from hundreds of miles to view the Bluebonnets, but there also the Paintbrush, Indian Blanket, Greenthread, Winecup & Primrose to enjoy.
Attend an Event	There are some fun and exciting events throughout the year held on or near the lakes – like the boat races on Marble Falls, sailboat regattas on Travis, Aqua Fest on Town Lake, and more

Texas Highland Lakes Resources