Sunday, June 28, 2009

Austin Hiking



Austin and the surrounding area is blessed with a large number of hike and bike trails. You have not fully explored Austin until you have taken some time and spent it with nature along beautiful routes.

Here's a few trails for you to get started hiking ;)

Guadalupe State Park:
Getting there: From New Braunfels, head west on State Highway 46. Continue past the intersection with US Highway 281 for 8 miles to the park entrance.

The Hike: The main hiking trail at Guadalupe River State Park begins near the park entrance, at the end of a short dirt road on the right immediately after the pay station. There's ample parking here, at least in part because the majority of park visitors are there for the camping and picnicing opportunities along the Guadalupe River. That just means more peace and quiet for hikers.

The trail begins at the waypoint marked "Trailhead". The trails make up a mangled figure 8 with a couple of smaller loops attached. This provides ample opportunity for a loop hike of several differing lengths with minimal trail duplication.


The trail starts next to the large sign.
The trail surface is packed dirt, with some rock thrown in. In general the trail surface is well maintained and easy to navigate. Despite being on the edge of the Hillcountry the trail itself is relatively flat. Nevertheless there will be a great vista on the northern tip of the hike.
The main trail consists of a Juniper-Oak mix of vegetation like much of the Hillcountry. The smaller trails next to the river itself yields a wider variety of trees and plants including Cypress, Sycamore, Elm, Hackberry and Pecan.


Much of the trail is along old jeep tracks and generally easy to navigate.
The best place to stop for a rest is at the waypoint marked "Overlook". Here the trail skirts a steep ridge overlooking the Guadalupe River. It's just about the only look at the river you'll find on the main trail itself. Unlike a few other spots along the ridge, this one opens up enough to provide a view of the river bank below and the fields on the opposite bank. The land to the north of the overlook is part of the park, but closed "pending development". Hopefully one day that will provide a few more miles of trail.

The main trail has patches of vegetation coverage, such as this one. But there is lots of open skies too, so bring your sunscreen.
The waypoint "Turnaround" marks the alternate trailhead in the Cedar Sage Camping area. By walking through the camping area it's possible to get to the smaller secondary trails nearer the river. But I opted instead of complete the crazy 8 trail and head back to the trailhead. In about 3 hours of hiking I saw perhaps 5 other people on the main trail. The secondary trails are an entirely different story.

The best view along the main trail. It overlooks the undeveloped northern park of the park on the opposite side of the river.
The small .4 mile "Interpretive Trail" starts at the "Alt-TH" waypoint (view on the topo map for the larger view which shows this) and makes a pseuo-balloon loop towards the southwest. The name refers to the trail's use for interpretive guided tours by park employees. I could find no place to pick up an interpretive pamphlet for a self guided hike. This small trail is actually quite pleasant and under-utilized. I saw three other people on the trail and a good bit of it is well covered. There's even a small but steep hill thrown in for good measure.
The trail along the river itself is not really a trail at all. It's a walkway through a crowded picnic area. Still, it's worthwhile for the getting close to the river and getting a view of the steep cliffs that line the shore on the far side. Farther downstream there are fewer people and several huge Bald Cypress trees with their twisted, gnarled roots clinging to the shore. It's even possible to find a relatively quiet spot where the trail petters out to the south.

Guadalupe River State Park is adjacent to the Honey Creek State Natural Area. Access to Honey Creek is limited to guided tours, which are given on Saturdays at 9:00 AM.

Georgetown -
A few in the San Gabriel River area:

Summary: This trail is a perfect place to get away over lunch. The trail is outlined with stones and paved with mulch. Except for the creek crossings (which are very solid and well placed stepping stones) the trail could be called wheelchair accessible. You won't break a sweat, even in the Texas summer.

As well as a great trail, there is steel staircase descending into a spring fed grotto. There are ferns around the small waterfall year round and a huge rock overhang to give shade. Some of the rock formations in the grotto are live, so please do not touch them. It has been reported that arrowheads have been found in the grotto.

All along the trail are sheer rock cliffs. The rock formations remind me of being inside a cave because they look like stalactites and stalagmites.

At the end of the trail is a staircase leading up to a great overview of the North San Gabriel River. You can exit back to the road here, or retrace your steps for a new view of the trail.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Best Pizza Place so far in Austin ;)





My family loves pizza. Me? I'm not really a pizza person, the only pizza place I like is back in CA, a place in the heart of Palo Alto called Apple Wood Inn, if you are in CA and near Stanford University, you might want to check them out. Yummy and to die for ;)

But guess what? We found one here in Austin called "HomeSlice" - Yum!!!!...you have got to check it out. You can order by the slice or by plate. I have got to warn you that there is a long wait. That's how good it is. My advice? Get your name in line and go shop around the area and come back OR get a slice from the outside take out counter and have fun walking and imbibing the bohemian atmosphere of South Congress.

Enjoy! And don't forget to tell them you learned about them from Austin_GrrL :)

Looove my Coffee, do you? ( Jo's Coffee in South Congress)




My hubby knows if he wants his wife happy - give her a good cup of coffee and she'll be his angel ;) Anyways, he found this coffee place in Austin for us to go to. Not only do they serve GOOD Yummy mochas or even just straight black but they have bands during the weekend and it's such a cool place to hang out in..We just loove it. Check it out!

About Jo's Coffee in South Congress,
---Good Food sits on the corner of James and South Congress, in the heart of the most vibrant section of South Austin. This funky little coffee shack shares a parking lot with the San Jose Hotel, the hippest hotel in town, and provides homemade baked goods, sandwiches and a wide variety of coffee drinks, both hot and iced.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Unique Bookstore! Domy in Austin, Texas




There's this cool bookstore in Austin that y'all have got to see. If you are totally into coffee table books, weird notebooks, Architecture book, Modern books, Independent published books and Japanese toys then come check out Domy books located at: 913 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702. (HOURS - MON–SAT 12–8pm, SUN 12–7pm) Tell them Austin_ GRRL sent you.

Monday, June 22, 2009

HipHop Classes for everyone!

One of my boys is totally into hiphop and got my younger one into it to. If y'all want to check it out..come join The DanceSpotX in RoundRock. They totally loved the class!

They are located at 900 Round Rock Ave., Suite 220
Round Rock, TX 78681 - tell them Alx recommended the class.

Hip Hop Dance by MiNH NGUYEN.. Music by DANITY KANE

Friday, June 19, 2009

World Refugee Day (June 20)








In her CNN interview with Anderson Cooper about a plea for support on World Refugee Day, Angelina Jolie got more than a little emotional talking about the children she has met in her work with the United Nations in war-torn areas around the world.

But one boy in particular stuck in her mind. And in ours.

"There was a young boy I met who was about 15 who had been shot in the back and paralyzed. And -- and his whole family had been killed. And he was completely on his own.

"And -- and, yet, he had this really remarkable, unbreakable spirit, a spirit beyond anything I can imagine having. The -- the things we complain about on a daily basis -- he had lost everything, and -- and was just so full of laughter and kindness. And -- and he passed away a few months after I was there.

"So I always wondered -- you know, it's those kind of young people that you meet. And you just think, God, in any other situation, if this person had been given a chance, what an extraordinary adult he would have been. How extraordinary for his country, for his family, if he had ever had a chance to have one. But instead, he had so many horrible things happen to him in his life.

"And -- but he taught me a lot about just the strength, the spirit. I think of him, and I can't complain about anything. I can't -- I can't do anything but be grateful for what I have. Because he was grateful and he had nothing and had suffered everything. So -- and there are millions like him. So there are many, many stories."