Austin Bucket List for 2014: Canoeing Lady Bird Lake

Here at LiveMom, we put out a call to a few of our friends to see if anyone else wanted to join us on our Bucket List Adventure for 2014. The idea was to get out there and do one thing we’ve always wanted to do in Austin…about one per month. It might be with kids, might be without. Either way, we’re going to report back to you on how it went. If you go to the page with all of our lists, you can see which ones we have completed and written about.

We’re thrilled that Traci Shannon joined us on our quest! Without further ado, here’s her report on her fourth “mission”:

Austin is a special city filled with unique and one-of-a-kind experiences. To this day, I am in awe of all the great things I still haven’t done. So I made an Austin Bucket List. One thing that makes Austin so distinct is that it is a city of lakes. Miles from any coastline, we are surrounded by water views and activities. In fact, right in the heart of the city is Town Lake (now known as Lady Bird Lake), which is filled with opportunities for kayaking, paddle-boarding, and canoeing.

I have for some time looked longingly down from the bridge at the various folks gliding across the water and thought, “I should do that”. Now I can finally say I have. As a part of my Bucket List, I headed out down to the Zilker Park Boat Rentals with my friend, Jessica, and we rented a canoe.

Zilker Boats is right on the water. In fact, you drag your own boat up and down the pebble shoreline. A bit of advice, wear water shoes or flip-flops that you don’t mind getting wet. I tossed mine into the canoe and went barefoot as it is very difficult to get the canoe in the water without getting into the water, as well.

It’s worth it, though. For $12 an hour, you get this.

You sail right down under the bridges. Most of the water is clear and lovely, though there is a weird spot where the current seems to deposit all the debris; both natural and man-made. (Let’s keep Austin clean people! I saw way too many water bottles there.) But just past that, the water opens out into the greater lake and the view of Austin’s skyline was stellar.

How many cities allow you to see the skyline from a canoe? Wow. Just wow. But as any Austinite knows, it’s not just the landscape that makes our city special. It’s the people. I loved that we passed so many others taking in the gorgeous day in our gorgeous city. Each time, we came across another paddler, we would share a “hi” or “you’re doing great”, etc. I knew the lake would be beautiful. I knew I’d have fun. I did not expect to be so moved by the sense of community.

I highly recommend this activity, though I suggest starting early. This is central Texas and even at 10:30 in the morning, rowing in the sun gets hot fast. That said I would do it again. I can’t wait to take my kids back and show them how cool a place Austin is. You know what’s not cool? Me…

But that’s okay. I had a wonderful time discovering my city with a friend. I really feel like canoeing the lake is not just another check in the box but rather a new part of my life as an Austinite. Now onto more adventures…

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://www.livemom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Traci-Shannon.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Traci Shannon is a former actress turned military wife, SAHM, and hopeful writer. She spends her days trying to catch up with that life that happened while she was busy making plans. You can read her adventures at A Star in My Own Universe.[/author_info] [/author]
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