by John Conley

Living the Austin lifestyle means you are as comfortable feasting on barbecue as you are with vegetarian dining, or as comfortable practicing yoga as you are running on a rocky trail along the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Mixing the competitive life with the laid-back lifestyle requires a certain attitude and environment, found only in places like Austin.

Austin is home to some of the world’s best places to relax and enjoy a slower pace. An afternoon at Barton Springs pool is a must for any visitor. A spring-fed freshwater landmark with a rich history and a bracing 68-degree year-round temperature, Barton Springs pool is the perfect place to cool off after a hot run on the trail, swim laps with triathletes-in-training, or simply while away the hours as you watch clouds drift by overhead. Located in Austin’s central city jewel, Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool is an easy walk or jog from the downtown area or can be reached by the free downtown Capital Metro “Dillo” bus.

Zilker Park also offers the opportunity to watch one of the many Austin soccer clubs compete almost year-round for various championships. If soccer balls are not your thing, then look to the sky, because the wide open fields offer some of the best kite-flying in Texas. Every March, the Zilker Kite Festival blooms along with the wild flowers and brings color and grace to the skies above the park.

And who can think of Austin without bringing to mind Lance Armstrong and his seven victories at the Tour De France? The cycling legend calls Austin home and has been spotted cruising on his bike along the highways around the city.

However, one does not need to be a cycling champion to enjoy the many miles of biking trails in and around Austin. The most scenic is the 10.7 mile Town Lake “Hike & Bike” trail. It starts and ends near the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue on the south shore of the lake, near the 1st Street Bridge. Relatively flat and wide, the trail offers cyclists and walkers views of several different sides of downtown, including the Congress Avenue Bridge, the home of one of the world’s largest urban bat populations. During “bat season” in the spring and fall, over a million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge at sundown from beneath the bridge to begin an all-night feeding frenzy on insects in the downtown skies.

While you may enjoy the bats above the bridge, many visitors enjoy canoeing or kayaking in the water below the bridge. Several ramps and canoe/kayak rental vendors are set up along the shores of Town Lake and offer the adventurous visitor the opportunity to experience Austin from a whole new perspective.

Whether you are a runner, a swimmer, a cyclist, or a bat-watcher, spending time in Austin means that you will want to spend some time enjoying all of the outdoor adventures that await you.