Five Ways to Keep Cool in Austin During NIWeek (Part 3)

[Travis_M.]

... this is the third installment of the Five Ways to Keep Cool In Austin During NIWeek, here is a link to the first and second ...

I can feel the anticipation building and know you're ready for me to get on with the #1 already so you can get back to reading all the other NIWeek hype.  Those who have been to Austin should find the #1 spot as no surprise:

1) Barton Springs Pool

Easily the largest in the city, this 3 acre pool is fed completely by 68 degree water from the Edwards Aquifer and is regarded as one of Austin’s crown jewels.  The pool is formed by a small dam on the lowest section of the (usually dry) Barton Creek downstream from a series of springs. The water isn’t treated with chemicals so the pool is filled with plants and fish in addition to a high load of visitors seeking a refreshing dip, so get there before 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays to avoid crowds and parking headaches.

Ever see one of those door signs that says “hippies use the back door”?  Maybe that’s just an Austin thing, but I could think of no better slogan to apply to the pool.  Whether you plan to partake in a free-spirited drum-circle or not, I recommend doing like the locals and using the back pool entrance where there’s free parking and easy access to an expansive hill with ample sun and shade.  The back entrance is located along Robert E. Lee Road just west of its intersection with Barton Springs Road.  For the GPS types, it’s right across the street from the house at 905 Robert E Lee Rd, Austin, TX 78704.

Insider’s tip: go at night. At 9pm the main pool entrance opens for an hour of free swimming (the back entrance described above closes at 9). While the sun may not be baking your skin to a crisp, the air temperature at 9:00 pm is plenty warm to justify a night swim with some of Austin’s more interesting people.  Want to keep it Austin Weird?  Go at night to a full-moon party (full moon on Aug 2). Same rules as above, but you’ll be treated to a livelier crowd, a buffet of snacks, and impromptu howling at the moon.

Other honorable mentions:

Some other sites that are just as good as #s 2-5 (#1 trumps all) but I didn’t write about:

• Schlitterbahn Waterpark,
• Paramount Theater,
• Alamo Drafthouse,
• Casey’s Snow Balls,
• Zilker Park Boat Rentals,
• Texas History Museum and IMAX,
• or any local bar with a water misting system!