Lake Travis Lifestyle

Your Guide to Lake Travis, Austin TX

Todd Hower

Lake Travis Neighborhood Guide: Apache Shores

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Apache Shores is one of the earlier neighborhoods to be developed in the Lake Travis area. The narrow and steep roads that wind through the subdivision and take you past the mix of residential styles can make you feel like you’re driving through a Colorado mountain town — but without the snow and ice.

Lake Travis locals have been calling this place home since the late 60’s along with second-home owners that visit throughout the year to escape the big city. And even though the big city is slowing closing in on the Lake Travis area, as you get off Ranch Road 620 and make your way back to Apache Shores, you can truly feel like you’re a world away.

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Selma Hughes Park: Relax on Lake Austin

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Drive through the Steiner Ranch community and just about 5 miles down Quinlan Park Road. But before you drive into Lake Austin at Mary Quinlan Park, you’ll want to take a left on Selma Hughes Road.

As you wind around and down towards the shoreline of Lake Austin the first thing you’ll see is a parking lot that may be home to one of the last payphones in the Lake Travis area … and a sign of when the park was last updated (maybe all Travis County Parks have payphones).

Not to worry, this park is not one to visit for modern-day conveniences. It’s a chance to get away and relax along the shores of beautiful Lake Austin. Drive past the upper parking lot to the lower lot that opens up to views of the lake. You don’t even have to get out of your car if you just want to grab a lunch break and an afternoon siesta in your car seat.

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Lake Travis Area Excursion: Inks Lake State Park

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Inks Lake State Park, Texas
Lake Travis area day-trippers and weekend-wanderers can find Inks Lake State Park about an hour away near Burnet.

This off-the-beaten-path gem with a constant water level and lots of outdoor activities is the perfect place to enjoy some down time, fun time, and everything in between.

It’s far enough away to feel like you’re getting out of the Lake Travis area, but not too far. Get away for the day, a weekend, or the whole week — there’s no shortage of things to do and places to see.

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Flores Mexican Restaurant: Tex-Mex in Lake Travis

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Flores Mexican Restaurant

Many of you may remember Flores as the Mexican restaurant that first opened its doors in the corner spot in the strip of retail shops next to Home Depot at Four Points.

I must admit … I was never a huge fan of the location or the food at Flores — it was all pretty average. It was more about having a place to go for halfway decent tex-mex without making the trek to Chuy’s and waiting an hour for a table.

But just like many of you, I kept going back — the place was always packed. And after trying a few more dishes, I really started to like the tex-mex at Flores.

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Lake Travis Area History: Steiner Ranch

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A History of Steiner Ranch

The story of Steiner Ranch is as big and as colorful as its founder, the late Thomas Casper “Buck” Steiner.

From a dusty and desolate upbringing to rubbing elbows with some of the country’s highest entertainers and politicians, the rodeo showman turned leather businessman from Cedar Creek was one character, to say the least.

Born and raised in Bastrop County in 1899, Buck was a farm boy who was brought up to endure the hardships of country life, already picking cotton by the age of 6. By the ripe age of 12 he had run away and found work at nearby Wild West shows, lying about his age to book the gigs.

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