It’s very possible that you have your own bucket list. Go parachuting. Have an all-nighter in Vegas. Eat Belgian waffles in Belgium. Fly first class. You know, that list of stuff you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket.
But what about a list of things you absolutely must do right here in the Lake Travis area?
After having a conversation with a native Texan that had never been to a high school football game — unbelievable, right? — I started to put together the Lake Travis bucket list.
So if you’re just visiting or you’ve been here for a while, this is the list. Things you must do. Places to eat. Stuff to see.
How many items can you check off the Lake Travis bucket list?
Watch a High School Football Game
High school football is kind of a big deal in Texas, and the Lake Travis area is no exception.
Whether you’re rooting for the Lake Travis Cavaliers at Cavalier Stadium or the Vandegrift Vipers at Monroe Memorial Stadium, you have to experience the Friday Night Lights.
Cavalier Stadium Image via Creative Commons, Randall Chancellor on Flickr.
Swim at Hamilton Pool
The Lake Travis area is known for swimming holes and Hamilton Pool is no secret.
This Texas Hill Country swimming hole has a backstory as colorful as its surroundings are beautiful. Hamilton Pool Preserve is quick to fill up on the weekend and sometimes you have to wait to get in — so try to get there early if you still need to check this one off the list.
Eat a Cupcake at Hey Cupcake!
If you’re driving into the Lake Travis area from the north, you’ll want to make a quick stop at the shiny airstream trailer with a cupcake on top.
Hey Cupcake! was the first food trailer to arrive in the Lake Travis area. So it’s only fitting that if this is your first time to the Lake Travis area, you eat a cupcake on your way in. Grab one of their regular flavors or a seasonal special … like the pumpkinator.
Watch the Sun Go Down at the Oasis
There’s a reason The Oasis is called the “Sunset Capital of Texas.” Locals and visitors from around the world have been gathering here every day since 1982 to watch the sun go down over Lake Travis.
The biggest restaurant in Texas seats up to 2500 people, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot on one of the outdoor decks to enjoy a spectacular sunset over Lake Travis.
Eat at Hudson’s on the Bend
This unassuming spot used to be located out in the middle of nowhere. Hudson’s on the Bend is still located in the same old farmhouse, but everything has closed in around them. Fortunately, that hasn’t changed the deliciousness that Hudson’s on the Bend has been creating and serving up to locals and visitors since 1984.
Save up your pennies for a special night of exotic foods and check this one off your list … you may find yourself checking it off your list more than once.
Spend a Day in Devil’s Cove on Lake Travis
Rent a boat — or become friends with someone that has a boat — and take a run out to Devil’s Cove on Lake Travis.
This popular party cove on Lake Travis is the spot to tie up with the hundreds of other boaters that spend the day in the famous cove. Float on a noodle, listen to music, and enjoy all the sights and sound of Devil’s Cove.
Devil’s Cove Image via Creative Commons, Ty on Flickr.
Jump Off the Bridge at Low Water Crossing on Lake Austin (Secretly)
The Low Water Crossing is a lesser-known swimming hole just below Mansfield Dam. It’s a great place to cool off quickly when the summer temps have reached their peak.
This bucket list item is best accomplished when it’s about 105 degrees outside and water is being released from Mansfield Dam. You’ll most likely notice all the signs that say “no jumping from the bridge” — that’s why you have to do this one secretly.
Eat a Steak and Go Dancing at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse
After the Steiner Family opened up the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse in 2008, it was quickly recognized as one of the best steakhouses in the area.
Get here on a Friday or Saturday night for dinner with live music and dancing outdoors. You’ll find the views and the steaks are some of the best in the Lake Travis area.
Zipline Over Lake Travis
You can’t have a bucket list without a little something to bring out the thrill seeker in you.
Wrap up the five zipline tour 20 stories up on the edge of a cliff overlooking Lake Travis. Dare to let go and ride down 2800 feet of cable over the water and to the landing on the other side.
If you survive the longest zipline in Texas, you can check this one off your list!
Zipline Photo courtesy of the Lake Travis Zipline Adventures Facebook Page.
Watch the Hot Air Balloons Launch over Lake Travis
The Lake Travis area has plenty of places to watch the sun go down, but this is the event to watch the sun come up.
Grab a coffee and donuts and make your way out to the Lake Travis Flight at Mansfield Dam Park to watch the sunrise and the sky fill up with hot air balloons.
Wade in the Waters at Krause Springs
Once you make a visit out to Krause Springs, it’s hard not to want to go back every summer.
The 115-acre property has been privately owned by the Krause family for over 50 years since its founding in 1958, and serves as a great place to swim, camp and hang out on a Texas afternoon.
Eat a Bucket List Burger at Sandeez Hamburger Hut
What better way to wrap up the Lake Travis bucket list than with a Bucket List Burger from Sandeez Hamburger Hut. They are big. They are greasy. And there’s no guarantee on how much longer you’ll be around after you eat one.
How many items have you checked off the Lake Travis Bucket List?
Go to the comments on the Lake Travis Lifestyle Facebook Page and let us know.
