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Have you ever seen an egg fry on a sidewalk? If not, you may not be from Texas – it’s a common occurrence come summertime just for kicks and giggles.
Most succeed in making a quick breakfast with some sun and hot pavement, which goes to show how hot summers in Texas can be.
Cities like Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are fun to visit any time of year, but you will definitely find yourself more often than not on the hunt for air conditioning.
So why not plan a trip to one of Texas’s top hidden gems where the lake’s cool blue waters beat any beach along the Lone Star State’s gulf shores?
If the Maldives were in Texas, this beautiful lake town lined with nice resorts would be the place!
Sorry, Galveston!
Home to stunning blue waters and conveniently located smack dab between San Antonio and Austin, Canyon Lake makes for a perfect summer retreat to beat the Texas heat.
The Most Pristine Blue Water In Texas
Let’s not fool ourselves here, saying Canyon Lake is the ‘Maldives of Texas’ is most definitely a stretch, but the sad truth to this statement is Texas’s beaches really aren’t that great.
Take it from me, a born-and-raised-Texan-proudly-turned-Californian-who-may-run-back-to-Texas. That’s a mouthful, but such is life.
Between Galveston and Corpus Christi, two of the most popular Texas beach spots, expect to be disappointed with foggy water.
South Padre and Port Aransas are exceptions, of course, but even these don’t match up to the gorgeous blue water of Canyon Lake – a place I have also visited on occasion as an ‘Austinite’.
Many of us seek out the best beaches on hot summer days since lakes often have a reputation of being dirty and murky.
Not here, though. Some parts of Texas are blessed with natural limestone deposits, a key ingredient to the eye-popping shade of blue that made this lake go viral on social media.
The Perfect Summer Retreat Tucked Away From Austin And San Antonio
It’s easy to get lost in the city life of Austin and San Antonio. Both food scenes, both melting pots of cultures, and both an hour a part from each other.
That being said, no matter where you’re coming from, you’ll be passing through the vast Texas Hill Country that isn’t talked about enough as an awesome vacation destination.
As a brief example of the sheer size of the region, Canyon Lake alone takes up 8,200 acres.
Between New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Dripping Springs, and of course, Canyon Lake, there are so many cool towns to hit up.
Approximately an hour from each major city, Canyon Lake is best reached by car. It can be a relaxing day trip, a weekend getaway, or a full-fledged vacation.
You can forget Austin’s Barton Springs to take a dip to escape the heat and wave goodbye to San Antonio’s unswimmable Riverwalk.
Canyon Lake, however, is the kryptonite to melting Texas summers, with designated swimming areas with lifeguards on hand.
Most notably is beautiful Sunset Beach, the largest lake. Other than swimming and boating, the most popular way to enjoy the blue waters of the Hill Country is by floating the scenic Guadalupe River, which connects to Canyon Lake near the dam.
If that’s your jam, then your best bet is Rock’n R River Rides.
Cozy Cabins To Waterfront Resorts: Canyon Lake Has It All
Sure, you can splurge on a name-brand hotel in the city, but a stay in Canyon Lake will make you forget all about the urban jungle and maybe even forget you’re in Texas entirely.
Those who haven’t been deep into Texas wouldn’t picture something this pretty – a far cry from the stereotypical flatlands you might envision.
Canyon Lake is a sight to behold, and chances are you will want to stay for more than a day.
The town offers a wide range of accommodations for all types of travelers, from cozy cabins to old-time lodges to luxury resorts.
You can score some really nice cabins on platforms like Airbnb or go local with top-rated Canyon Lake Cabins and Event Center.
To level up, Canyon Lakeview Resort is a steal for just $135 per night in August when Texas hits its peak swelter!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.