As any Texan knows, summertime in the Lone Star State tends to be a bit on the warm side. However, Bastrop is the perfect destination for a summer getaway, with hundreds of indoor and outdoor activities to keep you cool.
It’s not too early to make your vacation plans; the hard part is choosing from all the fun adventures in Bastrop. Take our advice: Stay a few extra days to ensure you don’t miss anything!
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Situated on the banks of the Colorado River, Bastrop is known for its beautiful outdoor setting, and Lake Bastrop is no exception. The 900-acre lake, just 3 miles north of Bastrop and featuring both north and south shore parks, is an excellent spot for tent and cabin campers alike.
The South Shore Park is ideal for boaters and anglers, as great fishing is possible from the park’s fishing pier or from a boat. Other “cool” activities include water skiing, canoeing and swimming, with shaded areas for picnicking or just relaxing. Canoe, kayak and paddle boards can be rented at the park. Miniature golf, sand volleyball, hiking and biking are especially popular during the summer. Lakeside cabins, campsites and RV areas provide the perfect place to rest your head, that is, until you’re ready for more fun.
The North Shore Park offers many of the same amenities as the south – swimming, fishing and watercraft rentals are just a few of the ways to create a truly memorable day (or days). The north park also has a wide variety of accommodations, from tent campgrounds and cabins to 25-foot Airstream trailers and – for the glamping aficionado – safari-style tents.
Fisherman’s Park, situated along the Lower Colorado River, is equally loved for its relaxing atmosphere and kid-friendly splash park. Rent a canoe or a kayak from Bastrop River Company and drift along the shady river, enjoying the peace of this natural beauty. When you’re done enjoying the quiet, head to the Fisherman’s Park Splash Pad and watch as the kids frolic throughout the open-air amusement area. The park features basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field, and a vibrant skate park hosting Skate Days every 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month. Complete with picnic tables and a spacious pavilion, it's your one-stop destination for a day packed with fun activities, all conveniently located in one spot.
Forest fires and floods in recent years devastated almost all of Bastrop State Park, but new plants and trees have brought this scenic acreage back to the beauty visitors have expected. Located within the Lost Pines Forest – an isolated dozen acres featuring tall lobolly pines – the park offers a wide variety of activities, from swimming and fishing to hiking and geocaching. Kids can become Junior Rangers, and everyone can enjoy the array of wildlife seen at the park. Overnight lodging in campsites, cabins and group sites are available.
SEE FOR YOURSELF
A museum with fascinating exhibits and collections established in 1952 was later combined with a place to promote historic Bastrop, resulting in the Bastrop Museum & Visitor Center. Featuring artifacts that are more than 200 years old, see letters protesting the moving of the remains of a former governor, beautiful photos of Bastrop and Bastrop County and more. Bastrop was designated “The Most Historic Small Town in Texas” for a reason.
The Visitor Center offers a wealth of information about what to do and see in Bastrop. Friendly staff members can answer all of your questions, whether you want to know about downtown Bastrop, nearby places to zip line (Zip Lost Pines is perfect for the whole family), where to eat and drink, public transportation and so much more.
Open six days a week with free admission, the Lost Pines Art Center is truly a Bastrop gem you won’t want to miss. Works by Texas artists, traveling exhibits and featured artist exhibitions take place throughout the year, and classes and workshops offer a true art education. Adults will especially enjoy the Art After Dark events. Some activities required advance registration.
Bastrop will showcase a moving and powerful sculpture throughout June, July and August at the Kerr Community Center. The traveling exhibition, “Harriet Tubman – The Journey to Freedom,” highlights Tubman’s travels to free hundreds of enslaved people via the Underground Railroad. The exhibition, which has been shown throughout many prominent locations in the U.S., will come to Texas for the first time with the Bastrop showing.
If there ever was an event made for families, it would be “Toads in Town.” The self-guided tour begins with a stop at the Bastrop Museum & Visitor Center to pick up a special pack of information, then start exploring the city while looking for special toad sculptures created by Clint Howard. The fun treasure hunt is also an educational experience, as the Houston Toad is considered an endangered species. Kids are encouraged to write about each toad’s story, then return the pack to the museum to claim a prize.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration Family Freedom Festival is a day of fun, music, food, competitions and both kid and adult activities. Held to commemorate the time in 1865 when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Texas – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – the event is perfect for the whole family. Festivities include a parade down Main Street, followed by live music as well as DJ-played sounds, food and small business vendors and much more. Hours for the celebration, held at Fisherman’s Park on June 15, are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and admission is free.
NOW THAT’S COOL!
As you enjoy your adventures discovering Bastrop’s past, present and future, you’ll probably need a little refreshment to keep you cool. We’d suggest stopping by Sugar Shack, an establishment sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. On those warm Bastrop days, try a scrumptious sundae, ice cream sandwich or the delicious taste of Blue Bell ice cream. There’s also chocolate-dipped strawberries, cotton candy, caramel apples, fudge, brownies and an assortment of candy that would rival Willy Wonka’s collection.
It's hard to imagine anything more refreshing on a warm summer day than a snow cone. Fortunately, Tropical Sno, the best little snow cone stand in Bastrop, serves up a delicious variety of flavored ice sure to cool you off. Candy Apple, Georgia Peach, Rootbeer Float and Cherry Blaster are a few of the selections, or try a great combo such as Purple Cow (Grape plus Vanilla Cream) or Paradise Island (Mango plus Guava plus Coconut Cream). Tropical Sno is open seven days a week during the summer, so be sure to take advantage of their seasonal treats!
Whoever said healthy refreshments can’t also be delicious has never been to Radiant Juice & Smoothie Bar. Enjoy a variety of cold pressed fruit and veggie juices (you can’t go wrong with Sippin’ on Sunshine or Verry Berrylicous), protein meal replacement smoothies (Cookie Dough or Orange Creamsicle sound refreshing), smoothie bowls (how about Love Dragon or Chai Pie) and more at Bastrop’s first whole-food juice and smoothie bar.
When you want a bit more than dessert, stop by Tough Cookie Bakery in Bastrop. The café/bakery/coffee shop offers only vegetarian or vegan items, as well as gluten-free options, on the menu. Breakfast is served all day, or drop in for lunch and enjoy a delicious salad, soup, sandwich or wrap. A variety of coffees, refreshers, cookies and pastries are always available.
If you want to walk off a few calories, head to the Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market in downtown Bastrop. Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays year-round, the market features a large selection of produce, meats, baked goods, jams and jellies, handmade noodles and cookies for a refreshing dessert. You’ll also find artisan creations such as soaps, candles, knitted items, jewelry and more.
THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER
Live music is one of the major draws to Bastrop, with bands performing throughout the year. The summer is no exception. You’ll be able to catch live performances of blues, country, Americana, funk and classic rock music on any given night at venues like Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard, Copper Shot Distillery, Farm Street Opry and Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market. If you prefer a little gamesmanship with your music, check out Community Gardens’ Music Bingo and Back 9 Bar’s Live Band Karaoke.
STAY A WHILE
As you can tell, there’s a lot to do in Bastrop, so staying for a week or more isn’t out of the question. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to rest your head. Hotels to fit any budget are available throughout Bastrop, as are historic bed-and-breakfasts. If you’re seeing Texas in an RV, there are plenty of places that offer every amenity you can think of, or stay in one of the area’s historic cabins or vacation rentals and make yourself at home. If you like to experience nature, but with the creature comforts you’ve become accustomed to, we’ve got a few glamping choices for you to ponder.
If resort life is your preference, make sure to reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, situated in the woods of Lost Pines Forest along the banks of the Lower Colorado River. The highly rated establishment offers nearly 500 guest rooms, a golf club, an equestrian facility, a hummingbird garden – by now, you probably realize that the Hyatt Regency is a special place to stay. We haven’t even mentioned the water park, horseback riding, night hikes, fishing, yoga, nature quests … this could go on for a while.
There’s no time like the present to start planning your summer getaways, and there’s nowhere quite like Bastrop to make those vacations a memory you’ll hold on to for a lifetime.
