Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake, located near downtown Austin is one of Austin's oldest and most beloved attractions. Known as Town Lake for many years, Lady Bird lake was renamed in 2007 to honor Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady of the United States who dedicated much of her life to environmental preservation.

Austin's fair climate makes Lady Bird Lake the perfect spot to enjoy water activities year-round. Businesses near the lake rent kayaks, canoes, and rowing shells to those wanting to take in the beautiful view of the downtown skyline by boat. The Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail, a 10-mile circuit encircling the lake is popular among those who enjoy outdoor fitness.

The lake is spanned by the The Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, where crowds gather nightly from March to September to witness the 1.5 million bats who reside there emerge for their nightly hunt. Seeing the Mexican-free tailed bats fly over the moonlit lake is a sight not to be missed.

The live music capital of the world would not be complete without outdoor music festivals. Lady Bird Lake provides the perfect back drop for popular events such as Austin City Limits, and the Austin Reggae Festival. It is also home to outdoor music venues such as Auditorium Shores and Fiesta Gardens, which brings the best in Austin entertainment to Lady Bird Lake.

Lady Bird lake is just a stones throw away from some of the best neighborhoods in Austin. If you’d like to explore homes in these neighborhoods, check out new downtown Austin home listings.

More things to do in Austin: Austin Attractions Austin City Limits Festival Austin Arboretum Austin Bike Tours Austin Country Club Austin Duck Tours Austin Zoo Barking Springs Dog Park Barton Creek Country Club Barton Creek Greenbelt Barton Creek Square Mall Barton Springs Pool Bob Bullock Museum Cabela's in Buda Cimarron Hills Golf Course Congress Bridge Deep Eddy Pool Dell Diamond Discovery Well Cave Reserve Domain Downtown Austin Driskill Hotel East Austin Studio Tour East Side of Austin The French Legation Hamilton Pool Inner Space Caverns Lady Bird Lake Lake Austin Lake Austin Spa Resort LBJ Library Lockhart Barbeque McKinney Falls State Park Mt. Bonnell New Braunfels Kayaking Norwood Estate Dog Park Pecan Street Festival Pflugerville Wine Tours Rainey Street Red Bud Isle Sixth Street South Congress State Capitol St. Edwards University St. Mary's Cathedral SXSW Texas Memorial Stadium University of Texas The Village at Westlake Volente Beach Waterpark Waterloo Records West Campus West Sixth Street Westlake High School Zilker Park Zilker Botanical Gardens