Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Windsurfing
If Texas' waves are unreliable, the wind is not. Constant coastal breezes, coupled with
shallow bodies of water sheltered by the barrier islands, make for great windsurfing con-
ditions. Rentals will usually run you between $55 and $75 per day. Top spots, with rentals,
include the following:
Padre Island National Seashore
(
Click here
) Bird Island Basin, off the Laguna Madre, ranks as one of the top wind-
surfing spots in the US. Lessons available locally.
South Padre Island
(
Click here
) The lagoon side of the island is popular with windsurfers, and rightly so. Numerous
outfitters provide gear and instruction.
Tubing & Rafting
From the classic Rio Grande white-water trips at Big Bend to lazy tubing on the Guada-
lupe River near New Braunfels, Texas offers both wild and mild river adventure. The ex-
tensive Texas section online at RiverFacts (
www.riverfacts.com
) outlines all the white-wa-
ter paddling in the state.
Rio Grande
Rapids up to Class IV alternate with calm stretches on the Rio Grande in the five canyons of Big Bend Na-
tional Park (
Click here
). A river trip here can last from several hours to several days, traversing the impressive Boquillas
Canyon. Outfitters offer complete row, eat and sleep tours. Some also have multisport tours that also include hiking or
biking. Early spring and autumn usually have the best weather and water conditions.
Guadalupe River
One of our favorite things in the world is floating down the Guadalupe (or the Frio, or the San Mar-
cos) in a inner tube, cold beer in hand. You can rent tubes in New Braunfels (
Click here
)
or at Kerrville-Schreiner Park
(
Click here
)
. The former has frequent return shuttles. Outfitters will even rent you tubes with reinforced bottoms to put
your cooler in.
San Marcos River
This spring-fed river is always cool, but not always flowing much. When it is, rent tubes from the
Lion's Club (
Click here
)
in San Marcos.
Colorado River
Bastrop River Co (
Click here
) rents tubes and provides return shuttles for two- to eight-hour floats on
the Colorado.
Boating & Jet Skiing
Texas actually has a lotta water and locals love to get out onto area lakes, rivers, bays and
the Gulf by motorboat and Jet Ski. Rental options are a bit limited, but they can still be
found. Boats and Jet Skis both start at $60 to $80 for the first hour, but the rate goes down
for additional time.
Clear Lake
Outside Houston, the marinas of the Clear Lake act as the city's water recreation central. Rent Jet Skis from
Pinky's Kayak Rental (
Click here
), charter a sailboat with Windsong (
Click here
) or take a ride on the Beast at Kemah
Boardwalk (
Click here
).
