Lake Fork holds the Texas state record for the largest bass caught at 18 pounds.
The Great Lake Escapes of Texas
Travel with Catherine Adcock
The mercury keeps hitting 100, and life seems to consist ofbrtransferring from one over-refrigerated room to another. You desperately yearnbrfor fresh air, the outdoors and all-natural sun — but how can any warm-bloodedbrcreature not only survive the heat but also enjoy nature this time of year? WebrTexans know a thing or two about surviving summer. North Texas boasts abrcornucopia of bodies of water, each with distinct personalities and offerings. Southlake Style rounded up some of ourbrfavorites for nature lovers of all shapes and sizes — even those who prefer thebroutdoors when it’s viewed through a window. Word to the wise: Be sure to checkbrlake levels before planning your water adventure. Summer means drought in Texas,brand while lower lake levels shouldn’t deter you from enjoying yourself on thebrwater, they might affect your plans.
Best for Fishing: Lake Fork
If your thing is reeling in a catch that was this big, head to Lake Fork, located 80brmiles east of Southlake. From the time it was established in 1979 until 1987,brLake Fork was stocked with more than 700,000 Florida black bass. Designed to bebra premier fishing lake, Lake Fork went on to become exactly that. In Texas,brLake Fork holds 15 of the top 20 records for bass fishing. We highly recommendbrhiring one of the many knowledgeable fishing guides before heading out if youbrwant to reel in some big ones. If you do catch one over 13 pounds, you canbrdonate it to the Share Lunker program in Athens. They will release your fishbrand give you a fiberglass model of the catch. Little ones who want to fish willbrfind plenty of catfish and sunfish to reel in without a struggle. The lakebroffers fish a hospitable environment with several wooded areas — which shouldbrbe avoided if your group wants to go water sporting. Fortunately, with nearlybr30,000 acres of water to explore, Lake Fork has plenty of areas perfect for tubingbrand skiing.
Looking for land-lover activity? Nearbybrtowns offer options for dining, entertainment and, of course, shopping. On thebrfirst Monday of every month, shoppers will find heaven in Canton at Trade day,brhome to a renowned outdoor antique and flea market. Other neighboring towns offerbrplenty of options for antiquing as well as festivals all year long.
Eat: Seth’s LakebrFork Creek Steak and Seafood in Quitman boasts some of the best Cajun outsidebrof Louisiana.
Stay: Book a roombrat Lake Fork Lodge in Alba with plenty of lakefront views to enjoy.
Best for Sailing: LakebrTexoma
Time to haul the boat out of Lake Ray Hubbard! Lake Texoma,brabout 85 miles north of Southlake, offers some of the best sailing in ourbrland-locked region. True seafarers will find this expansive lake on thebrTexas-Oklahoma border full of varying winds, marinas and nooks to explore. Withbra close-knit sailing community at the Cedar Mills Marina in Gordonville, you'llbrbe sure to find a guide or even a wise limey to advise on gear. It has oft beenbrsaid one could sail Texoma, the largest lake in Texas, for an entire weekend andbrnot even see the whole lake.
Any outdoor recreational activitybrone could conceive can be pursued at Lake Texoma — kids won't want to miss thebrlake's sandy shores. Water sports enthusiasts will find plenty of wake-friendlybrwaters on which they can prove their boarding skills, slalom prowess orbrabilities to hang onto the tube during tight turns. And fish-friendlybrcomposition of the lake means an overabundant population of finned friends tobrreel in. Hire a fishing guide for a day out with the family, and watch proudlybras little ones reel in their first big catches.
Be sure to explore the surroundingbrarea, filled with plenty of small towns full of shops, restaurants and historybrto explore. For grown-up activities, trybrhitting nearby links, like at the nationally renowned Chickasaw Pointe GolfbrCourse, or taking your chances at the nearby Choctaw and WinStar Casinos.
See: Thebrbirthplace of our 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Denison.
Stay: For abrromantic getaway, try Denison’s Inn of Many Faces, a quaint bed-and-breakfast.
Best for Camping:brPossum Kingdom Lake
Perhaps we're partial to Possum Kingdom due to the manybrIndian Princess and Boy Scout campouts we've collectively been part of there,brbut there's more to the lake, located about 90 miles east of Southlake, than itsbrcampgrounds.
But let's start with thosebraccommodations. Want to rough it? Book a site at Possum Kingdom State Park,brwhere you'll find campgrounds with or without electricity and running water,brdepending on how au natural you like to be. If a little more luxury in thebrwilderness suits you, rustic Rock Creek Camp boasts sites for tents and RVs, sobryou can hook up your luxury vehicle and pitch a tent. It also offers a shallowbrswimming beach, private dock, store and restaurant, so no needs will go unmet. Standingbrsomewhere in between full-service amenities and a fire pit is Sky Creek Camp,brwhich offers cabins, tent campsites and RV hookups, along with electricity,brbathrooms and showers.
Whether you pitch a tent or hitchbrup your rig, you can be sure every member of your party will never forget thebrexperience of feeding deer at dusk. Fishers can cast lines in any of the lake'sbrinlets to be greeted with nibbles from the catfish and bass population. Forbrspeedboat sports, you can make wakes along the Broadway portion of the pond. Paddlebrup to Hell's Gate, the lake's well-known natural cliff attraction to take inbrsome breathtaking views. Perhaps you'll meet some new furry friends, like fox,brdeer and turkey, on one of the three nearby trails. Of course, if camping givesbrsomeone in your party the creepy-crawlies, you can always retreat to the lap ofbrluxury at the Cliffs Resort, where a day spa and golf course can wipe away allbrof your big-city stresses.
Eat: Forego thebrfish and order up a juicy rib eye at the Wildcatter Steakhouse in Graham.
Play: Want tobrscale some cliffs? Nearby Mineral Wells State Park offers excellent rockbrclimbing adventures.
Best for FamilybrGetaways: Lake Travis
If it's good enough for Willie Nelson, it sure as heck isbrgood enough for you. Or so our thinking goes. This 63-mile long lake locatedbrabout 20 miles northwest of Austin boasts 270 miles of mostly rugged shoreline.brEven in the driest of summers, the whole family can find plenty to love at thisbrbody of water.
First thing's first — take yourbrpick of accommodations, whether in an RV park, one of the manybrbed-and-breakfasts or our pick, the Lakeway Resort and Spa. The luxury resortbrmanages to be kid- and grown-up-friendly all at the same time. You can enjoy abrbeverage at a swim-up bar while watching the young ones enjoy a 30-foot tallbrwater slide. Don't forget to take some ‘me' time and book some of the luxurybrservices offered by the hotel's spas. Lakeway even considers itselfbrpooch-friendly, so feel free to bring Fido along!
Lake Travis offers all the usualbradventures one would expect, including excellent boating, fishing and sailing,brand then ups the ante with treats like ziplining and scuba diving — the lake isbrhome to both sunken ships and curious fish just begging to be explored. Take abrbreak from the pond by hitting the links at the Lakeway Golf Club, home tobrchallenging courses, tree-lined fairways and rolling hills. While you're teeingbroff, let the kids enjoy nearby Shore Club Volente Beach Waterpark. Withbrlakeside slides and plenty of pools, Volente will keep them occupied with hoursbrof fun.
Play: Take a turnbron Willie Nelson’s Cut-N-Putt, a.k.a. Pedernales Golf Club, a nine-hole coursebrwith its own special rules and regulations located in Spicewood.
Eat: Treatbryourself to at least one meal at the largest restaurant in Texas, Oasis,brlocated 450 feet above Lake Travis.
Photo Credit for Lake Texhoma: Chris Allen Bunchalotta Studios