Austin: Dog Paradise

While Rachel and I have enjoyed our first month in Austin, nobody appears happier about the move than Lester. For those who aren't familiar with the Big L, he's our 13 year old black and tan coonhound. Lester has been taking advantage of the mild Central Texas winters, spending lots of time in his spacious new backyard. He's even made a new friend, Dutch, the goofy golden retriever next door, although so far they've only been able to play through the chain link fence.


Top: Lester rolling in the yard. Bottom: Dutch


Those who are familiar with the Big L know that he's, well, a little bit more active than your typical 13 year old dog. And for active dogs, Austin is arguably the greatest city in the country. There are more than 16,682 acres of park land in Austin, comprised of 206 parks, 12 preserves, and 26 greenbelts. Of these many spots, 12 are dog-friendly, meaning some or all of the grounds are leash-free for dogs. That's just within the city limits! We also hear that there are many great places beyond Austin. We've been taking Lester to a variety of places these past few weeks, and while there are still lots more to explore, here's an early list of what seem to be his five favorite places, in no particular order:

1. Far West Off Leash Area: Not the prettiest of the leash-free parks, but the closest -- only about a mile from our house. He's been fortunate to have been there nearly every day.


2. Red Bud Isle: Dog Central! This little island in the middle of Town Lake just south of Tom Miller Dam is entirely leash-free. On nice weekend, you might see fifty or more dogs there at any given time. Great place for a swim, and also a good spot to launch a kayak.


3. Bull Creek Greenbelt: Perhaps Lester's favorite so far, this long greenbelt on the northwest edge of the city is suprirsingly quiet given its proximity to the main roads. This trails runs through the woods along Bull Creek (duh!), providing many spots for swimming or wading along the route.


4. Shoal Creek Greenbelt: This is a great greenbelt that cuts through the heart of the city from north to south. While only five blocks of this long greenbelt are leash-free, it provides some nice swimming opportunities.


5. Walnut Creek Park: We've only been there once, but it might become even more of a favorite than Bull Creek. About half of this large park in northern Austin is leash-free. Much of that portion is made up of a winding network of trails. The bigger trails are popular with mountain bikers. The rest are popular with dogs -- especially the ones that go down to the creek!

On top of all of the open spaces, a surprising number of cafes and even some bars feature dog-friendly decks or patios, including two of our favorite local spots, Billy's on Burnet (which puts out water bowls in anticipation of dog owners) and Genuine Joe Coffeehouse. So if you like city life but are afraid that your active dog won't, consider Austin!

Top: Lester drinking up Bull Creek. Bottom: On the trail, Walnut Creek Park