Every Town Needs a Trail

It's a damp, almost sweet smell, infused with the scent of plants, lake water, sweat, and trail dust. This special smell is always the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the phrase "Hike and Bike Trail." I was raised in Austin by two active parents whose favorite past time was toting me, their only child, down to the trail every Saturday morning to walk the path and play in Zilker park. Consequently, many of my childhood memories take place in and around the 10 mile "Hike and Bike Trail" that wraps around Lady Bird Lake and meanders through downtown Austin. The trail has something to offer everyone-a family and animal friendly place to bring kids and pets, a great running, walking, and biking path, countless scenic places to sit and look out over the lake, and a serene environment to just slow down in and take a break from any stresses. 

Before 1971, the shore of Lady Bird Lake (then called Town Lake) was composed of mostly weeds, mud and trash. In 1971, the City of Austin created the "Town Lake Beautification Project" and appointed Lady Bird Johnson (former Texan president Lyndon Johnson's wife) as honorary chairman. Johnson donated almost $20,000 to the Town Lake project, and the trail was soon constructed and surrounded by freshly planted bushes, trees and flowers. The trail is dotted with cultural things and places that hold great significance to the Austin community. Next to Auditorium Shores is a tall bronze statue of legendary musician and native Texan Stevie Ray Vaughn, erected against the backdrop of downtown Austin and the Congress Avenue bridge. The Congress Ave. bridge is where hundreds of people congregate to watch the legendary 1.5 million bats that live under the bridge take flight at sundown each warm summer night in Austin. Along with Stevie and the bats, there is also Zilker Park, Barton Springs, Deep Eddy swimming pool, and the Texas Rowing Center to add to the cultural mix of the trail.

  

In 2007, Austinite and triathlete Jen Ohlson wrote the beautiful book Every Town Needs a Trail, commemorating Austin's unique Hike and Bike Trail and the diverse community of people who frequent there. Along with stunning photographs of the trail and its surroundings, the book interviews citizens such as former Austin mayor Will Wynn, Dell founder Michael Dell, and 80-year-old runner Marcus and his wife Millie, who have lived in Austin over 50 years. This book does a great job of capturing the blissful, unique environment of the trail. 

 The trail has always been and will continue to be a big part of my life, and it's the perfect place to spend any sunny, blissful Austin day. And as if anyone needed any more motivation to go to the trail, it's a known fact that actor Matthew McConaughey frequently runs shirtless down around the lake.