THE SWIMMING HOLES
OF TEXAS
by
Julie Wernersbach & Carolyn Tracy
Genre: Travel / Outdoors / Swimming
Publisher: The University of Texas Press
Date of Publication: May 16, 2017
Number of Pages: 240, 100 color photos
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Nothing beats a natural swimming hole for cooling off on a scorching summer day in Texas. Cold, clear spring water, big old shade trees, and a quiet stretch of beach or lawn offer the perfect excuse to pack a cooler and head out with family and friends to the nearest natural oasis. Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or an unforgettable summer vacation, let The Swimming Holes of Texas be your guide.
Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy highlight one hundred natural swimming spots across the entire state. The book is organized by geographic regions, so you can quickly find local places to swim—or plan a trip to a more distant spot you’d like to explore. Each swimming hole is illustrated with an inviting color photo and a description of what it’s like to swim there, as well as the site’s history, ecology, and conservation. The authors include all the pertinent info about admission fees and hours, parking, and on-site amenities such as showers and restrooms. They also offer tips for planning your trips and lists of the swimming holes that are most welcoming to families and pets.
So when the temperature tops 100 and there’s nothing but traffic in sight, take a detour down the backroads and swim, sunbathe, revel, and relax in the swimming holes of Texas.
Pack the sunscreen, load the car with friends and family, and head to the nearest swimming hole. The Swimming Holes of Texas is a great reference guide for planning your next trip.
Swimming Holes is organized by location and includes maps! There are so many swimming holes near Austin that it warrants it’s own section. The location sections and maps are a great help for pointing out where the various swimming holes are located in relation to where you are. I’m sure those swimming holes on the west side of Texas are great. But as I’m on the east side, I’d rather know which ones are in a drive-able distance without Google Maps. The book also contains a number of Top 5 lists for swimming holes for various needs (kids, dogs, free, etc). These are a great jumping off point for research.
What I love about Swimming Holes is every location has a list of amenities and pro tips. Not only basic amenities like fees, restrooms, and camping, but important information like: Do you need shoes? Or do you need to bring your own shade? The book also provides very important information like do you need bug spray for the Texas-sized mosquitoes. Or is there a chance of alligators!?! The pro tips are also very helpful, listing out restaurants, museums, ancient oak trees to visit, among other tips. Here’s my Pro Tip: If there are alligators, I’m out! I don’t care how hot it is outside. No water is less appealing to me than gator-infested water.
I’ve been looking for day trips from Houston since I moved to Texas. Thanks to this travel guide, I now have a list of places to swim, snorkel (if I can buck up my courage), soak in deep pools, or slide over falls. And I can’t wait to get started.
I’d recommend buying a physical copy of this book, and leaving it in the car for your next road trip! 4.5 Stars!
I received The Swimming Holes of Texas free in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to authors Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy, University of Texas Press, and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity.
Julie Wernersbach, Austin, is the literary director of the Texas Book Festival and a former marketing director at BookPeople, Austin’s largest independent bookstore. Carolyn Tracy, Austin, is a freelance photographer who works for an animal welfare nonprofit. They are the authors of Vegan Survival Guide to Austin.
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June 8-June 22, 2017
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