Beat July Heat with a Canoe, Kayak Outing

TPWD photo We know it’s too hot to do much of anything outdoors, but here’s something that’s fun and will keep you cool this summer. Try kayaking or canoeing dozens of Texas’ easily accessible and scenic waterways in a state park or along a designated Texas Paddling Trail. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has made it easier than ever to find that perfect spot to get a close-up look at nature by paddling on more than 50 marked and well-mapped Texas paddling trails offering everything from bayou, river and lake routes to sojourns through salt-sprayed coastal bays. For trail maps and photos, where to rent canoes and kayaks, directions to access sites and fishing and wildlife information, visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/paddlingtrails.. Families looking to flee the city for outdoor summer fun can readily access a number of nearby spots. There are seven Texas PaddlingTrails within an hour of Austin, eight Texas Paddling Trails within an hour of Dallas/Fort Worth, four Texas Paddling Trails within an hour of Houston and six Texas Paddling Trails within an hour of San Antonio.