While it's exciting and refreshing, this stretch of the lake also holds notable chapters of Texas' colorful history. Directly across the river you'll see Packsaddle Mountain, where Apaches fought their fierce last battle with Texans in 1873. Much of the mountain is composed of 600 million-year-old limestone. Traces of gold, silver and other metals have been found in Honey Creek, at the base of the mountain.

Also directly across the river is a beautiful, undeveloped spread of the former President Lyndon B. Johnson's sprawling ranch holdings. His lake home is less than a mile down the river from the property. Johnson City, where President Johnson was raised, is only about 40 minutes to the southeast. Tours of his boyhood home and ranch are very popular.

Historic Llano is only about 20 minutes to the northwest. The town is going through a restoration of historical century-old homes and stores. You can visit the historic courthouse, stroll past commemorative statues and relive civil war events.

Fredericksburg, a historic German town well known for its variety of quaint shops and artisans, is a 55-minute drive to the southwest. You can enjoy a day of shopping and eating in one of the fine restaurants there.

 

If you love watching and photographing birds, you'll really enjoy the Highland Lakes area. We're in the migratory paths of dozens of birds. This is one of the winter nesting areas for the American Bald Eagle. Turkeys roost directly across the river from the home.  It's fun to watch the Great Blue Heron fishing along the shoreline. There are also plenty of Quail, Cardinals, Mockingbirds and Scissortail to enjoy. You may even see a rare Painted Bunting. During migratory seasons, you can see hundreds of Canadian Geese, Pelicans, Storks, Ducks and Cranes.

 

Most tourists really enjoy the wildlife in central Texas. The hills and trees here provide ideal conditions for whitetail deer, armadillos, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, opossums and many other little creatures. In some areas the deer are tame enough to eat out of your hand.