Last updated: September 25, 2023
Austin, Texas is home to Barton Springs Pool. It is a national treasure. But lesser-known is Barton Creek.
In this article I’ll show you photos from my favorite spots including Barking Springs, Barton Creek, rope swings, the bridge jump, and more.
About Barton Creek
Barton Springs Pool is a three-acre natural spring-fed municipal pool. The water is brisk and chilly.
The pool and the natural spring water spills down into Barton Creek. My apartment is located nearby.
I often go down to Barton Creek to feed the fish and enjoy nature in the morning. Barton Springs Pool and Barton Creek are my favorite places in Austin.
Barking Springs
The lower part of Barton Springs Pool is called “Barking Springs” because people can bring their dogs to play in the water. Since that area is unregulated and unticketed, aka “free,” it tends to be a rowdier public area. People here are often smoking, drinking, grilling food, playing loud music, and having fun. I love it.
We floated in the paddleboards to this area for a few minutes. Then we swam with the fish here. The water is very fresh and clear in this area!
Under the Barton Springs Road Bridge
Beneath the Barton Springs Road bridge in Austin, you can often find groups gathering or fish swimming. There are also many turtles!
I believe this is the first group icebreaker that has ever been done in the history of the world that was on the water, with waterproof name tags, under a bridge. Congratulations to all of us!
Rope Swing on Barton Creek
There are several rope swings set up on Barton Creek.
My favorite one is located just north of the Barton Springs Road bridge.
Bridge Jump
The official name of this bridge is the Barton Creek Pedestrian Bridge. But I call it the jumping bridge.
During the warmer months, people are always stacked on top and jumping off the bridge. Please note: Jumping off of this bridge is illegal, so you should not do it.
I jumped off the bridge for the first time ever. I’m happy that I finally did it! A few of my friends jumped off, too.
Special Events on Barton Creek
I knew I wanted to do something special for my book launch.
Bringing my friends to my favorite place has been a recurring theme for my large life event parties, like my birthdays. See, for example, bringing my friends to a waterpark, and hosting a summer camp at the Met Museum.
So I did something fun: I invited all of my friends to meet me at my favorite spot in Austin on Barton Creek. We would ride paddleboards out to Town Lake, also called Lady Bird Lake.
There were a few major things that I wanted to show my friends along the way:
- Barking Springs
- Swimming with the fish
- Icebreakers Under the Bridge
- Bridge jump
- Sunset on Town Lake
Paddling out to Town Lake
It is easy to paddle down the creek. At the end of my book launch, we paddled down Barton Creek out to Town Lake. Town Lake is also called Lady Bird Lake.
My Favorite Barton Creek Photos
These are a few more photos that Isaac Rodriguez took during my book launch party in Austin on Barton Creek:
About My Book
I wrote a book called The 2-Hour Cocktail Party. It helps people make friends and build relationships.
You know that well-connected friend who only exists in the movies? The one who throws the best parties and can set up any introduction you need?
Everyone wants to know someone magical like this who brings people together. The secret is: you can be that person. You should be that person. The 2-Hour Cocktail Party will show you how.
My book gives a simple party-hosting formula with step-by-step instructions that will help you meet new people, strengthen your relationships, and make you the person everyone wants to know. Find it on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold online.
More Information
The name of my friends’ company who helped us with all of these paddle boards is Boats & Bats, run by Aaron Bell. Here is their website.
Here are a few of my other big party adventures: