Texas-style water sports

In a kayak for beer sightseeing, in a tyre over rapids and in a canoe through the fairyland.

Berkel en Rodenrijs, 21 May 2019 – Water sports in Texas – that may not be the first thought that comes to mind when visiting the Lone Star States. And yet they find a number of extraordinary water sports activities: While New Braunfels is an Eldorado for tubing fans and San Antonio is especially popular with kayak fans, Austin offers nocturnal stand-up paddleboard tours and Caddo Lake in the east offers relaxed boat trips. With sun cream and flashlight in your luggage, nothing stands in the way of adventurous water fun.

“Standing on the hose” in a different way: Tubing in New Braunfels

On the tires, ready, go! If the Texans love an activity, then it’s tubing – and rightly so: is there anything better than being relaxed on a river on warm summer days? With two rivers at once – the Comal and the Guadalupe River – the German emigrant village of New Braunfels is regarded as the Mecca par excellence. Between March and November, thousands of water rats drift downstream for hours under the Texas sun. However, as things can get a bit wilder in some places, a spontaneous swim in the river is usually unavoidable – but at a pleasant 21 degrees water temperature, a welcome cool-down is welcome. A tour costs depending upon offerer starting from 15 dollar (13 euro) and includes round trip shuttle and the renting of the tires. The Comal River also flows through the water park Schlitterbahn, which is not only reminiscent of the German heritage of the city, but also offers adventure lovers the longest tubing slide in the world: A ride on the Raging River Tube Chute takes about 45 minutes and leads from one end of the park to the other. A daily ticket is to be had for 55 dollar (approx. 50 euro). www.schlitterbahn.com/new-braunfels

Three, two, one: Paddle! Hop rich kayaking in San Antonio

If you’ve always wanted to combine a kayak tour with sightseeing and beer, the King William District Kayak Tour & Beer Tasting is for you. As the name suggests, the participants on their trip on the San Antonio River will not only be enlightened about the peculiarities of the King William District, but will end the tour with a beer tasting in the Blue Star Brewery. The tour costs 45 dollars (about 40 euros). Families and beginners can paddle between three and almost seven kilometres across the river in single or tandem kayaks on guided or unguided tours, while daring and professional canoeists can ride through wild waters and on six kayak slides. An excursion on Davis Lake in Espada Park also offers fascinating insights into the local flora and fauna. The water fun is 48 dollars (almost 43 euros). www.missionadventuretours.com/kayaking-3

Beautiful light: Nightly paddling experience in Austin

Skylines at night? Always an experience. Skylines at night from a kayak? Even better! Even in the dark Austin has a special sports program to offer: On specially equipped stand-up paddle boards, paddlers are invited to the Glow Paddle for a nocturnal excursion on Lady Bird Lake. Colourful underwater LEDs with changing colours provide not only visual aids but also the right lighting effect. With a panoramic view of the skyline and the lake, paddle adventurers can thus explore Austin in a spectacular way under the starry sky. A one-and-a-half-hour weekend tour costs 54 dollars (approx. 48 euros). www.glowpaddleaustin.com

Like in a fairy tale: Canoe tours on Lake Caddo

In the east of Texas lies the 26,000 hectare Caddo Lake with its wide network of rivers, ponds, streams and bays. Here not only anglers and naturalists enjoy the unspoiled nature, but also all those who want to take a relaxed boat trip on the shallow water. The mystical landscape with its towering cypresses, mossy trees and rich green aquatic plants can be discovered by canoe on the 80 kilometre wide waterway network. While beavers, herons and turtles often appear near the shore, alligators can also be spotted with a bit of luck. The entrance fee to Caddo Lake State Park is four dollars (about 3.50 euros), canoes can be rented locally. www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caddo-lake