Splash Across Texas

The book on where to swim in central Texas!

Get the book Splash Across Texas The Definitive Guide to Swimming in Central Texas By Chandra M Beal  Join the Discussion "What makes a place good to swim in? My favorite place was the lake in front of my parent's summer home in Northern Wisconsin. A big cool lake, never too many boats, but always lots of fish and frogs" What's your favorite place to swim?    Related Resources • Find a team or pool • Swimming Teams   From Other Guides • Texas Water Parks • Swimming in Austin • Austin's Pools • Texas for Visitors  Elsewhere on the Web • Splash Across Texas Updates • An excerpt from the book • Additional Pictures for Splash Across Texas

If you like the water, and you are in central Texas - Austin and the surrounding area - you need this book. But I think you should get it even though you may never get to Texas.

Author Chandra M. Beal has put together a complete guide to the area's pools, lakes, rivers, creeks, theme parks, and just about every other type of water hole you might think of or look for in your search for a place to get wet. But the book is much more than a simple guide. Besides the usual descriptions and locations, Splash Across Texas! The Definitive Guide to Swimming in Central Texas includes the history, stories, and pictures of swimming in the area.

The book starts with a general history of swimming and swimsuits, leading in to the growth of bathing and swimming in Texas (initially for the curative powers believed to be found in local springs). Through simple, colorful narratives and historic pictures, the author lays the aquatic groundwork for the rest of the guidebook.

The city pools, neighborhood pools, wading pools, and water fronts of Austin are all here, from Barton Springs to West Austin.  Not sure if a pool is right for you and your family? You don't have to drive there to check it out first. Read Chandra's descriptions and reviews, compare the pictures, and then plan your route on the map included in the appendix.

Looking for more open recreation? How about the Army Corp of Engineers Lakes, or the Highland Lakes? More pictures, more ways to find the right place to spend your free time.

Splash Across Texas also includes reviews of Water Theme Parks, like Six Flags Waterworld, Schlitterbahn, and Splashtown. These places are a great way to enjoy the water in a less traditional way, like water slides and wave pools.

One of the greatest things about this book is the story it tells. Swimming places, pictures, and the people behind those places.  The historical background, the way it has been assembled into a series of short stories, is entertaining, even for someone like me, who is not from Texas and will probably not be there in the near future. I loaned the book to a friend that is from Texas, and then her father borrowed it - they both loved it.

The author continues to update the book and add more pictures and stories. This is a great book to add to your collection, wherever you might live.

Swim On!

Mat

Mathew Luebbers
About.com Swimming Guide

 remember to consult a physician before beginning any fitness regimen