San Antonio’s Best-Kept Beach Secret

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Ok, so technically, it’s not in San Antonio.  It’s just outside of San Antonio.  And technically, it’s not a beach, it’s a lake – but it’s got a great, beachy vibe.  And, ok, maybe it’s not a secret, but it doesn’t seem to get packed, so it sure *feels* like a secret!  So, where the heck is the best-kept beach secret!?  It’s Boerne City Lake Park!

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I’m a wannabe surfer girl (meaning, I’ve never actually surfed, but I have many times in a past life) and I was dying to try Stand-Up Paddle Boarding – also known as “SUP” to us die-hard surfers.  People laughed in my face when I said it was on my bucket list.  The laughter was immediately followed by the question – “Where are you gonna do that in SAN ANTONIO!?”  A short google-search later, I came across Hill Country Paddle Sports.

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Not only did I get to try Stand-Up Paddle Boarding, but it was minutes from my home and didn’t cost an arm and a leg.  The folks at Hill Country Paddle Sports will even give you a free crash course.  You should definitely check out their SUP Yoga classes on Saturdays.

If you decide to make Stand-Up Paddle Boarding a hobby, Hill Country Paddle Sports sells beautiful boards too.

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Boerne City Lake Park is great for the family too.  They have clean, basic bathrooms, and a covered playground.  Some of the shore can be a little rocky, so water shoes/moccasins were nice to have.

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What I really like about Boerne City Lake Park is that it’s close enough to San Antonio to not have to make a WHOLE day out of it.  I don’t feel guilty leaving after a couple of hours, and it’s not so far from civilization that I have to pack like we’re going camping for a week.

Which brings me to my next favorite Beorne thing…

Random!

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Don’t let the fact that they 80 craft beers on tap deter you from bringing the family.  Minutes from Boerne City Lake, Random Beer Garden is a great place to stop on the way home.  There was plenty of open-air, shaded seating, music, three or four food trucks, and free, YES FREE, bouncy houses.  And I’m going to be a total mom here and say the bathrooms are amazing! Check out their Facebook Page to get the most current food truck rotation.

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If you’re looking for a quick, beachy fix with minimal planning required, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you can get one – just a hop, skip, and a jump from San Antonio!  Boerne City Lake Park, Hill Country Paddle Sports, and Random Beer Garden exceeded my expectations – and we even got a NAP out of our non-napping three-year-old on the way home.  Totally worth it!!!

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Amy
Amy was born and raised on the East Coast, but got to Texas as fast as she could! She has been serving in the U.S. Air Force for 18 years, half of which have been in San Antonio. Amy and her husband have two boys, ages 9 and 8, and they love discovering new San Antonio parks and restaurants! She’s still not sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but in her spare time, she's either working out or trying to convince herself not to eat pizza.

2 COMMENTS

  1. We love Boerne City Lake! Thank you for all you do to make it such a great place to visit. The camps sound fun – I noticed there were walking trails and other things available at the park too.

  2. Hey Amy thanks for the great shout out for the park! We (Boerne Parks & Recreation)really are proud of the lake park and work very hard to keep it clean and beautiful for our visiting families!
    It may be a drive for some moms but we do have an handful of summer camps happening out there in the mornings (before the heat kicks in and the traffic picks up for the day) for kiddos who are 6-13 yrs old during the summer too! Thanks again!

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