San Marcos, TX Outdoor Activities

A bright, five-pointed star gleams above the Texas State University campus on select nights. Fixed atop Jackson Hall—a 12-story building that marks the campus's highest point—the star can be seen for miles throughout Hays County, letting fans know that it's time to celebrate a Bobcats victory and take out the pizza they started baking at half-time. Throughout the Bobcats' proud history, the Victory Star has had many occasions for beaming, as the school has won a litany of championships across multiple sports, including NCAA Div. II championships in football and men's golf and NAIA titles in men's basketball and men's tennis.

One inch off the asphalt, roaring by at 65 mph. Because On Track Xperience houses a fleet of NasKarts powered by Honda engines, this kind of wind-in-your-hair action is possible. Helmets, of course, keep wind out of hair, though, while drivers 16 and older zip around Thunderhill Raceway's banked oval track. Each race burns up 10 laps and lasts about five minutes. Those looking to master their lap times can attend speed school and learn the ins and outs from a former pro racer and trainer. And those interested in a little competition can join eight-week racing leagues. Groups can also navigate the oval circuit for birthdays or corporate events that can accommodate up to 400 for team-building racing events where winners are showered in a business-card tickertape parade.

From 1927 until 2009, the Piper Aircraft company produced 144,000 airplanes. Of those, 90,000 are still flying. One is a 1978 single-engine Saratoga that can often be seen soaring over the hills and lakes of the Texas landscape.

Inside that Saratoga, the Air Tours Texas pilots lead up to five passengers on scenic tours and adventures, sharing scenic aerial views of Lake Travis, Canyon Lake, Austin, San Antonio, and Enchanted Rock with their awestruck human cargo. The group of pilots also offers sunset flights, stunningly romantic marriage-proposal flights, and copilot experiences that introduce aspiring pilots to flight basics.

Quail Creek Golf Club’s 18-hole course invites golfers to enjoy the countryside charm of its rolling terrain as they swing their way past native tall grasses. A well-oiled short game pays dividends on this course due to the nature of the turtle back greens. The signature seventh hole offers a view of a large canyon that sits adjacent to the Blanco River, and the twelfth hole runs alongside the river itself. The same oblong pond stands in front of the greens at the adjacent ninth and 18th holes, providing a dramatic finish to both nines, as well as an opportunity for golfers to sacrifice their sand wedges to the water in a post-round gesture of respect for the course. The grounds include a driving range, and a Back Porch Bar & Grill where players can enjoy a frosty beverage, beer or burger, which can be ordered in advance so it is ready on the turn.

After rounds, players can drop by the Back Porch Bar & Bistro for a frosty beverage, beer or burger, which can be ordered in advance so it is ready on the turn.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,312 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 70.2
• Slope rating of 121
• Four tee options
• Course layout

Floats last between one and four hours each, and the short, one-hour route can be repeated. Gather a team of water-drawn hooligans for a relaxing journey that takes you around the famous Horseshoe Loop. The river is flush with Momma Nature's finest currents and rushing at its highest level in three years, so there's no better time to propel yourself and your professional water Marco Polo team down a living waterslide. Choose the route that will satisfy your inner sundial and outer sunsoaker.

Texas Sphere Ride brandishes a novel thrill with its massive inflatable spheres that send adrenaline junkies tumbling along a fenced-in track. The hollow, cushioned plastic balls safely cradle strapped-in pairs as they gather speed, rolling and bouncing along a dirt path. For added excitement, Texas Sphere Ride’s partnership with Helicopter Tours of Texas augments spherical jaunts with a short ride in a chopper for a more heart-pounding adventure than a hostage negotiation in a cardiologist’s office.