Readers Poll: Outdoors & Recreation [ Arts & Entertainment | Architecture & Lodging | Food & Drink | High-Tech | Kids | Media | Outdoors & Recreation | Politics | Services | Shopping ] Critics' Picks | Readers Poll Winners sorted alphabetically

Austin Athlete

Lance Armstrong

Our state is obsessed with football; but as y'all know well, Austin ain't your typical Texas city - our readers' ongoing rally behind astounding, resilient, cancer-fighting cycler Lance Armstrong is testament to that. Of course, we're not ignoring our Horns altogether; running back and 1998 Heisman Trophy candidate Ricky Williams touches down in second.

Lance Armstrong Foundation, 800/496-4402; Bill Stapleton, agent, 479-1165;
http://lancearmstrong.com/

Austin Team, Spectator Sport

Ice Bats

Admit it: You laughed when you heard Austin was getting a hockey team. But two years later, the Ice Bats are the WHPL's most successful franchise, drawing over 200,000 fans last season. The Bats will face off Oct. 8, in the third-season opener at the Travis County Expo Center - and they'll be spending their off-the-ice time looking for a new Bat Cave closer to downtown.

Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker, 927-PUCK

Basketball Court/Game

Enfield Park

The half-court heavy Enfield Park is the players' perennial favorite. Clark and Pease got next.

2000 Enfield, 499-6700

Bicycle Repair

Ozone

Three-time past winner Bicycle Sport Shop falls to second against your ironic pedal-pushing pals at Ozone. Buck's cranks in at third.

3202-C Guadalupe, 302-1164

Bike Ride, Day Hike

Greenbelt

With so many different types of paths - from gentle slopes to hell-on-wheels - along so many of our blessed Barton Creek's corridors, is easy to see why readers crank out the vote, year after year, for this challenging woodsy wondertrail.

The intricate trails of the Barton Creek are fun on foot, too. It's easier to catch the sights and sounds of the creek's creatures and drink in both its obvious and subtle blessings while taking it a little slower. The Greenbelt has been winning this and the bike ride category for so long, and hikers and bikers share an understanding that this land is our land.

On your right!!!

Barton Creek Greenbelt, various access points from Zilker Park to Lost Creek, 499-6700

Camping & Outdoor Gear

REI

"Honey, pack up the mini espresso machine in the Range Rover, we're going camping!" They climbed down from the rainy Northwest U.S. to bring their sportier-than-thou attitude to Gateway strip mall in our own northwest quadrant. That said, those gearhead boys and strappin' gals who comprise the gregarious staff at REI can pitch our tents anytime. For that alone, they should get a prize. Our beloved locals Whole Earth Provision Co. made a strong showing in second, and your vote for Best Sporting Goods, Academy, takes third.

9901 Capital of Texas Hwy N., 343-5550

Community Garden

Sunshine Gardens

Nestled behind Lamar Boulevard on six lush acres near Hyde Park, the Sunshine Gardens site is home to over 350 tended plots, where young and old gardeners from all over Austin grow a diverse array of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. The all-organic garden plots, which rent for $70 a year, are tenant-maintained but overseen by Austin Community Gardens, a pioneering community gardening group which set down roots in Austin in 1975.

Sunshine, 458-2009

Day Trip

Enchanted Rock

Ehhh, get out of town, wouldya? Enchanted Rock wins, as it has every time, as our readers' favorite destination. The enormous stone outcropping near Fredericksburg, so rich in history and abundant of view, lives up to its name. Readers also think that Fredericksburg ist wunderbar; Pedernales falls in third. And a roll-of-the-eyes and lick-of-the-tab honorable mention to those readers who voted for LSD.

Rural Route 4, Fredericksburg, 915/247-3903

Dog Walk

Pease Park

Pease poochie hot, Pease poochie cold! Please poochie off the leash, keep controlled! (Growl.) But seriously, this long and winding greenbelt along Shoal Creek offers plenty of room for Fido to stretch all four legs. The "Doggie Happy Hour" invites dogs of all stripes (and spots) to remember what it's like to run with the pack. Last year's winner, Town Lake, takes second.

Doggie Happy Hour, 6-8pm ish between 24th & 29th, off Lamar

Fishing Hole

Not Telling!

Well, fine then. We understand. Those who are disclosing prefer Blue Hole and that big hole, Lake Travis.

??!

Golf Course

Lions Municipal

The narrow, tree-lined fairways at Lions Municipal are our readers' bag. But beware the badass dog leg left par 4 Hogan hole! Not to be outdone, second-place Hancock "the Rock" sports a mean par 5 second.

2901 Enfield, 477-6963

Neighborhood Park

Zilker Park

Try to imagine Austin minus Zilker - it's a sad picture. You've chosen Zilker as your favorite place to play for the last six years. There's something for everyone: Soccer! Playscape! Choo-choo! Barton Springs! Rock Island! Plus, room to stretch out or to get lost! Pease Park off Lamar wins second and Stacy Park in Travis Heights gets third.

1100 Kingsbury, 499-6700

Overall Nursery

Gardenville

The dirt on Gardenville is that they've buried the competition in this category. Perhaps readers dig the impossibly vast variety of herbs or just find the minds of the helpful staff to be fertile when it comes to advice. Gardenville's radio show on KLBJ-590AM keeps their reputation growing. Photosynthetic hubs Barton Springs Nursery and Red Barn are sprouting through this category's topsoil, though.

8648 Old Bee Caves Rd., 288-6113

Participatory Sport

Disc Golf

Whoever thought of taking the wanky sport of golf and combining it with the wanky sport of Fris - ahem, flying-disc-tossing, throwing in some beer and some pot to create a decidedly slacker sport, and taking it to the parks of America ... Well, if the inventors weren't Austinites themselves, they sure struck a chord with them. Disc golf holes up in first for the second year running. World Cup fever brings soccer to second place, and basketball gets third. Volleyball, the readers' favorite from 1993-96, has apparently been bumped from those hearts.

Disc Golf courses are available at Pease and Zilker Parks

Place to Skate

Veloway

photograph by John Carrico

This category seems more a testament to how fashion is dictating your glide than a measurement of your loyalty to a particular venue. In-liners rule, voting in the Veloway for the third year rolling. The ice rink at Northcross Mall places second, and those who enjoy 'blading in the great indoors or still like the old-school four-wheel experience voted Skate World in third.

4103 Slaughter, 499-6700

Public Sports Facility

YMCA

photograph by John Carrico

Village People jokes aside, the YMCA packs you in and pumps you up. Their early/late hours, cool indoor pool, massage therapist, and wide array of fitness programs only enhance an already extensive gym. Last year's winner is still your favorite Neighborhood Park, Zilker.

Town Lake, 1100 W. Cesar Chavez, 476-6705; SW 6219 Oak Claire 891-9622; North Park Branch 9616 N. Lamar, 973-9622

Rock Climbing

Enchanted Rock

When you want to dino for a jug on the only rock in Texas that doubles as an exfoliant, Enchanted Rock has you under its spell. So does Pseudo Rock, even though it's fake, and you're all over the Greenbelt for third.

Rural Route 4, Fredericksburg, 915/247-3903

Scenic Drive (In-Town)

Loop 360

Drive this smooth highway as it winds gently among the hills bordering the southwestern flank of Austin, glide through places where those hills have been kindly cut to allow vehicular passage, feast your eyes on woods and fields and close-to-town country, marvel at the exquisitely simple-looking feat of engineering that is the 360 Bridge, do it all. It's like a massage for the eyes, driving this well-maintained stretch of asphalt; it's like a balm for the traffic-jammed, gridlocked, rush-houred soul.

Loop 360

Sporting Goods Store

TIE: Academy; Rooster Andrews

Those of you who (rightfully) refuse to plunk down more than $50 for athletic shoes know that Academy can't be licked for its bargain-basement prices and unpretentious selection - it's the practical man's sporting good store. Hand-in-hand with the Roost, Academy knocks Oshman's out of its four-year reign in first. Let's hear it for the home teams!

various locations

Swimming Hole

Barton Springs Pool

From the "oh, big surprise" file: Barton Springs is again your favorite spot to dip your tootsies. But really: Despite gross mossy floating clumps, despite developer-salamander-environmentalist fisticuffs, Austin's love for Barton Springs proves transcendent and spiritual year after year. Hamilton Pool dives in a cool second; you also feel deeply for Deep Eddy.

2201 Barton Springs Rd., 476-9044