4 Tips To Have a Great Time Boating With the Family

Discover the best boating spots near Round Rock and learn essential tips for safe, fun family adventures on Lake Travis, Lake Georgetown, and more!

If you live in or near Round Rock, Texas, your family is surrounded by a veritable natural playground! Specifically, you’re just a short drive away from some epic bodies of water that offer endless opportunities for fun and creating memories. Really, nothing beats the joy of spending quality time with your loved ones on the water, and we’re here to make your time as safe and special as possible. With these tips, you’ll be prepared to have a great time boating with the family and appreciate your local area even more than before. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

1. Know the Best Boating Spots Near Round Rock

First off, where should y’all even go? We describe some of the best nearby boating spots below!

Lake Travis

Lake Travis is the crown jewel of Central Texas boating. Just about 30 minutes from Round Rock, this expansive lake offers calm coves perfect for swimming and wide-open areas ideal for water sports. You’ll find no shortage of amenities, including picnic tables, restrooms, shade structures, rental facilities, boat launches, fine dining, and even more around the lake.

One great starting point is Mansfield Dam Park. This conveniently located boat launch is paved, accessible, and clean. Currently, a day use pass is just $5 per person (free for kids under 12), and a trailer parking pass is $7 for the whole day. You can find more information on this and other launches via the Travis County Parks website.

Lake Georgetown

Don’t want the deal with the hullabaloo of Lake Travis? You might want to head to Lake Georgetown instead. Though like all refreshing, expansive water bodies in the hot state of Texas, this lake is also busy, it’s less of a tourist draw. It’s smaller, is run by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and sits just about 20 minutes north of Round Rock.

There are three boat launches on the lake: Cedar Breaks Park, Jim Hogg Park, and Russell Park. All require a day pass of just $5 per vehicle, so it’s even cheaper than going to Lake Travis. You can find more information about each boat launch on the USACE Fort Worth District website.

Belton Lake

We also want to mention Belton Lake, a reservoir about an hour northeast of Round Rock. It is also run by the USACE, and it features an incredible 18 boat launches! Even better yet, 8 of these don’t charge any fee. You and your family will have a blast speeding along this reservoir and taking in the magnificent Texan scenery. You can learn more about boating at Belton Lake from the USACE website.

2. Prepare Your Crew for a Day on the Water

Now that you have an idea of where to go, it’s time to get your team ready for a day on the lake. If your kiddos are new to boating, talk with them about what to expect and how to be safe (but more on that later).

As you pack, get your children involved. Create a checklist with at least the following items:

• life jackets
• sunscreen
• water
• food
• hats
• first aid kit

We also recommend bringing a speaker to enjoy music and some waterproof games to play. You can also let your kids bring one or two items each that they’re super excited about to help them feel ownership over the experience.

Pro Packing Tip

You might want to pack motion sickness remedies. The combination of sun, movement, and excitement can affect anyone in an unwanted way, and you don’t want to spoil the fun with nausea. Over-the-counter motion sickness medications, pressure-point bracelets, and ginger remedies can all work well.

3. Keep Everyone Safe With the Right Gear and Rules

Now, let’s discuss the most important thing that is necessary to have a great time boating with the family: proper safety.

Handle Towing and Launching With Care

Getting your boat to the lake and in the water can be tricky. Make sure you read up on how to do this safely, such as how to execute a smooth boat launch without harming your truck or anyone else in the vicinity. It’s best to leave this job to the adults; your kids can stand to the side and learn!

Beat the Heat

Start your day early to avoid being under the sun at its hottest as you launch your vessel. Remember sunscreen, hats, and shawls, and make sure your family is using these things to protect against UV exposure throughout your time on the water.

Suit Up

Wearing life jackets isn’t optional. Not only do most of the parks require it, but it’s also one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your family safe. Someone can easily fall overboard, and a life jacket prevents this from becoming a tragedy.

Make sure you know how to properly secure a life jacket, and check that each of your family members is wearing one correctly. Straps should be snug but comfortable, and the jacket shouldn’t ride up when you lift the person’s arms above their head.

Don’t Rock the Boat

Establish clear rules about movement on the boat before you leave the dock. Your children should understand when they need to sit down, where they can move freely, and how to communicate with the boat operator. Consider coming up with some simple hand signals to communicate, as these will work even when you can’t hear each other over the noise of the wind, engine, and other lake goers.

Watch the Weather

Some of the hottest days in Texas can also be the most dangerous. Whether a summer storm is rolling in or the heat is simply too much to safely bear, you should know when it’s best to stay inside.

4. Amp Up That Fun Factor!

We mentioned bringing entertainment, but let’s dig deeper!

Water Toys

Swimming and jumping from the boat are both awesome, but you can take water play to the next level for your kids. Bring floating mats, inner tubes, water guns, pool noodles, snorkeling gear, and other similar devices with you on the boat.

Fishing Gear

Lake Travis, Lake Georgetown, and Belton Lake all allow fishing! If that interests you, bring some gear to try your hand at reeling in a prize catch with the kiddos. Just make sure you apply for the applicable fishing licenses.

Eating Out

What’s better than a tasty, heavy meal after an exhausting day on the lake? Beats us! Consider taking the family out to eat after your water adventures are over. This is especially easy on Lake Travis, but you’ll find options everywhere.

Are you ready to have boatloads of fun? All you have to do is spend a day on the water with your family. Living in Round Rock gives you quick access to a variety of amazing lakes, all perfect for all-day adventure and memory-making. Use our tips to guarantee a safe, easy, wildly awesome time!

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