DAY TRIP! GUIDED HIKE at WESTCAVE PRESERVE & LATE LUNCH in MARBLE FALLS

Westcave Preserve http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/7/0/2/event_199334082.jpeghike and lunch afterwards at nearby Marble Falls! This will be a full day of hiking and eating.

This is going to be a gorgeous hike and we'll have a Guide! (FYI-from downtown Austin, it's 27 miles (45 minutes). From the Domain, it's about an hour's drive.)

Westcave Preserve's guided hike is limited as far as the number allowed per hike (they don't take reservations on the weekends). PLEASE NOTE: we need to get there early and get our tickets for the hike before 11:00 for the NOON hike. The next hike isn't until 2 hours later, so we don't want to miss out! The cost for the guided hike is just $5 dollars. While we wait, there's plenty to do - such as the "Environmental Learning Center" which is free.

The hike is a little less than a mile roundtrip and takes approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. NOTE: the lower part of the canyon trail (including the waterfall and cave) has some steep and uneven footing -please bring appropriate shoes!

After the hike, let's go to nearby Marble Falls to the famous "Blue Bonnet" for a late afternoon lunch and maybe a slice of their pie (heard it's a little slice of heaven!) http://bluebonnetcafe.net/menu

I heard Marble Falls has a cute, quaint little town square with some cool shops, so some of us might wish to browse briefly in a few shops before we head back. Thinking we mostly likely will be back in Austin around 5:00/5:30ish on Sunday eve.

You can either drive yourself or we'll be caravaning from a location TBA. Some of us may wish to drive together to make the trip extra fun.

PLEASE NOTE:

I realize there will be questions for this event, as I don't want to overwhelm all of Awesome members with comment emails that Meetup sends, please message me privately if you don't mind (not in the Comment Section) with any questions/suggestions regarding this event.

Also, if you're interested in being a driver, message me to let me know how many will fit in your vehicle. (People not driving are asked to chip in for the cost of gas to the driver.)

Per the website - PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED - sorry!

Click on the link below for the VIRTUAL TOUR from their website:

http://westcave.org/

Westcave Preserve is a natural treasure of the Texas Hill Country, possessing unique and majestic beauty and ecological diversity. Located adjacent to the Pedernales River in southwestern Travis County about 27 miles from downtown Austin, this 75-acre gem is managed by the non-profit Westcave Preserve Corporation and offers an array of natural science and interdisciplinary educational programs for children and adults from Austin and surrounding communities

Visitation to the Westcave Preserve canyon trail is by guided tour only to minimize the impact on this beautiful and fragile natural site. The hike is a little less than a mile roundtrip and takes approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. Although the upper section of the trail is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, the lower part of the canyon trail (including the waterfall and cave) has some steep and uneven footing and is not wheelchair accessible.