Sitting outside on a waterfront patio, with a cool drink in my hand while taking in the sun and the cool breezes coming off the lake, is pretty much my idea of paradise. Luckily for me, Central Texas is teeming with lakes, rivers and springs surrounded by lovely waterfront restaurants and entertainment venues where I can fully absorb one of my favorite things about my hometown.

Now that it is officially summertime and temperatures are steadily rising, we are turning our attention to lake living, an idea that so many Austinites have carefully filed in their “future dreams” file. For those who are fortunate enough to own waterfront property, the serene luxury that nature provides characterizes an incomparable way of life.

In order to catch a glimpse of this lifestyle, we visited our resident lake living expert. No one knows better how to wholly enjoy the lake than Beau Theriot, owner of Austin’s favorite lakeside jewel: The Oasis. His fine furnishings and antiques gallery, The Treasury, and the newly developed Comanche Canyon Ranch, the site of the exclusive Villa Montana gated community, makes Beau’s hilltop one of the hottest spots on the lake.

As we toured his magnificent home designed specifically to take advantage of the spectacular views of the sunset over the lake, Beau shared with us his vision to make his 500-acre hilltop ranch, sometimes called “Beau’s Mountain,” a unique destination that invites everyone to enjoy one of the most beautiful natural settings you could ask for.

But Lake Travis is just one of the many lovely bodies of water we are lucky enough to have at our fingertips, and our friends at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) gave us an inside look at the best parks, recreation areas and natural resource areas in Central Texas. With opportunities for fishing, swimming, camping and nature education, a trip to one of the many LCRA parks is an ideal summer getaway for your family.

And to help you make a splash this season, we are showcasing this summer’s “musthaves.” From the hottest fashions to the best skin protection from the intense rays of the long summer days, we have all you need to make your trip to the lake unforgettable.

So jump on it…the water’s great!