Lakeside lodging options on Airbnb are some of the most beautiful and amenity-filled-patios are a given, private docks are commonplace, and fire pits come in all shapes and sizes-and they’re yours for the taking this summer in every region of America. Of course, you could visit just about anywhere on the water and have a good time, but nature lovers know that heading inland to the shores of one of the country’s countless lakes makes for a well-rounded vacation of hiking, swimming, grilling, and chilling.

Divers can explore boat wrecks and submerged sculptures ― and those with advanced certification can descend into a dramatic underwater canyon.We’ve reached the time of year when planning an early-summer getaway becomes a high priority. Surprisingly, it also ranks among Central Texas’s top scuba spots. Shade trees and lush lawns make this lakeside oasis a favorite among picnickers. The limestone building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has some neoclassical elements, along with landscaping and wildflowers attractive to pollinators.

Elisabet Ney moved to Austin in 1882 and spent the rest of her life working in this museum, one of the state’s oldest. Seventeen miles southeast of Lake Travis stands this tribute to a 19th-century German portrait sculptor.

Visiting over the winter holidays? Don’t miss the Zilker Park tower’s transformation into one of the world’s largest Christmas trees. Today 13 of the 31 delicate original structures remain and are protected on the National Register of Historic Places.

A 19th-century criminal spurred the city to keep its residents safe by flooding its streets with light from 165-foot-tall towers.

Airbnb lake travis