Unilever Planning On Certifying All Its Palm Oil
It might be a lofty aim but Unilever has very serious intentions of implementing it. By 2015 Unilever plans on all its palm oil sources certified. The CEO of Unilever Patrick Cescau also was strongly in favor of having a moratorium to prevent rain forest destructions in Indonesia.
Strong voices
As a holistic move to support the brand’s strength, the environment as well as protect its consumers Unilever believes that preventing the destruction of palm forests in Indonesia will stand in good stead. This statement from the CEO comes in the wake of the recent Greenpeace report showing Unilever’s suppliers destroying peat lands and orangutan habitats. Further, the report also claimed that Unilever had no means to trace its palm oil sources and origins. It also detailed statistics on how Unilever had fallen short of its projected figures on rain forest conservation. Faced by a surge of negative publicity and public outcry Unilever has decided to take stringent steps to ensure none of its suppliers continue to damage these habitats – therefore, the move towards certification. Cescau also added that all its palm oil would be traceable within the year 2012.
A combined effort
In spite of Cescau’s move towards certification and traceability Greenpeace does not seem satisfied. It claims that Unilever’s efforts will fall flat until and unless buyers show their solidarity. All suppliers must be coerced to stop the destruction of Indonesian palm oil forests. The International forest campaigner for Greenpeace Tim Birch was of the opinion that a moratorium was critical to ensuring that suppliers did not continue to destroy these palm trees. Due to such massive destruction orangutans were becoming extinct and the environment was being pushed into grave danger. Not only are these animals being forced into oblivion but a lot of greenhouse emissions take place as a result of such palm oil manufacturing processes.
The current situation
Unilever is the world’s biggest consumer products organization and uses close to 4% of the world’s palm oil production. It uses this oil in its variety of cosmetics and food products. On account of acute deforestation Indonesia is presently 3rd in the list of highest carbon emissions. Many peat swamps have been degraded with the result a lot of natural life and animal habitats have been destroyed. These statistics are as per findings by Wetlands International. If this trend continues Unilever might be accountable for innumerable damages to the environment not to mention the extinction of orangutans.
Do your bit to save the environment. Invest in eco friendly furniture at Modern Eco Homes to create stunning interiors that keep our Earth in mind!
Exploring The Underwater World In Thailand
Diving in Thailand is a hugely popular leisure activity, attracting a wide range of people. Whether you are a complete beginner, exploring the underwater for the first time, or perhaps an enthusiastic amateur or an experienced diver, Thailand can offer some of the most spectacular diving opportunities around. Furthermore, whether you are in a group, or a solo diver, or after a fantastic family excursion, there will be a dive that is right for you. Many companies will offer taster sessions, beginner courses and child friendly dives, so everyone can join in.
Thailand has some excellent diving, with the Andaman Sea off the western coast in particular being a popular spot, although there is also very good diving on the East coast, in the Gulf of Thailand. The best time to dive, when the water is most clear, is during the dry season which is between October and April. The crystal clear, warm, tropical waters are then perfect to see the natural beauty of Thai marine life. Some areas are natural feeding grounds for stunning and diverse species of aquatic life such as Angel and Clown fish, Barracuda, Octopus, Manta Rays, Grey or Whale Sharks, to name a few. Popular diving spots around Thailand include Hin Daeng (Red Rock) and Hin Mouang (Purple Rock). Carpets of anemone stretch into the distance, and coral reefs are an explosion of colour in this tranquil underwater world. Hin Daeng has an unusual underwater plant, the Bryazoan, which is a white, straw-like reed that grows upwards at eight metres long.
Other popular places to dive are around the Koh Kraden wreck, the remnants of a Japanese destroyer; Hin Nok, which is home to the unusual Ghost Pipefish; or Koh Dok Mai, which can be done at night. The diving around the Similan Islands is simply stunning, and a world class dive destination. Tranquil waters and white sands are the backdrop to a plethora of marine life. Various dives around these islands include the Breakfast Bend (so called because it is often the first dive one does on arrival, usually after breakfast), East of Eden, Turtle Reef and Sharkfin Reef (all self-explanatory although there are copious amounts of other fish and underwater plant life to be seen too!).
It is always wise to check the diving in the area of Thailand which you are planning to visit. Some are obviously better than others, but it stands to reason that those spots that are heavily populated by tourists will be less spectacular. For example, Pattaya advertises itself as a great place for families to learn, as the seas on the East coast are relatively unaffected by the sudden weather that can sometimes fall in on the West coast during the rainy season. While this may be true, there might not be the awe-inspiring diving of other locations such as the Similan Islands. However, if you want diving to be a part of your holiday, rather than the reason for your holiday, then this may not matter as much.
MyAsianVilla.com provides accommodation options in various locations around Thailand and features some of the most beautiful villas available.
Book your vacation today at www.myasianvilla.com
Austin Natural Pools: Hamilton Pool Preserve
One of the most beautiful and unique attractions Austin has is Hamilton Pool Preserve, located just a half an hour out of the city, in the gorgeous Hill Country. The historic swimming area and its surrounding grounds were designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner’s Court in 1990, and this idyllic, untainted spot is like an oasis, offering an accessible get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With 232 acres of nature preserve, the emphasis is on preservation of natural habitats, and environmental education, but the crown jewel is the pool and grotto.
Formed from the collapse of an underground river thousands of years ago, and the natural erosion since, Hamilton pool is a classic swimming hole, with the added spectacle of a fifty-foot waterfall. Hamilton Creek causes the spill, over limestone outcroppings, to create the waterfall, streaming down to the pool. One of the nicest naturally occurring benefits of Hamilton pool is that it is covered by a half dome-shaped ledge below the falls, providing cool shade for a refreshing dip. The pool leads into a brook that eventually feeds into the Pedernales River. Although the waterfall can deplete in times of drought, the water level of the pool stays fairly constant, making this a year-round destination in the warm environs of Central Texas. Water quality is gauged, and swimming is permitted only when the water quality meets safety standards. Updated information is posted at the entrance booth and provided on the park’s telephone recorder message (512-264-2740).
Nature lovers will appreciate the lush plant communities, the diversity of wildlife species, and the natural shelter that attracted the area’s first inhabitants over 8,000 years ago. The hike from the parking lot to the pool is about .5-miles round-trip; the hike along the creek from the pool to the river is about .75 miles, or for those who don’t stop to swim, 1.25 miles round-trip from the parking lot. A great variety of birds can be viewed, including the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and in addition to the juniper and oak savannah, and the variety of native grasses and wildflowers, several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay, and chatter box orchid have been spotted in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.
Because this is a preserve, care must be taken not to disturb the ecosystem unduly, and therefore, no pets are allowed. A maximum of 75 cars are admitted, and should the number of visitors exceed this amount, cars will be held at the gate, and as visitors leave, new ones will be admitted.
Although no camping is allowed, Hamilton Preserve is close enough to make a day trip easy, and offers enough to make return trips essential. Visitors are welcome to participate in nature study, picnicking and hiking their many trails, and groups can inquire about naturalist-led programs on environmental education and nature study.
Ki helps investors looking for properties in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site provides a free graphical search of the Austin MLS along with market updates on his blog about Austin real estate.
Save Trees – Use Paper: The Facts
Thrown away or ripped up a piece of paper lately? Printed or photocopied one too many copies? Had some snide and smug colleague say “you’re killing the rainforest!” Thought that they might be right and you should stop using so much paper and maybe buy a Sting album. Well, don’t. Both of them are nonsense.
There is of course an element of truth in the above remark, in the same way that if you stop breathing then there will be (slightly) more air to go around. The basis of this greatly over-used maxim really treats that trees are cut down to make paper, which is correct, for a given value of both “trees” and “correct.”
Paper, in its many guises, from that which you might reach for to blow your nose on when you have a cold, to your daily newspaper, the vast and varied wallpaper available at your local B & Q, to the cardboard box that your new 42 inch plasma screen HD ready television arrived in, to the microwaveable box that holds your oven ready evening meal that you have to partake of because you spent so long reading the instructions that came with the new TV, that you haven’t time to cook any more.
Paper is all around us, and in everyday use, sometimes without realising it (what do you think of the woodgrain effect on your office desk or laminated flooring? It’s printed on paper which is then bonded to a wood substitute to look like the real thing) or simply taken for granted. Virtually all paper is made from naturally occurring cellulose fibres (linear polysaccharide of beta (1-4) linked D-glucose units, typified by the chemical symbol C6H10O5 -n for the scientifically minded) and the greatest source of this material around the globe is naturally occurring wood, i.e. trees. Oh dear, already some readers are beginning to get steamed-up with images in their minds of the destruction of the tropical rain forest, but please, stay with me.
The second most important source of theses cellulose fibres is recycled waste paper and board, which can be anything from yesterdays newspapers (no longer permitted for the wrapping of fish and chips) and that cardboard box that your 42inch plasma T.V. came in. Also there are the trade waste sources of recyclable paper and board, e.g. waste from printing companies, over-issue newspapers and magazines; plus there’s the endless barrage of junk mail that daily falls through you letterbox, which you put to one side for recycling, along with your empty wine bottles, baked bean cans and lager cans (aluminium).
There are many other naturally occurring sources of cellulose fibre across the globe, but their usage is dependant on locality, end-product, and guaranteed availability. So for the sake of this article, let us go back to the most general source, wood, or better yet, trees. Trees grow on virtually every continent on Earth (except Antarctica), and are of many and varied types. Of course, in The West, if you are doing one of those word association tests and the psychiatrist says “tree” you might think of a majestic Oak, or a Horse Chestnut, or a Willow dangling its branches into the slowly drifting, crystal-clear waters of a country stream. Maybe even a pine tree, the Larch, the mighty Scots Pine.
If however your inquisitor was to say “tree for making paper” in our metaphorical word association test, your mind will conjure-up those images of huge bulldozers ripping trees from the tropical forest, to the sound of huge chain-saws and their horrid rise and fall burring, drowning-out the shrieks of the displaced Gibbons and Orang-Utans, basically, the rape of Sumatra (ten years ago it would have been Amazonia but the focus has shifted though the problem in South America remains and, if anything, has worsened)
As far as making paper and board are concerned, the vast majority of trees ripped from the tropical rain forest are of little or no use for papermaking. They are hardwoods, harder even than Birch, Beech, even Eucalyptus, which (along with a few others) are what papermakers think of as hard woods. Tropical hardwoods, such as Mahogany, Walnut, Teak, Ipe, etc. are too hard, and can be up to 120 years old in those visions you have in mind, and to get that old they have grown relatively slowly and their cellulose fibres are short and very densely packed, which is what makes them hard woods. This is ideal for furniture, wall panelling, real wooden parquet floors, and many other uses where quite often a non-tropical hardwood timber would do just as well, but hey, these tropical forest trees are just there, waiting to be ripped out of the ground or hacked down, anyway.
Trees used in papermaking are from the temperate regions of the globe, though there are pine and eucalyptus plantations in South America where once stood tropical rain forest, but it was destroyed for timber, or farming land for cattle rearing (so where did you think your Fray Bentos corned beef came from? Fray Bentos is a place, not just another trade name) or cash crops, all of which failed after a year or two because the soil is basically so poor (think of the roots of tropical trees that are so near the surface and spread over such a vast area), the rains came and washed away what little soil there was, and areas the size of Wales (slightly bigger than Whales) each year looked like turning into desert.
Then some Sylviculturalists (Tree Scientists) came along and said “Why don’t we plant trees there that we can use, crop within just ten years or so, replant, and crop again, and so on?” That way the soil gets enriched, we get trees for timber and papermaking, and a degree of habitat restoration is achieved. Plus, for every so many farmed trees that have a relatively short cropping cycle, we will also plant X many tropical hardwood trees, and even create ‘islands’ of such trees and ‘tree highways’ between them so the wildlife can resettle. And this is the funny part, these tree lovers were not from WWF, Friends of the Earth, or Greenpeace (they were all too busy wringing their hands and weeping bitter tears rather than putting forward recovery plans), these radical scientists were from pulp and paper companies!
It worked too. Aside from the illegal logging that still goes on regardless in South America, dependant on whether the country in question is run by a questionable government, or whether or not the native Indians have shot the loggers first, aside from that, ‘tree farming’, inspected, approved and labelled by people like FSC, PEFC or SFI, is an environmentally and financially rewarding enterprise in South America.
In the Far East (Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo et al) the destruction of the rain forest and all the unbearable habitat and environmental problems that it brings, has nothing to do with the pulp and paper industry, although there is a question mark over that word ‘nothing.’ Asia has a burgeoning population, a growing economy, and a huge demand for paper products. While most pulp and paper companies from that part of the World do not commission the felling of tropical forest, they do buy the wood from so-called middle-men, and thus they can be said to have “sap on their hands” if not blood.
We in The West, though, are equally to blame because we continue to buy paper and goods made from paper and board that originates in these places (especially Indonesia), and, thinking back to the cattle ranches that replaced the Amazon Rainforest, look for something called Palm Oil in the ingredients/contents of the products you buy each week at your local supermarket. Much of the areas denuded of tropical (hardwood) rainforest are being replanted with relatively fast growing palm trees, for the sake of the oil that is extracted from the fruit.
So next time someone tells you you’re killing trees when you hurl a crumpled piece of paper in the bin you can stop worrying and just ensure that you only buy paper and paper products (and likewise timber and timber products) that carry the FSC, PEFC, or SFI logos. Oh, and leave the Sting albums alone.
Patrick is an expert researcher and travel consultant currently researching Airport Parking
Outdoor Fun In Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, is known for a lot of things. It’s the Live Music Capital of the World, the home of the UT Longhorns, and the capitol seat of the Lone Star State. To those who live and play here full time, it’s also widely regarded as one of the most active cities in the country. From hiking and biking to swimming, boating or just soaking up the hot Texas sunshine, Austin offers residents and visitors alike a seemingly endless array of options for fun in the sun. Here are just a few to get you started:
Lady Bird Lake
Formerly called Town Lake, this man-made lake in the heart of downtown Austin is a Mecca for the city’s outdoor enthusiasts. The rowing dock rents canoes, paddle boats and kayaks out by the hour, and the temperate lake waters provide a welcome respite from the mid-day heat. If boating isn’t your thing, check out the Hike and Bike Trail, which circles the lake in a three-to-four mile loop (depending on the route you choose). Day and night, all year long, you’ll see Austinites of all ages and fitness levels working their way around the trail–pushing baby strollers, walking their dogs, or just catching up with friends.
Zilker Park
A stone’s throw from Lady Bird Lake lies one of the nation’s largest inner-city parks–at 351 acres, Zilker Park is Austin’s grassy playground, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, and even a miniature train, the Zilker Zephyr. The park offers several cultural attractions as well, including the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Austin Nature and Science Center not to mention the famous Austin City Limits music festival each September. What started as a 35-acre deed in 1918 has evolved into one of the true treasures of Austin. Regardless of the time of year, visitors to Zilker Park will likely see lively soccer, kickball and ultimate frisbee games, colorful kites flying, and drowsy folks napping under shade trees.
The Veloway
If cycling or skating is your activity of choice, The Veloway is one Austin attraction you won’t want to miss. Off-limits to runners or cars, this 3.1 mile loop of paved, winding road through South Austin’s hill country provides a safe haven for cyclists and skaters alike.
Barton Springs Pool
Austin boasts a wealth of lakes, rivers and swimming holes, but none is quite as beloved and well known as Barton Springs Pool. Surrounded by Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool is a spring-fed, 900-foot oasis in the hot summer sun. The chilly, 68 degree water is a cherished refuge from the 100-plus degree heat June through September, but the pool is open year-round. In addition to man-made aspects like diving boards, Barton Springs Pool is perhaps most famous for its natural rock bottom. While entrance to the pool costs about $3 per person during the day, you can swim for free after 9:00 p.m. highlight of many Austinites’ summer evenings.
Everyone knows Austin is a great place to let loose after hours and dance the night away, but locals know the city offers residents and visitors alike just as many options for daytime diversions. No matter what kind of outdoor activity strikes your fancy, Austin truly offers something for everyone.
Ki is a realtor / broker in Austin Texas. His site has a search of of the Austin MLS along with information about Austin Homes and neighborhoods. He also provides updated statistics on his blog covering Austin Texas real estate.
Environment Friendly Snowboards For 2009 Ski Season
Ski resorts world-wide have been actively participating in recycling and composting projects since as early as 2001.
Most resorts are now using 100 percent recyclable materials throughout day-to-day operations. Resort restaurants are using environment friendly utensils and carry-out containers and composting food scraps with wood shavings to use in landscaping throughout the resort.
Some resorts are passing their recycling and composting knowledge to their guests. Several also take a one dollar donation from guests to donate to organizations dedicated to helping the environment.
Bob Candler, snowboard rider and inventor, has gone further in his attempts to help the environment. Candler has spent the last 15 years designing the world’s first fully recyclable snowboard: the Makboard.
‘Taking care of our planet is something that should be important to all riders,’ Candler said. ‘I created a board that, instead of ending up in a landfill, could be melted down and reshaped into another snowboard when its life is over.’
‘Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is keep these things from ending up as pollution,’ Candler said. ‘As snowboarders, we’ve got to be on the front lines doing all we can to protect what we all love: the mountains, the environment and everything that makes snowboarding so much fun.’
With the combined efforts of ski resorts and skiers like Mr. Candler, our resorts and mountains will be much nicer places to spend free time.
Many ski shops also recycle ski and snowboard equipment by taking in trades and selling used equipment for a fraction of the cost of new equipment. Recycling older ski or snowboard equipment offers someone else the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard at discounted prices.
The number of snowboarders in North America is starting to catch the number of skiers. Many of the world’s leading ski resorts welcome higher numbers of snowboarders year after year. Resorts that offer ski lessons are starting to include snowboard lessons for beginners and intermediate snowboarders as well. Snowboard rentals are readily available in the ski rental area of most resorts.
Associations like the United States of America Snowboard Association and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association promote snowboarding competitions throughout the ski season.
Competitions include events like Rail Jam, Boardercross, Slalom and Giant Slalom. Competitors are divided into age categories and range in age from under 7 years to 22 years.
In the years to come, skiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts will benefit from the recycling efforts put forth by resorts and fellow skiers alike.
Skiing families will learn more about recycling and protecting the environment. They will take that knowledge with them throughout other aspects of life.
Their children will teach other children how to recycle and reuse items they may normally throw away.
Small efforts by a lot of people can help make a difference in our national forests and mountains. Helping in the recycling efforts will ultimately lead to cleaner, safer environments for families to enjoy.
Information for the 2008/9 ski season for both Andorra and France can be found at yourandorra.com and includes both the capital Andorra la Vella and the top ski resorts in the parish of La Massana including a section for Andorra property
How To Live The Green Life
As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet, people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations. Green living involves every aspect of our daily lives – from driving to work to mowing our lawns.
Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from implementing those earth-friendly changes. However, there are many ways to ease into this practice and help save the environment.
Air pollution is a major problem in many cities. Massive amounts of pollutant have been generated by factories, but that is not the only avenue contributing to global warming. Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutants into the air as well.
When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you are multiplying the amount of pollutants being emitted by each car that is destroying our ozone. If you want to save the environment, you can start by either carpooling, walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that do not contribute much damage.
This small change can bring much relief for the environment for future generations. There are many ways to adapt green living into your life by taking a look at your home. What kind of light bulbs are you using?
The standard bulbs we use contribute to higher electricity bills and higher levels of carbon dioxide. If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save the environment and at the same time save on your electric bill.
Make sure to seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep any cold drafts from blowing into the house, which can cost you more money. Make sure the house is well insulated to help cut down on those costs in the wintertime. The less the furnace or heater has to run, the better off everyone will be.
Take a look at your appliances. Are they devouring too much energy? If they are older models, the answer is probably yes. While some of the changes are in the appliances that you use, other ways to go green involve your own habits and actions.
Do you open the oven door several times to check and see if something is done? The harder an appliance has to work, the harder it is on the environment. If you keep opening the oven door, the temperature will drop almost 25 degrees. It will then have to work harder to get back to the original temperature.
Recycling is an excellent way to save our environment. Try buying products that can be recycled and avoid the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam cups. The less trash that has to be burned – or buried into our soil – the better off our planet will be.
These small changes may seem like they are not able to help much for the environment, but in reality they can help tremendously. Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Get involved with the environment and start to make a difference in the practice of green living for our earth.
Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal access to education,health and jobs to all.Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a multi-million dollar advertising company.Paul can be reached at – EarlyPlanet.com
The Hidden/Green City
Canopy. That’s a great word and a comforting thought when shade is what you need on a hot day. When it’s canopy provided by trees, the word and the comfort loom refreshingly larger in the mind of any summer sun-smitten shade seeker. No man made shade offers quite the appeal of the dark and dappled shade of a live oak tree on a sun-baked lawn.
Austin has a rich urban canopy and, although trees can cause problems with utility lines above ground and roots that break sewer and water lines below, their benefit to the community is undisputable. There are more than 100 species of Hill Country trees and they provide a satisfying and soothing aesthetic component to the urban landscape-basically by hiding it! They also provide significant savings to the city and its residents by reducing air pollution and storm water runoff and by saving electricity by shading homes and businesses which consequently use less power for cooling.
Austin’s urban forest and hilly terrain work together to provide city dwellers with a feeling that they are never far from the country. Many home and business owners in the city incorporate these environmental features into the design of their dwellings and buildings to preserve and accentuate the illusion of an out-of-city experience. Of course, the increased seclusion, privacy and noise reduction afforded by such natural barriers are far from illusory, and provide welcome relief from the expanses of concrete and asphalt that assail the senses in most other cities in Texas and, indeed, in some parts of Austin itself.
The thick woods, green hills and spring-fed streams that grace the area have attracted people to the area since way before the arrival of Europeans and their descendants. For hundreds of years, nomadic indigenous tribes such as the Tonkawa, Comanche and Kiowa Apaches visited the area, attracted by plentiful water, abundant game and reliable campsites along the creeks and streams. It’s easy to imagine that these people also appreciated the shade of the thickly forested hills.
The first European/American settlers founded a series of small towns along the banks of the Colorado River here. One was called Waterloo. Mirabeau B. Lamar, one of the presidents of the Republic of Texas discovered the area during a buffalo hunt and was so impressed by its beauty and its resources that he decided it should become the capital of the new republic. Despite stiff opposition from many people, including Sam Houston, Lamar prevailed and renamed Waterloo Austin, after Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas.
That beauty and those resources have attracted people to Austin ever since and have inspired its residents to preserve it so that it can continue to be enjoyed. The city has more than 16,000 acres of parkland in more than 200 parks, 12 preserves and 26 greenbelts. The Town Lake Corridor offers hiking and biking trails that draw thousands of residents daily to enjoy the natural beauty that the setting along the river bank affords.
Zilker park is another hugely popular green area that attracts tens of thousands of visitors, especially those who come in the summer to escape the heat in the ice cold waters of the Barton Springs pool.
The trees preserved in this extensive park system and in the older neighborhoods of Austin are important to the quality of life that this city has been recognized and honored for. As the city and private groups and foundations continue to support the preservation of old trees and the planting of new ones, its urban canopy will continue to grow and provide shade for generations to come.
Escapeso Realty operates in the Austin real estate market. Their site provides information about current mortgage interest rates along with a free search of the Austin MLS.
Zilker Park in Austin
During Austin’s warm spring and summer months, Zilker park puts on a wide array of activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Every year in March, the Zilker Kite Festival is held, bringing thousands of spectators with almost an equal number of kites, to the park. In 2008, the Zilker Kite Festival celebrated its 80th anniversary. The Exchange Club of Austin began the Zilker Kite Festival in 1929 as a way to promote creativity among Austin’s children. Today, while promoting family time, the Exchange Club of Austin also raises money through t-shirts sales and concessions as a fundraising measure to split among charities preventing child abuse and dolling out college scholarships.
The Zilker Kite Festival is free to the public, and anyone can join in the kite competition, which has a variety of categories like highest flying, most unusual, and strongest pulling. The only stipulation is the kite must be handmade. For those without kite making abilities, bringing a premade kite is acceptable, but one can also learn to make a kite at the kite making workshop.
Built on a sloping hill across from Barton Springs pool is the Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater. Since 1959, Broadway musicals have been entertaining Austinites on warm summer nights, and the Zilker Summer Musical is now the longest running outdoor “pay-what-you-want” production in the U.S. Run by Zilker Theater Productions, the Zilker Summer Musical brings in about 40,000 audience members every year. The organization also hosts performances by the Austin Symphony and the Austin Civic Orchestra on their hillside theater, where spectators can spread out blankets, bring a picnic, and enjoy the show while being surrounded by 100 year old pecan trees.
The 4th of July will bring over 100,000 spectators to the park who will find a spot for their family along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The Austin Symphony Orchestra, which plans and produces the entire event, will set up and play from the new Long Center for the Performing Arts. The orchestra runs through a variety of patriotic songs, and during the 1812 Overture, cannon shots punctuate the music, and cue the fireworks to begin.
Blues on the Green is held at the huge outcropping of rock in the middle of Zilker park known as Rock Island. Another free event, Blues on the Green brings local acts to Austin’s music loving crowd, with genres ranging from pop to bluegrass, and country to blues (obviously).
Across the park from the Rock Island is the Zilker Botanical Garden. At the end of March, the Garden put on their 51st Annual Zilker Garden Festival. The festival brings in over 100 vendors from around the area selling a wide variety of plants, herbs, and garden related items. The Garden Council, which is made of 39 different clubs, runs the garden and recently teamed up with ACL Festival promoters C3, who brought in 12 different musical acts to entertain the garden shoppers. Throughout the summer months, the Zilker Botanical Garden will host many other events and seminars such as the Cactus and Succulent show, and Basics on How to Build a Pond.
Though Austin in the summer can be a taxing time to be outside, Zilker park has several reasons to get out and enjoy its wide open spaces.
Ki is a Austin realtor that helps buyers and sellers looking for Austin real estate. His site provides information on mortgage interest rates and a free search of the Austin MLS.
Cool Parks in Austin
There is no shortage of beautiful scenery and greenbelts in the Austin area, where there seems to be a walking trail around every corner, and a park around every bend. One of the more unusual of these is Champion Park in Round Rock. It has a little of everything, from a kid-approved playground to a scenic trail by the creek. It’s a great place to spend a Saturday or a weekday afternoon. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen, snacks and drinks because you’ll want to stay all day. Of course, a few extras like towels, sand shovels and buckets will come in handy, too.
The park is an immense 33 acres. With plenty of open space, it’s the perfect place to play a game of catch or tag, and then, if the weather is hot enough, to meander over to the play area where sprinklers shaped like whales spout cool water into the sky. When you cool down enough, you can head over to the rock climbing area for an invigorating romp on specially designed boulders, or the sandpit where concrete casts of massive dinosaur bones lay waiting for discovery. You can dig, build and bury in this huge covered sandpit for hours and never get enough. There’s plenty of shade, and don’t forget the nearby sprinklers, so a summer day will never get too hot.
The Brushy Creek Regional Trail passes right by the park, and the creek itself is only a few feet away, bringing with it a glimpse of nature right up close, and making this area both relaxing and scenic. A bridge across Brushy Creek connects to a fishing area for those who want to try their hand at catching lunch. For everyone else, there are many great places to have picnics and the park sports two pavilions with grills that can be rented separately or together.
After a nature hike down the beautiful Brushy Creek Trail, a hard day of digging and excavating in the sand, and hours of refreshing fun in the sprinklers, what more could you want? Restroom facilities a very important factor when considering an outdoor outing and free, available parking. With these final elements, the park is complete and a perfect place for your family to spend the day. Champion Park is located at 3900 Brushy Creek Road in Round Rock and is open from 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Admission is free, so come early and stay long.
Ki helps buyers interested in Austin real estate. His site provides information about mortgage interest rates along with updated market stats on his Austin real estate blog.