The young and the young at heart that are fond of wildlife, swimming, and the countryside will find a stay at the Frio River relaxing and rewarding. Since I was four years old, a visit to the Rio Frio was always a vacation I looked forward to.Tourists come from every state and should take a turn kayaking, paddling, and tubing down the river for a refreshing vacation. You cannot have a nice getaway without a place to stay, so the first place I would take visitors would be the one that I believe is the best, the Frio River Cabins located in Leaky, Texas. Not-so-coincidentally, these cabins happen to be owned by my Uncle Don and Aunt Lisa. Although the amount of people that can fit in one cabin varies, these comfy river frontage cabins range in sizes and were even noted in “Texas Monthly” magazine.
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After settling into your cabin, it would be best to head to the main attraction—the Frio River itself! The Frio River, meaning “Cold River” in Spanish, is 200 miles long and characterized by cold clear water, easy navigation, and beautiful scenery. People visit the Frio River at all times of the year. The most ideal time to swim, however, is in the heat of the summer when a splash in the “frio” river seems all-the-more enticing. If you have spent a couple days on the river just splashing around and would like to shake up your Frio Rio experience, inner tubing is my favorite option! You can float down the river at ease for more than an hour; the currents pushing you swiftly along.
With its diversity of wildlife, atmosphere, and activities, it is easy to spend seven days solely navigating the river. But for those who wish experience all that Leaky and its surrounding areas have to offer, a stop at Garner State Park, Lost Maples, the Devil’s Sinkhole, or the Rio Frio Landmark Oak Tree wouldn’t hurt! Garner State Park is only a mile away from Leaky and is equipped with caves for exploring, its own portion of the Rio Frio for swimming, wildlife for viewing, eleven miles of trails for hiking, and nightly dances all throughout the summer months. The abundance of the bigtooth maples and other trees in Lost Maples create captivating hues of leaves in the fall. Although you cannot see all the way down Devil’s Sinkhole, it is certainly possible to get a good look at its inhabitants–thousands of bats. The historical Landmark Oak Tree is about six miles out of Leaky and is a living piece of history that dates back as far as 1865.
Visiting the Frio River is more than just an everyday travelling experience. Not only is there an amazing river, but there is the mystique of a quaint country town where time ceases to exist. Having gone there near annually, I have learned from experience that the Frio River never gets dull. Make your next country trip to the Texas Hill Country and you won’t regret it!
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