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Guide to Outdoor Recreation: Kyle, Texas

It may still be the dead of winter and pretty chilly out, but that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck inside all the time, particularly on those days when the sun does decide to show itself. 

 

If you want to enjoy a little more outdoor recreation in 2024, here are a few places around Kyle to start. 

 

Plum Creek Trail: One of the best ways to explore Kyle and enjoy nature is on the Plum Creek Trail. Lace up your sneakers and grab your bike if you prefer because this trail covers 7 miles and connects Lake Kyle, Cool Springs, Waterleaf, and Steeplechase. Stretching from the City of Uhland (on the east) to the Blanco River (on the west), the trail is an ideal way to get some exercise and be immersed in the natural beauty surrounding Plum Creek. 

 

Lake Kyle: The park is open from sunrise to sunset seven days a week and is a popular spot for birding and area anglers. While the lake is a catch-and-release-only site for fishing, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the fish in the lake aren’t worth casting a line. As the photos on the lake’s bragging board show, some real monsters are swimming in its waters. 

 

Currently, it’s being restocked with bluegill sunfish, red ear sunfish, catfish, and largemouth bass for the spring season.

 

Steeplechase Dog Park: If your pup is tired of being cooped up inside all winter, then grab the leash and head down to the city’s dog park at 135 Hallie Drive. The park opened in 2018 and has become quite the place to wag about among the city’s four-legged residents. 

 

The park is divided into two sections: a small dog area for dogs under 25 pounds and a large dog area for dogs weighing 25 pounds or more. Owners and their pets can enjoy it from dawn to dusk, and good behavior among dogs and humans is expected at all times. For a full list of dog park rules, please visit the parks’ webpage

 

Gregg-Clarke Park, the Sports Complex: You might just call Gregg-Clarke Park the heart of the city’s sports scene. With several multiuse fields and plenty of parking, the city’s sports complex offers a wide variety of sporting options, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, kickball, jogging, walking, ultimate frisbee, kite flying, tennis, basketball, washers, horseshoes. And while it’s too cold out now, swing by on Memorial Day weekend when the park’s pool opens for the summer. 

 

The park also offers a pedestrian bridge that allows for easy access to the playground, picnic tables, and grills for cooking out. In the warmer months, you may even be able to catch an outdoor movie on one of the park’s screens on select nights. 

 

While Kyle has no shortage of outdoor recreation options, one of the things that makes Crosswinds such an appealing place to call home is the range of outdoor amenities located within the community. From walking the trail system to playing a few games of basketball or pickleball to grilling out or taking a dip in the pool in the summer, residents don’t have to venture far for outdoor fun. 

If you’d like to learn more about Crosswinds, contact us today.

Categories
Area Attractions Blog Lifestyle Tips

Mindfulness + Relaxation

Stress isn’t always a bad thing, but too much stress can hurt a person’s well-being, and according to the American Psychological Association, we’re more stressed than ever. Here are a few things you can do to help with relaxation and mindfulness. 

 

Pick Up a Pen – Journaling is one of the oldest known ways to cope with life’s ups and downs. People have been picking up a pen to jot down their setbacks, frustrations, and triumphs for centuries, and it’s been shown to help with everything from managing depression to identifying negative behaviors and emotional triggers. 

 

Change Your Diet -. Not only is eating because you’re stressed harmful, but eating too many of the wrong kinds of food can take its toll on the body and mind. 

 

Too much alcohol, caffeine, sugar, or processed foods can put a strain on the body. However, foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins found in fruits, veggies, and nuts can help the body better manage daily stress. 

 

Make Some R&R Time – Most of us are busier than ever, but it’s still incredibly important that we make time for ourselves and social time to spend with others. This could be hitting up the batting cages, putting on some headphones and listening to your favorite music, or catching up with a friend over a cup of coffee. 

 

Try to set aside at least 30 minutes a day for yourself on a regular basis. 

 

Meditation – People have been using meditation to boost their mental health for thousands of years. In practice, meditation is paying attention to your breath as it goes in and out and taking notice when the mind wanders from this task. It’s been shown to not only help with lowering stress but improving focus as well. 

 

Start off slow, finding a quiet place and meditating for a couple of minutes at a time. 

 

Try a New Hobby – Picking up a new hobby is a great way to not only improve your focus and give your brain a workout but ward off stress as well. While some hobbies are going to be more relaxing than others (putting together a jigsaw puzzle vs. CrossFit), there’s an endless array to choose from. 

 

Volunteer – Volunteering is not only a great way to give back to your community but has a benefit to the volunteer as well. According to Susan Albers, PsyD, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic, “[Volunteering] has been shown to decrease stress levels, depression, anxiety and boost your overall health and satisfaction with life.”

 

From animal shelters to serving the needy, there are plenty of opportunities in Kyle to volunteer your time. 

 

Get More Exercise and Sleep – Two of the best ways to give your mental health a boost are exercise and a good night’s sleep. How much sleep a person needs can vary, but most people tend to need 6 to 9 hours. 

 

Whether it’s lifting weights at the gym, taking a dance class, or simply going for a stroll on a walking trail, regular exercise helps to reduce stress and increases mood-boosting dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. 

From the pool to the extensive trail system, the Crosswinds community has an array of amenities designed to help residents relax and enjoy life to the fullest. Contact our team to learn more about finding a home here.