#2 of 12 Outdoor Activities in San Marcos

Boat Tours

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The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5

325 reviews

Excellent

202

Very good

91

Average

24

Poor

4

Terrible

4

volcanogirl

Texas14,165 contributions

Glass Bottom Boat Tour and Nice Trails

May 2022

What a beautiful transformation from the days when this was an amusement park. The area is lush and green, full of wildlife, and the water is crystal clear. We took the glass bottom boat tour; they last 30 minutes and are offered every half hour. We were able to walk right up without making a reservation. Parking was available for three dollars. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable; she pointed out several animals including cormorants, herons, a snake, various species of fish and turtles, and also patiently answered questions from one of the curious children on board. The water is a pretty shade of blue and so clear that we could see all the way to the bottom where bubbles were coming up from the natural spring that feeds the lake. After the boat tour, we did the Wetlands Walk along the boardwalk and saw a huge beaver dam - something we had never seen before. There are some nice trails here and lots of wildflowers in bloom. There's also a free discovery center with a small aquarium. We enjoyed seeing the fossils on display and going up to the rooftop to enjoy the beautiful view. We had a great time and appreciate everything the university has done to preserve the natural beauty of this place.

Written May 21, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

iowacityia

iowa city, ia1,612 contributions

Thursday, January 19th visit.

Jan 2023

3 of us arrived around 1pm. A beautiful day, we got tickets for the 1:30pm glass bottom boat tour around Spring Lake. Our boat captain was wonderful. Along with the 3 of us, 2 other people joined this tour. I believe the tour was around 45 minutes long. And it worked great to look through the glass bottom to see the fish, turtles, and aquatic vegetation. Our captain did a great job explaining everything while we were able to look down in the water, and the area around the boat. We had a great time. The cost was inexpensive too. After the boat ride we walked the trails by the boat launch area, and part of the lake. Very nice. We also walked over to Discovery Hall to visit the small museum, then take the elevator up to the Spring Lake Hall rooftop to get an overview of the area. Fun. It was well worth our time and money for this fun adventure. And I would certainly return.

Written February 8, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Robert M

Austin, TX460 contributions

Lots of great activities here to pursue

Dec 2022

The Meadows Center is a great place to visit with many opportunities. The facilities can sometimes be over loved and it's been a while since the school has reinvested much of the proceeds, but it's definitely worth some time. Great viewing of the outdoors, birding, etc. The glass bottom boats are always cool when folks visit (and they are open). The Nature Center is of some interest to small kids. And, almost every weekend the local dive shops use the springs for their open water certifications. Overall an enjoyable visit.

Written December 20, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

SYinPearland

Pearland, TX105 contributions

Memories of the original park

May 2022

The glass bottom boat tour was excellent. The guide explained the different types of vegetation, fish and environmental features of the area. She was too young to remember the original location as an amusement park with underwater mermaids dancing to music and the pig that was also part of the show. I was one of the attendees at the original venue.

Written May 11, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

LaTiffany S

Longview, TX72 contributions

Beauty meets history

Jan 2020 • Family

I came to San Marcos to visit my daughter, who is a student at Texas State, and she suggested that my son and I take the glass boat tour. The tour was 30 minutes on this beautiful, clear lake, where we learned a lot about the history of it and San Marcos, and saw turtles, fish, gars, springs and etc., It was a really nice adventure that didn't cost a lot.

Written January 19, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Seven7777

Louisiana1,086 contributions

Glass Bottom Boat Tour is a MUST

Jul 2022 • Family

We did the glass bottom boat tour and it was amazing. The water in the lake is crystal clear. You can see every turtle, every fish. It was like magic. They have a small aquarium inside that accompanies it. My only complaint is that the boat needs fans. It was 127 degrees in that boat. I thought I was going to die.

Written July 13, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

CarolynT47

Corsicana, TX9 contributions

Glass bottom boat tour

Apr 2021 • Family

I went on the glass bottom boat tour of Spring Lake. James was the tour guide/boat operator. He is a student @ Texas State and he explained so much about Spring Lake, history, environmental impact etc.
I was amazed about all the facts of this lake & the importance of it. The water is crystal clear & we observed many species of fish & turtles & abundant plant life

Written April 5, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

TravelingGranny3

Wisconsin72 contributions

Good activity

Dec 2021

This was an enjoyable family experience. The water is so clear, there were a lot of fish and turtles and underwater springs to keep all entertained. It was a bit hard to hear the guide over the talk of all the other passengers, some of whom were quite young and vocal. A microphone/speaker system would be helpful. Overall, a good experience. Be prepared to pay for parking in the University lot.

Written January 11, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

houstonnative47

Missouri City, TX1,110 contributions

Boat trip down memory lane

Feb 2020

While passing through the area, we just had to stop by the old Aquarena Springs that we had visited in the 1970's. We rode a glass bottom boat around the spring fed lake of crystal clear water while seeing the springs below as well as fish, turtles and greenery. The college aged guide was informative and added a bit of fun to the trip. We enjoyed our trip and tried to picture the area that was the first amusement park in Texas. However we missed the mermaids and Ralph the swimming pig!
After the boat ride we walked over to the old hotel which is now an aquarium and offices for the water research center.

Written March 4, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

TravelEatXplore

Boston, MA5,208 contributions

Nice boat tour and wetland trails

Jun 2022 • Friends

Give it a 3.5 stars. The Meadows Center tour was a nice quick tour for locals and tourists to lead about the Springs and histories of the area. It's run by students. It's about 10 dollars fee boat tour. The fee included the wetland trails and small museum too. The water is really clear and you can see the animals, plants and bottom of the water. You can't swim though, but well worth it.