Lake Travis is an extremely popular destination for Austinites looking to get away for some R&R on the weekend; so popular, in fact, it’s often difficult to navigate around all the party barges and ski boats that descend on the lake during the summer months.

Beware (or seek out) Devil’s Cove, in particular. Sailors, parasailers, windsurfers, fishers, scuba divers, jet skiers, and partiers occupy most of the space, and when things are hoppin’ on the lake, it’s quite a spectacle to behold.

One of the busiest places is Volente Beach (16107 FM 2769, 512/258-5109, www.volentebeach.com, $15–20), offering sandy shores (as opposed to the lake’s typical limestone banks) along with water slides, a swimming pool, volleyball courts, and a restaurant.

Lake Travis boasts 18 parks, eight marinas, more than a dozen restaurants, several nature preserves, and a variety of fishing and sporting goods businesses providing boat and equipment rental. For more information about these services and a comprehensive listing of upcoming lake events visit www.laketravis.com.