What is the Outdoor Guide?
The Outdoor Guide is a searchable data base containing well over 500 places to enjoy outdoor recreational activities in the Texas Hill Country.
Do I have to login before I can use the site?
No. You will have to login if you want to register some comments about any of the destination sites on our database or if you want to post comments on the forum.
What activities are covered in the Outdoor Guide?
Camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming, kayaking, tubing, horseback riding, birding, caving, driving, nature and wildflower viewing, imbibing, vineyard and winery tours, and a few more outdoor activities. Go to the activities pull down up in the banner at the top of this page for a complete list.
Are cabins and RV sites available on the website?
We have provided very brief summaries for nearly 500 cabins, cottages, bed and breakfasts, inns and lodges. The information for those locations is not nearly as detailed as the information for other destinations because the focal point of the website is outdoor recreation sites. You most assuredly will have to go to the websites for the lodgings to get additional information, but we have weeded out the chain hotels, motels and other similar businesses, which should save you a whole lot of time when you are searching for a place to stay. If a RV site allows tent camping, they typically will be listed.
What search options are available?
You can run an activity search or a keyword search. If for example you want to know which places offer camping, swimming or kayaking activities it is always best to run an activity search. Alternatively, if you are wanting to find information about a place such as the Guadalupe River or Bigfoot Canoes or the Castell General Store, it is best to run a keyword search.
How do I run an activity search?
Click on to Search Tips for search information.
How do I run a keyword search?
Click on to Search Tips for search information.
What happens if I select an activity from the pull down menu and enter a word in the keyword search field and then search for results?
What will happen is that you probably will be frustrated with the results the first couple of times you try this advanced search. Until you become familiar with the system it probably is better to run either an activity search or a keyword search, but not both together, which is the advanced search.
To give you a more direct answer to the question, if you select an activity and enter a keyword and then run a search, the search results will be only those places that mention both the activity AND the keyword. The search functionality is conjunctive in nature so that the use of multiple activities or keywords will decrease the number of sites on the search result page rather than increase the number, dig?
What is the easiest way to determine whether I have selected any of the activities in the activities search field?
When you select an activity a code will appear in the activities field. For example if you put a check next to Camping in the pull down menu a CM will appear in the activities field. That way all you have to do is to look at the activities field to determine which activities, if any, are going to be part of your next search query.
When I put a check in an activity box what does it mean when a line appears through one or more of the other activities?
That means there is no recreation site on our database that offers both the activity you checked, and the one with a line appearing through it.
How do I filter an activity search?
There are two ways to filter an activity search. First, select two or more activities. The search results will be those recreational sites that offer ALL the selected activities.
Second, select a mileage amount and a city from the pull downs. That will put a geographic limitation on the search results. This is one of the most useful features of the website. Use it as often as you can to run a search.
How do I filter a keyword search?
There are three ways. First, enter two or more keywords. The search results will be those descriptions of individual recreation sites that mention ALL of the words you entered.
Second, enter a keyword and select an activity. The search results will be those descriptions of individual recreation sites that mention both the keyword and the selected activity.
Third, enter a keyword and then select a mileage and a city from the pulldown menus in the activity search field. Do not select an activity. The search results will be those descriptions of individual recreation sites that mention the keyword and that are located within the geographic limitations you selected.
Why is it that the drop down menu for the activities appears whenever the cursor rolls over that search field?
We did that to annoy you. Simmer down. We did that to remind you that this website has been designed primarily to run activity searches. By now you probably have realized that all you have to do to make the drop down menu disappear is to take the cursor off of it.
What should I do if I come up with 0 search results?
At times using colorful language might bring about some amount of short-term relief, but we recommend the following. If you get 0 search results there will be some tips on the bottom of the search results page for you to consider before running the next search. The vast majority of times following those suggestions should get you some search results. Under those suggestions is a link to more search tips that could be useful as well.
What are the two most important things to remember about running searches?
First, any time you click on a box next to an activity in the activities pull down menu that activity will be part of ALL subsequent search queries, including keyword searches, until you click on the box again to remove the check.
Therefore, if you want to run only a keyword search you have to make sure there are no checks next to the activities in the activities pull down menu.
Second, if you select multiple activities or multiple keywords the search results will be only those individual places that offer ALL of the selected activities or the descriptions that mention ALL of the selected keywords as the case may be.
There is no way to search for either one or the other of the keywords or activities because we designed the search function to be conjunctive in nature, which allows you to filter results.
What is the quickest way to clear the search fields?
The quickest way to clear the search fields is to click on to the logo up in the banner.
How do I access information about individual destination sites once I have run a search?
When you run a search you will be directed to a search results page. There will be a listing of ten results per page. Simply click on to any of the listed destination sites and that will take you to the site description page where you will find lots of useful information.
What are the codes found along with the names of destinations on the search results page?
Those codes identify the activities found at the destination sites.
BG -- beer garden
BRD -- birding
BR -- boat ramp
CM -- camping
CAV -- caving
F -- fishing
HT -- hiking trail
EQ -- horseback riding
KT -- kayak trails
L -- Cabins and other Lodgings
LAV -- lavender farms
MISC -- miscellaneous
MB -- mountain bking
PF -- pet friendly
RC -- rock climbing
RO -- river outfitters
SD -- scenic drive
S -- swimming
TU -- tube rental services
V/W -- vineyards/wineries
WLD -- wildlife/wildflower viewing
When I run a search what information is found on a site description page in the search results?
To the extent available, you will be provided with the name, address, e-mail link, website link, a map of the general location, driving directions to the destination, and our description of the activities available at and nearby the site. There will also be a place where you can submit comments. Finally, you can click on to the places that are underlined in the site descriptions and that will give you more information about those places.
How are distances calculated from a city selected in the activities search pull down menu to the destination sites that come up in the search results page?
Distances are an approximation based on the zip code of the destination site and the zip code of the city selected in the pull down menu. Don't think for a minute that these distances are anything other than a general estimate of the actual distance you will need to travel.
We decided to use zip codes because many of the destination sites on our website do not have physical addresses. If you want more accurate information for the destinations that have a physical address, you will have to use Mapquest or some similar service.
In any event, by designing the system to express distances based on zip codes you will be able to filter your search results even though the actual distances between the departure point and the destination point will not be entirely accurate.
What information is contained in the Summaries of Activities section on the home page?
That section features an introduction regarding the primary activities included in our website. To access the information, just click on a link that interests you. Those introductory remarks will give you general information regarding the selected activity and some tips that might come in handy.
What is the browse link appearing in the upper portion of the page when I select an activity in the Summaries of Activities section?
When you select a topic you will be directed to a page that has narrative remarks below, and there will be a link in the upper part of the page. If you click on to that browse link, you will be directed to an alpha list of all the destinations on the Outdoor Guide website that offer the activity.
Is there a way to check on the weather and water levels in the Hill Country?
Of course there is or otherwise we would not have included this question. Go to the "Weather" button up in the banner and that will provide you links to several sites where you can obtain information regarding weather forecasts and water conditions.
Where can I find information about outdoor clubs?
Go to the "Links" button up in the banner and when you get to the links page scroll down until you see a listing of outdoor clubs.
How can I tell whether I will be allowed to bring my dogs to the destination sites?
We have included information regarding those places where there is a high likelihood that they are pet friendly. However, we do not have that information for every site so there most certainly will be other places that are pet friendly as well. The problem is that pet policies often change so we strongly urge you to call or email the site where you are considering going for a visit and ask them whether pets are allowed.
What outdoor activties are not covered in the Outdoor Guide?
Given the limited amount of resources available to us we have not included information regarding hunting, golf courses, boat rentals, water parks, moto x trails, or any of the "field sports" such as softball or football fields.