Barton Springs--A Jewel of a Pool with Burgers and Treats

The Carful of Kids love the pool, they love a natural pool even better. It's been hot in Austin lately so we want to take a dip in the legendary Barton Springs Pool to cool off but first, the kids are hungry and I know a great place nearby.

We head to 1624 Barton Springs Road to an Austin original--Shady Grove. Nestled in a grove of pecan trees since 1992, it has become an Austin icon. It is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Queso makes everything better!

Shady Grove serves family-friendly fare for kids and adults and should not be missed. The carful of kids grab a small queso to start and follow-up with a round of burgers for the table, complete with fries and onion rings.

I have been on a burger quest lately and the Shady Grove Burger is a serious contender. With a juicy patty in-between sizable toasted buns with all the fixings like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles with the mustard and mayonnaise on the side--it's a mouthful and so worth it. The onion rings and french fries are cut on-site to accompany the burger perfectly.

The menu features classic dishes like Chicken Fried Steak, Frito Pies, Chili Dogs and for the vegetarians--a Hippie Sandwich along with a selection of salads and sandwiches. The best seating is outside and even on the hottest of days, it's pleasant with the shade of the pecan trees and abundant fans.

A Burger and a Beer with a side of Frings.

Barton Springs Pool (2201 Barton Springs Rd.) is located in the center of the Austin action in Zilker Park.  It is open year-round from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. is unguarded swim for the lap swimmers. Admission is charged from late April until October 31; the admission for adults is $ 4, juniors--ages 12 to 17 is $ 3, children under 12 is $ 2 and babies are free. It is closed on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for cleaning and during flash flood events.

Barton Springs Pool is three acres in size and fed by the Main Barton Springs; it's on the channel of Barton Creek. The water temperature ranges from 68F to 72F and the depth is anywhere from 0 to 18 feet. It has a more rustic feel than its neighbor 2.5 miles away Deep Eddy Pool.

The Indians of the area originally discovered Barton Springs, then Spanish explorers built a temporary mission nearby in the 17th century. It was named in 1837 by William Barton who settled and developed the area. The last private owner, Andrew Zilker gifted the area to the City of Austin.

Barton Springs Pool has lights for night swimming.

The City of Austin increased the size of the pool by damming the springs and building sidewalks during the 1920s. A bathhouse modeled after the Deep Eddy Pool Bathhouse, complete with a courtyard, was built in the 1940s.

Barton Springs Pool is home to the Barton Springs Salamander you can learn about them and the aquifer that supplies the water to the springs at Splash!, a free exhibit located next to the pool. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m., this exhibit is geared towards school-aged kids.

The carful of kids paddle around and the oldest son waits in line for his turn at the diving board. The carful of kids enjoy the late afternoon and before too long it's dark.

The carful of kids load up and decide it's time for ice cream, well frozen custard to be exact. Sandy's Frozen Custard and Root Beer at 603 Barton Springs Rd. is a drive-thru serving up burgers, corndogs, fries and along with their frozen custard concoctions for over a generation.

The kids order a root beer float a piece and I go for the old stand by--vanilla custard in a cone. My cone of custard has the same taste and mouth feel as the homemade ice cream that my mom used to make back in the 80s. YUM!

Sandy's is a busy place and it's well worth the wait to get through the drive-thru on a busy summer night. Sandy's has a walk-up window and picnic tables if you would prefer to eat there.

Know before you go: During the summer, the Zilker Hillside Theater hosts an evening summer musical from Thursday to Sunday that is a well attended Austin tradition. Parking at Zilker Park is congested during the weekends and there is a $ 5 charge to park.

Topless sunbathing is permitted in Austin and sometimes there are topless sunbathers at Barton Springs Pool. As a Mom of two boys, it has been my experience that they are fairly discreet and lay out on the hillside farthest away from the family area near the shallow end.

Water shoes are recommended because the bottom of the pool is slippery.

Food and coolers are prohibited but you can bring in resealable drinks in plastic containers.