Emma Long Metropolitan Park — Attraction in Austin

I’ve spent quite a few nights camping at Emma Long. It’s usually a great place to set up camp without having to drive a great distance. I’ve noticed quality of maintenance declining and this last weekend I didn’t see one park employee. I like to camp in the grove because it’s close to bathrooms and a little bit more secluded depending on the time of year. Both the men’s and women’s restroom were infested with ants. They were small sugar ants but just standing at the sink, I had ants crawling up my leg. It was busy during the day so there was a lot of trash leftover all around the park. I can get passed all that and chalk it up to irresponsible and disrespectful patrons. BUT... the tipping point was a large group camping near us Saturday night. We had got to the park and set up camp that afternoon and come back around 9:30. As I said, we set up in the grove just before RV and utility sites start. There was a group in an RV site with no RV, 5 tents and at least 20 people. I personally try to follow the rules but I’m not calling people out if it’s not bothering anyone else. They had put up a bright light to illuminate their site but it was aimed directly at our tent. I walked over to let them know and they kindly moved it. It’s now passed 10 (quiet time) and they are still playing music, dancing and YELLING. They obviously had glass also, as we could hear it being thrown into trash cans. Trying to avoid conflict and hoping they’d stop on their own, I just laid down and tried to sleep through it. I thought a ranger or SOMEONE might come through to you know... enforce rules. Nope. I started looking through my emails and reservations to find a number to call and report the issues. The best I found was to call non-emergency after hours. I didn’t feel getting police involved was necessary so I just tried to let it go again. Finally at 4 am, I got so frustrated and yelled “SHUT UP” but that made it worse. They got louder. I called the cops. I don’t know what I expected at that point but I slept out of exhaustion for about an hour, woke up at 6 and they were finally winding down. I don’t think cops ever came. I understand that bad patrons don’t warrant a bad review for the park but my point is, there should be someone on site to monitor and enforce rules. I don’t condone trespassing and trying to camp for free but what’s the point? If nobody is enforcing site rules, how would they know if I have a reservation or paid an entry fee? At the very least, there should be a number to call besides expecting police to come all the way out there for a noise complaint. I don’t think I’ll be camping out there again. It was a good spot...

We got there for the second time, because of persian new year. Persian New Year is called Nowruz, which literally means "New Day" in Persian. It's a super ancient celebration, marking the arrival of spring and the first day of the Iranian solar calendar. Think of it as a massive welcome party for longer, brighter days! Nowruz isn't just any New Year; it's deeply rooted in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion that goes way back – over 3,000 years! So, while it's a secular holiday for most folks who celebrate it today, it still holds a special significance. Here's the cool part: Nowruz happens right on the vernal equinox, usually around March 20th or 21st. It's all about that perfect balance when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night equal. It's a cosmic high-five for the start of spring! You'll find Nowruz celebrated by a ton of people across the globe, especially in areas with a strong Persian cultural influence. That includes Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the 'Stans' of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan), and even parts of the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Balkans. The celebrations are full of vibrant traditions. One really fun one is jumping over bonfires on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz. It's symbolic of leaving the past behind and stepping into the future with fresh energy. Then, the first few days are all about visiting family and friends, exchanging gifts, and sharing delicious traditional foods. People get all dressed up in new clothes, and there's a real feeling of renewal in the air. A central part of Nowruz is setting up a special table called the Haft-Sin. It has seven symbolic items, all starting with the Persian letter "seen" ($ \mathbf{س} $), each representing something good for the new year, like rebirth, prosperity, love, health, and sweetness. It's a beautiful display! Nowruz is a 13-day holiday in Iran, and on the very last day, families pack up and head outdoors for picnics in nature. It's a way to embrace the spring and say goodbye to any lingering bad luck. In 2010, the United Nations even recognized March 21st as the International Day of Nowruz, highlighting its role in promoting peace, unity, and renewal worldwide. Pretty neat, huh? Of course if you have a boat or jet ski, you will have endless joy at this...

I have grown up going to Emma Long and I'm glad to see lots of improvements over the years. The beach area is clear (you can swim anywhere really), and the sand, shells, docks, and gentle water is perfect for the kids (although being a narrow lake the boats coming by can make some waves). There are ropes and buoys that separate each area as it gets deeper but it really is quite shallow until the end of the dock. The water is refreshing, not too cold or too hot. There are large trees and picnic tables along the shoreline. We used to bring our jet skis here and post up along a spot on the shore and just chill with the family and friends - bring extra tables, chairs, blankets, portable grill, wagon, towels, food, drinks, sports balls (there is a sand volleyball area as well), etc. The bathrooms have been renovated not too long ago and are nice and spacious. There are also outside areas to rinse feet and shower after swimming. It costs $5 on weekdays to enter per vehicle, and $10 on weekends with online reservations ahead of time during the summer months and holidays. Check the website ahead of time so you're not surprised. We got there at 8:45 this morning and not a soul in sight and when we left around 12 there were a good few families but not crowded by any means (weekends can be PACKED). There is also camping in the park and hiking trails, and boat ramps. Because the water on Lake Austin is monitored and leveled by releasing the dam, there is always the same amount of water, just sometimes it can be colder or warmer depending on when the dam has been released and obviously time of year. Definitely worth a visit or 10, and don't forget to check out Ski Shores Cafe on the water about 7 minutes away for another local...