Wildflowers and cacti dot the landscape Photo ©Linda Lange

The undulating landscape of the Texas Hill Country can also soothe the soul. Quiet time comes easily; the rhythmic drumming of rocking chairs might be the only sounds. It's tempting, mighty tempting, to drift into a slumber.

Canyon of the Eagles serves as a sanctuary for world-weary people as well as for migrating American bald eagles. The accommodation, an easy 1.5-hour drive west from Austin, is on the edge of the largest of the six Highland Lakes.

Funseekers gravitate to the sandy beach where they rent kayaks and canoes or play in the swimming area. After awhile, they check out the Bedrock Grill and join friends at picnic tables. Before getting back in the water, they try on sun visors and T-shirts at the supply store. Youngsters weave among anglers bound for fishing piers scattered along five miles of lakefront.

A handful of vacationers board the Cmos, a 26-foot sailing yacht. "When you get out on the lake, you're more in touch with nature," says Captain Tony Brasher.

Vanishing Texas River Cruise Photo ©LCRA

From the same dock, the Vanishing Texas River Cruise departs daily for scenic sojourns. Cruises are on the Texas Eagle, a 70-foot, 150-passenger, 3-deck vessel. The excursion is so named because pristine landscape such as this is becoming a rarity. Thousands of acres of privately held ranch land surround the Lone Star State's Colorado River Canyon. "Indians lived on this land for centuries and hunted buffalo, beaver and black bear," says Captain Cliff Galley as the ship passes a limestone pillar used as a lookout point. Cattle congregate at a salt lick and white-tail deer sip from the blue-green water. A pair of great blue herons rests on a snag. Turkey buzzards soar effortlessly overhead.

Lake Buchanan, fed by the Colorado River, ranks as one of the best in the state for striped bass fishing. Sportsmen also fish for catfish, crappie, perch and largemouth bass. In February, schools of white bass move upstream to spawn.

A promise of wildlife sightings attracts nature lovers to a 14-mile network of hiking trails. Birdwatchers with binoculars scan the cedars. Canyons and forests in this 940-acre preserve are habitats for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. The warblers' juniper bark nests are so well hidden that in six years of study biologist Melanie Pavlas has yet to find one. She leads us to a brookside clearing where we see warblers alight on branches. We hear the singsong of the vireo.

Ecological programs aren't limited to daylight hours. Jennifer McCay of the resort's environmental learning center traipses through the dark with a tape recording of a screech owl's call. The sound - remarkably similar to a neighing horse - attracts two owls that fly overhead to see who has barged into their territory. While on the owl prowl, we blacklight rock outcroppings in order to highlight the bioluminescence of scorpions. We find only an endearing Texas armadillo.

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