Vacation rentals in Somerville Lake

Somerville Lake is a sprawling 11,500-acre lake located in central Texas, midway between Austin and Houston. Originally created as a reservoir to help control flooding, the lake is now a popular recreation destination, providing a tranquil spot for anglers to cast a line for blue catfish and white bass, and there are 40 miles of well-maintained trails for hikers to explore. Boating is popular on Birch Creek, and canoes and kayaks can be hired for a lazy afternoon’s paddling.

The town of Somerville is nestled right along the lake’s eastern shoreline with a main street lined with low-slung wooden buildings and a laid-back atmosphere. The Somerville Area Museum takes visitors on a journey through the town’s origins as a spur town of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroads. Thirty minutes’ drive from Somerville, the city of College Station is home to Texas A&M University. The student population makes for a vibrant scene, and the city’s George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is home to a replica Oval Office and a piece of the Berlin Wall.

During the summer, the weather is at its hottest and the lake is a popular day trip from Austin and Houston. Each June there’s a state BBQ cook off that combines signature Texas barbecue with live music and a biergarten. Things quieten down a lot during fall and over winter, and you might find yourself with the lake and its scenic surroundings mostly to yourself if you arrive at your Lake Somerville vacation rental in the cooler months. Fall in College Station is marked by Pumpkinpalooza, a cluster of events, including a range of running races, an open-air music festival, and the traditional pumpkin patch. Things start to pick back up again in spring as college students head out to the lake for kayaking and swimming.

Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway

Featuring more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, this state park is one of the lake’s most popular spots for admiring the natural beauty of central Texas. The park is divided into north and south west sections, connected by a 13-mile trailway. The rolling terrain is dotted with vibrant wildflowers and passes blackjack oak and yaupon forests. Look out for bobcats and vermilion flycatchers along the way.

Local wineries

The region boasts a wealth of wineries less than a 30-minute drive north or south of Somerville Lake producing a plethora of varieties from crisp riesling to rich sangiovese. Tours and tastings are readily available, whether you follow the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail or create your own route. You can even help to crush the grapes at some vineyards in July and August.

Fishing

Somerville Lake is heaven for anglers, home to largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and yellow catfish. Fishing is permitted along the entire shoreline, and there are 11 boat ramps scattered around the lake if you fancy heading out onto the water. Those in the know cast their lines for hybrid striped bass in the creeks during spring, moving out into the open water when summer turns to fall.