I have been lucky enough to have grandparents that understand the importance of having a lake house — this is very important when you are trying to impress your friends in high school, believe me. It is increasingly wonderful when the summer holidays present themselves. What better thing is there to do than lounge on the boat drinking a… soda… enjoying the sounds of nature, ok, jet skis.

For as many years as I can remember Lake LBJ has been my home for Fourth of July weekend; providing not only fun on the water; but also playing host to an amazing festival they brilliantly named Aqua Boom, yes there are fireworks. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa was clever enough to put together a list of the top five best things do do in the Hill Country this Fourth of July weekend. Upon reading this list I was extremely excited to find that they thought Aqua Boom was number one, and I’d have to agree.

Aqua Boom is not simply an enourmous fireworks display over the water, it is an entire weekend of BBQ cookoffs, fish frys, arts and crafts, and parades. The festival is headquartered in Kingsland, Texas on the banks of Lake LBJ. Events officially kickoff on June 27 with things really heating up on July 3 with the annual poker run. The Kingsland House of Arts and Crafts will also come alive on Friday with vendors showcasing their unique and unusual handmade products. Saturday will be filled to the brim with a children’s parade, a BBQ cookoff, a fish fry and the moment everyone has been waiting for… a GIGANTIC fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. To me, this display has always been unique and exciting because it is done from a barge on the lake. At about 8 p.m. boats flock to the Kingsland Bridge to line up for the best spot to view the show. And if you don’t like boats, feel free to drive, the bridge overflows with people of every age, anxious to view one of the largest shows in the state.  Oh, and did I mention it’s free?

I have been to many festivals in the Hill Country and many fireworks shows throughout Texas, but I must say that Aqua Boom has long been one of my favorites. If you decide to take my advice and join the fun at Lake LBJ, look for me — I’ll be in a bright yellow boat with a huge smile on my face.

If you want to have even more fun, check out the other activities on the list. Other San Antonio bloggers have provided their take on some of the best activities in the area.

Take a look:

5. San Antonio Missions Baseball Game Fourth of July Extravaganza, by Derrich Rodriguez

4. Fourth of July Celebration in Luckenbach, TX, by Luis Sandoval Jr.

3. Tubing on the Comal River (New Braunfels, TX), by Jennifer Navarrete

2. Celebration on the River (Kerrville, Texas), by Shelley Cook

1. Aqua Boom Festival on Lake LBJ, by Jessica Young

This blog post is part of the JW San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa “List of the Best Things to do in the Texas Hill Country” Blog Scavenger Hunt. The goal is to compile a list of the best ways to spend this Fourth of July (and any day of the year!) in the Hill Country. Bloggers from San Antonio, Texas and anywhere around the globe are invited to participate and share they favorite thing to do in the Hill Country. To participate and have a link to your blog featured in the JW San Antonio “List of the Best Things to do in the Texas Hill Country” blog post all you have to do is write a blog (length, style and everything else is up to you), include this paragraph at the end of your post and send us a link to it via Twitter at @JWSanAntonio. Visit our blog for more information about the Blog Scavenger Hunt. We can’t wait to read your post! Thank you for helping us discover the Hill Country – the home of the newest and largest JW Marriott Resort, opening January 2010.