blossom across about 28 acres. The un- paved four-mile driving trail meanders around two lakes, between wooded valleys and a replica pioneer cabin. The gardens are closed during rain, so it is best to call ahead. Near the center of the region, Nacog-
doches is home to the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, the largest in the state. Stephen F. Austin State University turned eight acres of loblolly pine for- est into a garden that now includes 46 planting beds. Flowering shrubs and plants are interspersed among orna- mental trees and other vegetation, giving the garden color throughout the various seasons—azaleas during the spring, hydrangeas during the summer and camellia sasanquas in October. Visitors can stroll along the path amongst the beds or sit on a bench and ponder the beauty of nature. The fl owering beauty of the region is
Kilgore WORLD’S RICHEST ACRE Lake Conroe, in the southern por-
tion of this region, is another lake pop- ular for catching largemouth bass. Visitors also enjoy boating, golfi ng, swimming, water skiing, jet skiing and more.
★ Beautiful Blooms The Piney Woods is not only notable
for trees and parks but also for glorious blooms. The region is home to the na- tion’s largest municipal rose garden, Tyler Rose Garden, which opened in 1952. From the back of the Rose Gar- den Center building, visitors can get a view overlooking the entire garden with its rose-lined walkways and rows of roses. The garden features more than 30,000 bushes and more than 600 varieties, including miniature roses and new rose cultivars. The roses are celebrated during the peak bloom in October with the Texas Rose Festival. Visit the Rose Museum to learn about the history of the city’s rose industry and enjoy the pageantry of the festival. Just northwest of Tyler, the Helen
Lee Estate Daff odil Gardens in Glade- water is only open when the daff o- dils are in bloom. Every February and March, millions of golden daff odils
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
especially evident during azalea trails in Tyler and Nacogdoches and Dog- wood Trails in Palestine and Tyler County in March-April.
★ Making History There is something about the Piney
Woods—maybe it is the way the light trickles through the trees—that gives visitors a heightened sense of the past. This region has some of the most beau- tiful historic towns. It also is steeped with the history of the Caddo and early Spanish Colonial missions. The oldest town in Texas, Nacog-
doches traces its roots to a Caddo set- tlement. The Caddos lived in the area before a Spanish mission was estab- lished in 1716. The mission operated until all set lers were recalled to San Antonio. Not everyone wanted to re- turn, and Antonio Gil Y’Barbo ob- tained permission for some set lers to return part way to East Texas and later established a town named for the Nacogdoche tribe of the Caddo. Travelers can learn much about
Nacogdoches at the Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens. Its visitor center has a display detailing the his- tory of the city. From the visitor center,
Sam Houston Memorial Museum In Huntsville, this museum complex features
the life of Sam Houston and his role in Texas history. The grounds include his woodland home, Bear Bend Cabin (where he frequently hunted) and Steamboat House (where Houston lived until his death in 1862). The museum hosts an annual General Sam Houston Folk Festival.
samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com
Texas Forestry Museum Discover the past, present and future of trees
at this museum in Lufkin. Exhibits look at for- est history and paper. Visitors can see tools and equipment related to logging, a fi re lookout tower, sawmill town depot and other equipment used in forestry.
www.treetexas.com
Texas State Railroad Take a steam train from Palestine or a diesel
train from Rusk on a relaxing 4.5-hour round trip through the Piney Woods. The railroad was built by the Texas state prison system in 1881. All aboard for a 25-mile ride through the woods and bottomlands, enjoy a stop for lunch fol- lowed by a return trip.
www.texasstaterr.com
find history
The Alabama and Coushatta Originally separate tribes in Alabama, today
they share the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation near Livingston. Each June, the tribe celebrates its heritage with a two-day powwow. The tribe also invites visitors to stay at the Lake Tombigbee Campground.
www.alabama-coushatta.com
Caddo Mounds
State Historic Site Near Alto, this prehistoric village and cere-
monial center can be explored along a .7-mile self-guided interpretive trail. A visitor center has exhibits for people to learn more about the everyday life of the early Caddo.
www.visitcaddomounds.com
The Graceful Ghost Step back in time with a trip on a steam-
boat. The replica 1880s-era wood-burning, steam-powered paddle-wheel glides over the hauntingly beautiful Caddo Lake, the only nat- ural lake in Texas.
http://gracefulghost.com
For more infor ma tion about cities and attractions in the Piney Woods, visit
TravelTex.com. 75
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