Texas Outdoors
TEXAS IS A LAND OF STUNNING DIVERSITY. DESPITE BEING HOME TO SEVERAL OF THE NATION’S LARGEST CITIES, most of the state remains rural, beckoning visitors to explore wide-open spaces ranging from forests to grassy plains to mountains and deserts. The mostly temperate climate—with rare snows in the winter and 100-degree days in the summer— makes outdoor activities appealing year-round. Whether you want to stay active or just relax, there are plenty of ways to do it: hunting, fi shing, hiking, boating, canoeing/kayaking, waterskiing, surfi ng, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, birdwatching, geocaching, ziplining and stargazing, just to name a few. Go for a quick afternoon adventure or leave it
WIDE OPEN FOR ADVENTURE
all behind for a few days in unspoiled wilderness. See why the wilds of Texas have retained their hold on the American imagi- nation for generations.
JUMP IN! T e treasures of the Gulf Coast are oſt en
overlooked, and that’s just fi ne—that just means more warm sand and gentle waves for those in the know to enjoy. T e mostly unde- veloped shoreline and warm water make the Texas coast a low-key place to play or relax. Popular beach destinations here include
South Padre Island, Port Aransas, Rockport Beach Park and Galveston Island. Padre Is- land National Seashore protects the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Boca Chica State Park near Browns- ville also off ers a remote beach near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Beachside resorts
are available here, but in general, the allure of Texas beaches is that so many are un- crowded and undeveloped. In the rest of the state, rivers and lakes
are the place to make a splash. Most of the state’s 150-plus lakes are found in the Prai- ries and Lakes or Piney Woods regions. T e chain of Highland Lakes in the Hill Coun- try also off ers a wealth of opportunities for activities or just watching the sunset. Boat- ing, waterskiing, swimming and fi shing are all possibilities here—just check locally to see what’s allowed at each lake. Visitors come from miles around to go
tubing, fl oating down tree-lined rivers in San Marcos, New Braunfels, Junction, Concan and near Mineral Wells. Some rivers, such as the Guadalupe, even off er playful rapids and tube chutes to add to the excitement. T e Rio Grande in the remote Big Bend
region presents one of the most beautiful courses for raſt ing and canoeing, cutting through canyons with walls standing as high as 1,500 feet above the water. Local outfi tters can provide more information and options ranging from half-day trips to multi-day excursions through this majestic landscape. Elsewhere, canoeists and kayakers can
explore tranquil waterways and scenery only accessible by water on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s 60 coastal and inland paddling trails, which make great day trips for all experience levels. T e Hill Country and Big Bend Country
regions are known for their refreshing swimming holes. Naturally spring-fed pools can be found in Balmorhea State Park (the largest of its kind in the world), Barton Springs Pool in Austin and Las Moras
NATURE EVENTS
BIRD AND NATURE WALK, Texas Fresh- water Fisheries Center in Athens, second Saturday of each month
CENTRAL TEXAS NATURE FEST, Bend of the River Park in Temple, October
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT BIKE FEST in Terlingua, February
DENTON REDBUD FESTIVAL in Denton, April (Arbor Day weekend)
DOGWOOD TRAILS CELEBRATION, Davey Dogwood Park in Palestine, March
FEATHERFEST Birding and Nature Pho- tography Festival in Galveston, April
HUMMERBIRD CELEBRATION, Rockport, September
Big Bend National Park offers lots of hiking and camping opportunities.
BOTH PHOTOS: KEVIN STILLMAN/TXDOT
LAREDO BIRDING FESTIVAL in Laredo, February.
NATURE NIGHTS, Lady Bird Johnson Wildfl ower Center in Austin, Thursdays from June-July
NECHES RIVER RENDEZVOUS in Lufkin, June
SECOND SATURDAY NATURE PROGRAM, Hagerman Wildlife Refuge in Sherman, second Saturday of each month
STAR PARTY, McDonald Observatory, in Fort Davis, most Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings
TEXAS WATER SAFARI in San Marcos, June
WHOOPING CRANE FESTIVAL, Port Aransas, February
WINGS OVER THE HILLS NATURE FESTIVAL in Fredericksburg, April
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268
