HIST OR Y Find
THE ALABAMA AND COUSHATTA Originally separate tribes, today the Alabama-Coushatta share a reservation near Livingston. Each June, the tribe celebrates its heritage with a two-day powwow. Visitors also are invited to stay at the Lake Tombigbee Camp- ground.
www.alabama-coushatta.com
CADDO MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE Near Alto, this prehistoric village and ceremonial 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 Sam Houston statue in Huntsville stands at 67-feet tall.
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 natural lake in Texas.
http://gracefulghost.com
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 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. Ex- hibits look at forestry history. Visitors can see equipment related to logging, a fire lookout tower and a sawmill town depot.
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 in 1881. All aboard for a 25-mile ride through the woods and bottomlands, enjoy a stop for lunch followed by a return trip.
www.texasstaterr.com
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should inquire about maps and directions at the Big Ticket National Preserve Visitor Center to help them find the best route. Traveling further north in the Piney
Woods, visitors will find the state’s only nat- ural lake and probably the most hauntingly beautiful one—Caddo Lake. Tere is some- thing about the bald cypress trees with dan- gling Spanish moss that grow in the swamps and bayous giving the lake an almost other- worldly look. While 2.5 miles of hiking trails meander through Caddo Lake State Park, one of the most popular ways to see the area is by boat. Te water is excellent for canoeing and kayaking. Canoe tours depart from the Pine Needles Lodge in Uncertain. Some might prefer a ride from the Graceful
Ghost Paddleboat Company, where a replica 1800s-era steamboat takes visitors for a tour of the lake. Te company also offers a pontoon boat tour that takes travelers deeper into the bayous of the lake. And just across the region to the west is
the best bass lake in the state—Lake Fork. It is one of the country’s top trophy bass lakes, and the majority of the top 50 largemouth bass in Texas were caught here. Te state re- cord holder for the biggest largemouth bass (18.18 pounds) was caught in these waters. Te lake also is popular for birding, especially for sighting bald eagles. Lake Conroe, in the southern portion of this region, is another lake popular for catch-
ing largemouth bass. Visitors also enjoy boat- ing, golfing, swimming, water skiing, jet ski- ing and more.
★ BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS Te Piney Woods is not only notable for
trees and parks but also for glorious blooms. Te region is home to the nation’s largest
municipal rose garden, Tyler Rose Garden, which opened in 1952. From the back of the Rose Garden Center building, visitors can get a view overlooking the entire garden with its rose-lined walkways and rows of roses. Te garden features more than 30,000 bushes and more than 600 varieties, including min- iature roses and new rose cultivars. Te roses are celebrated during the peak bloom in Oc- tober with the Texas Rose Festival. Visit the Rose Museum to learn about the history of the city’s rose industry and enjoy the pag- eantry of the festival. Just northwest of Tyler, the Helen Lee Estate
Daffodil Gardens in Gladewater is only open when the daffodils are in bloom. Every Feb- ruary and March, millions of golden daffodils blossom across about 28 acres. Te unpaved four-mile driving trail meanders around two lakes, between wooded valleys and a replica pioneer cabin. Te gardens are closed during rain, so it is best to call ahead. Near the center of the region, Nacogdo- ches is home to the Ruby M. Mize Azalea
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
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