Choke Canyon consists of two branches: South Shore (day-use only) and Calliham (full-service side of the park). We planned our visit as part of a Labor Day extended weekend trip since the area is nowhere near close to where we live in North Texas. We arrived midday. In August. It was a blistering 97 degrees by the time we arrived – the kind of heat that makes the very air itself feel like it’s suffocating you. Because the weather wasn’t working in its favor, Choke Canyon State Park was a hard sell while we were there. Nevertheless, we pushed ourselves to experience a sampling of what CCSP offered and here’s what we found.
Cons: Let’s just go ahead and get them out of the way.
Heat. Hot as Hades comes to mind. Seriously. With no breeze. Stifling hot. The kind of hot that makes you keenly aware that even the environment is thirsty for water and your body is the current source of this precious commodity. But we were there in August, so that’s on us. Can’t really fault the park for the weather. Just a consideration when timing your visit.
Drought. The effects were pretty dramatic as there were concrete jetties that were clearly meant as walkways “into the water” that were a whopping 29 feet above the actual water level at the time of our visit. Everywhere you looked the land was parched. Dry. Thirsty. Brown was the predominant color of the landscape. The sound of dead vegetation crunching under your footfalls was part of the soundtrack of the day. But again, you cannot fault CCSP for natural disasters.
Pros: On to the Good Stuff!
Fishing. Apparently Choke Canyon Reservoir is great for fishing – especially if you have a boat. Catfish Marv, whom we met at the HQ, routinely takes groups out on his 24′ pontoon boat between 7am-1pm, and his latest expedition at the time of our introduction yielded a whopping 125 fish! We met a married couple at the fish cleaning station in the early afternoon of our visit that had caught 26 crappie in the span of 4 hours, also from their boat.
Bird Center. Many species of birds can be spotted at CCSP. In fact, one thing we appreciated about our visit was our songbird soundtrack. We heard the beautiful songs of birds during our entire visit. In addition, we crossed paths with a couple of roadrunners on the South Shore side of the park, our first up-close encounter with that speedy species.
Rec Hall. Tennis anyone? How about basketball? Are you more into soccer? CCSP has you covered as it has the facilities for all of these in or around the Rec Hall. Didn’t bring equipment? No problem! They have loaners you can borrow during your visit.
Shaded Parking. This is a serious consideration when the temps are soaring, yet not many Texas State Parks have much of it. CCSP has it in spades and you will appreciate it if you time your visit during the hottest months of the year like we did.
Shelters. CCSP offers screened shelters and shelters with air conditioning, a must-have in the summer in Texas. Situated on their own street within the park, these shelters look like a community of adorable Tiny Houses complete with front porches.
Insects. I think it’s worth noting that CCSP wasn’t buggy. We didn’t experience a single mosquito, which is unusual for us! In fact, the place appeared delightfully bug-free (though we know this is unrealistic).
Trails. They were wide. Well-maintained. Clearly marked. Level. Teeming with deer.
Alligators. There are signs, which is why we didn’t fish on the shore. We were told that alligators sunned in this spot, or that spot. The Manling even heard one enter the water, saw the splash, but just missed actually sighting one. The fact that they are there and that we didn’t have a dangerous close encounter is a Pro. (A Park Staffer pointed out that they have never had a visitor experience a disastrous encounter with one of their resident reptiles, and I am happy we were able to continue that streak on our visit.)
Why We Love Choke Canyon State Park
Wildlife. Amazingly, even during a drought, CCSP is home to deer, alligators, many species of birds, javelina, and many more!
Water. Summer in Texas = Water. Bring or rent a boat and enjoy a day on the Choke Canyon Reservoir. We hear the fishing is amazing! (And if you hire out Catfish Marv, tell him Texans Travel says hello!)
Must Do’s
Water. Look, with Catfish Marv willing and able, there’s no reason not to enjoy some time on the reservoir, especially with a rod in hand. Give the man a call (Capt. Marvin “Catfish Marv” Elledge at 210-365-7967).
Tiny House Community. There is no more affordable way to stay in the area than CCSP, and since they have accommodations with a/c, you can even enjoy a summer visit! Come on. You know you want to.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Choke Canyon State Parks! Please leave your comments on this resilient State Park in the comments below.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
I have been mulling over how I would share our visit to Brazos Bend State Park since we visited in August 2018. Honestly, when we first arrived, I wasn’t feelin’ it. I was completely over sitting in the car; the older gentleman that was registering his RV took exactly forever; I felt on the verge of literal starvation; the entrance to the park featured an alligator, which gave me a deplorable sinking feeling; and quite frankly after visiting 44 state parks over the course of just a few months, I wondered if this one located roughly in the middle of Nowhere, TX, could offer anything worth the drive. This was the lovely frame of mind I was in when the older gentleman {finally} finished checking in and it was our turn. I have no doubt that the two Park Staffers wondered what my deal was when I less-than-half-heartedly asked for suggestions on what to see and do during our stay only to shoot down their suggestions one-by-one because, like I said, I wasn’t feelin’ it. I remember a lot of talk about alligators “here” and “there” (as spots were pointed out on the Park Map); there was some mention of birds around dusk (yawn – We’d already visited 3 bona fide birding centers, man! You can’t top that here!); yada-yada. Oh yeah, I was a delight.
As the Manling and I headed to our little tiny house (aka a screened shelter) to unpack, inflate, and introvert before we gave thought to what we felt like doing, my inner-toddler began whimpering for home, her bed, and some much needed solitude. After unloading our gear (basically our air mattresses, a camping toilet, and two portable mini-fans), The Manling (in the prime of his life) fell asleep with the sun still high in the sky. Not in the prime of my life, I can manage a quick nap maybe once a year, and today was to be my day. I fell asleep, too. Apparently, we were both road weary.
Isn’t our tiny home-away-from-home absolutely adorable with that little porch?! LOVE it!
Just because I’d be interested to see inside the tiny house, here ya go. This is right before our accidental naps, mere minutes into our introverting.
About forty-five minutes later, I jerked awake and thought, “We’d better do something about my imminent starvation.” I remembered one of the Park Staff saying something that sounded like “J-Cafe” and it being roughly 30 minutes away, but worth the drive for the “best food around.” I Yelped it, woke The Manling, and we headed toward our dinner with fingers crossed. Thirty minutes later, sitting unassumingly beside a two lane country road in Needville, TX, we pulled into the parking lot of “The Jay Cafe.” Within a minute, we found ourselves seated at the best seat in the house with our server attending to our every need.
Don’t beat around the bush. Order the chicken fried steak dinner. And treat yourself to a slice of their chocolate sheet cake because life is short. Live a little.
Our table was next to the only picture window in the room and overlooked a sweet little garden area. Peaceful, just like the doctor ordered.
An hour later, we were fat and happy from tried-and-true Texas favorites and we headed back to BBSP. This time, as we passed by the alligator sign, I felt cheerier and ready for an adventure. We headed for Hale Lake for some fishing and photography, both of which ended up being rewarding!
The Manling didn’t catch anything he’d consider worth mentioning, but I was impressed that he kept catching little guys off this really tall pier. That’s gotta take skill.
While The Manling fished, I walked part of the Hale Lake Loop Trail. Until I came across this sign. And like The Man says, they choose the wording on warnings for a reason, so I guess at some point in the past an alligator was…molested?
Next, we decided to drive around to explore the park, which eventually led us to Elm Lake. We decided to park and walk around this beautiful area on foot, which is how we stumbled across the wildlife viewing area on the water – and the first of two truly unforgettable encounters with nature we experienced firsthand at BBSP.
This needs to be attached to my house – the covered porch AND the view.
We saw lots of alligator trails through the water. No alligators though.
While we were enjoying the setting sun through the trees, the calm serenity of the lake, the shade of the wildlife viewing area, and the few birds enjoying this lush paradise, we were startled out of our moment of peace by quite a racket overhead as hundreds (if not thousands!) of birds entered BBSP to roost for the evening. SERIOUSLY. Hundreds (or possibly thousands!) of birds flew just over our heads, continuing past our perch on the wildlife viewing deck in search of their own for the night. Never has either of us seen such an awesome spectacle! “This must be what the Park Staff was talking about when they mentioned the birds,” I commented to The Manling with due awe infusing my words. Dear reader, put this on the top of your To-Do list for Brazos Bend State Park. Trust me.
Next we drove to 40 Acre Lake with just enough sunset left for The Manling to fish a little before we called it a night. I don’t remember if he caught anything off of the pier. What I do remember is this:
These are sobering signs. Especially at dusk. We, however, didn’t cross any alligators. Thankfully.
Fast-forward past showers in some of the most incredible State Park bathrooms you’ve ever used.
Past this guy enjoying our tiny house’s porch as much as we did…
We almost walked into this guy (about the size of my palm) while we were unloading the car). He was still there when we left the following day.
Past a great night’s sleep (once we got used to the bright lights our neighbor was using. He had hung white sheets around his porch and had bright lights atop tripods to attract bugs so that he could photograph them, which I guess was kind of cool. At least he was quiet. And in the end, better his porch than ours. Have all the bugs, neighbor. They’re yours.).
We awakened just as the sky began turning from the black of night to the gray of pre-dawn when our phone’s alarms simultaneously pulled us from sound sleep. After the obligatory stretches and yawns, we pulled on shoes, nodded our Good morning’s, and drove the car back to 40 Acre Lake to catch the sun’s rise from the Observation Tower. By the time we arrived, there was enough light to justify walking the 40 Acre Lake Trail (a loop around the lake), the Observation Tower being located on the other side of the lake from the parking lot. This early morning hike was the second of those two truly extraordinary wildlife encounters, for The Manling and I saw dozens of alligators in the water on either side of that trail by the time we finished the loop! And lest this doesn’t fill you with some kind of emotional response, let me share that there is nothing between you and the alligators. Nada. The trail is raised a few feet above the water, so that is something. But these are not the safe encounters you are used to in a zoo setting where safety precautions abound. Here is your safety precaution at BBSP –
Back to our sunrise walk. The Manling and I were making our way to the halfway point of the loop so that we could climb the Observation Tower, him all fearless and me all jumpy, when S P L A S H !
“What was that?!” whispered I.
“That was probably just a bird, Mom,” said he.
Yes, he really did reply that the huge splash! we’d just heard was probably a bird. I was all, “How big a bird do you think that was???” Seriously?? A bird?! Then we saw this swimming our way –
The Manling said oh-so-nonchalantly, “It was probably that alligator getting into the water.” And let me tell you, friend, we didn’t see it until it had gotten into the water from the trail we were on. Sobering. Like those signs posted every 50 feet or so. It just got real all up in here.
We continued on the trail, more vigilant than ever, both of the trail and the water. By the time we made it to the Observation Tower, we had already seen almost 10 alligators in the water, most so inanimate that the one who spotted it had to point it out to the other.
Our reward for getting up so early and braving a sunrise hike around a lake known to contain alligators was this view.
We saw plenty of fishing birds on the other side of the Observation Tower.
After this early morning “hike” surrounded by dozens of alligators (big. small. everything in-between.), The Manling and and I returned to our tiny house to load up the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside), sweep out our digs, and bid Brazos Bend State Park a very reluctant Goodbye. As we were exiting the park, we had one last interaction with one of the local ‘gators who came out to bid us adieu.
Cute. Seems like a missed opportunity, tho. Just a little.
Until next time, Brazos Bend State Park. We most assuredly will be back. Guaranteed.
Why We Love Brazos Bend State Park
Facilities. Having used the facilities in over 56 Texas State Parks, I feel I am becoming a subject matter expert on the subject. Trust me when I say Brazos Bend State Park has some of the nicest I’ve had the pleasure to use!
Alligators. Go on an alligator hike. The Park Staff can tell you where they’ve been spotted recently. Mind the signage. (Be safe, not sorry.) And have an awesome firsthand experience like we did. (P.S. Don’t molest the alligators. And hold on to your dogs. Just sayin’.)
Birds. IDK if this is a year-round occurrence, but during late summer the birds flock there by the hundreds (nay, thousands!) to roost for the night. It is a spectacle not to be missed. It was awesome!
Tiny Houses. You’ve simply got to live tiny while you’re there. The little tiny house ‘hood is adorable! Private. Quiet. And you can bring your fans to keep you cool.
Trails. Thirty-seven miles of trails to explore and enjoy! It’s quiet. Peaceful. Beautifully lush.
Sunrise/Sunset. Both are incredible! We recommend the Wildlife Viewing Area for sunset and the Observation Tower for sunrise. Or vice versa.
Must Do’s
Observation Tower. You truly cannot get a firm grip on the terrain of BBSP without seeing it from this bird’s eye view. Totally worth the mini-hike to climb this tower. Incredible 360 degree views of beautiful.
Fish. I believe The Manling caught somewhere every place he dropped a line. Nothing terribly large, but big enough to feel on your line. And anytime you can catch something, it’s better than not.
Stay. Camp. RV. Shelter. Cabin with amenities. Whatever your preference, BBSP has you covered. (Get it?)
Explore the Trails. There are lots of them through some of the most lush parts of Texas. It’s beautiful, serene, and filled with wildlife. Hike ’em. Bike ’em. You can even ride ’em (on your horse). Go make a memory!
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Brazos Bend State Park! Please share your experiences at this phenomenal {if a little fearful} wildlife retreat in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Galveston Island State Park is a park we’ve returned to again and again. No two visits are the same.
August 2018
There was the year that Galveston had the fiercest storm they’d had in years and we erected our palatial three-room tent in the deluge only to have the wind snap our poles and render our fancy digs dumpster fodder. The one in which we were awake half the night praying begging prayers for the good Lord to deliver us from literally being blown into the bay. The camp out when we learned that the most beautiful sunsets are after the most trying storms. The one during which we carpe diem’d every moment, rain or shine, and discovered that I hate raccoons with an unnatural fervency. We geocached. We rode horses on the beach. We fished and caught a crab and a sting ray. We were bullied out of the bathrooms by hundreds of tiny crabs. And that is the one we look back on with the fondest memories!
Circa 2014
Then there was the one we abhor. Nothing went right in the most unpleasant of ways. The mosquitos were on us like it was their paying jobs to give us the West Nile virus. The tent camping loop, we discovered, had no electricity. That mattered because it was the end of summer, 100 degrees at night, and we had zero means to plug in our oscillating fans – must-haves for summer camping in Texas. Our neighbors arrived late (after 10pm) and proceeded to erect their tent and party like it was 1999 until 3 or 4am – and the only thing between our ears and their partying was a flap of canvas. The year The Man and The Manling decided sunscreen was of the devil and fishing in the ocean without it (or a shirt) for a few hours would be no big deal (it was). The trip when we all secretly wished to pack up and go home and eventually one of us ventured to put out a feeler to the idea at which ALL of us heaved deep sighs of relief and got to packing.
Circa 2015
And then there was this year, when The Manling and I were the late arrivals, erecting our two tiny tents by the headlights of the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside). This time, however, we were in a smaller, but electric site (RV loop) so we were able to have tiny fans to keep us cool. To God be the glory!
Note: white extension cords to our tents. So much better with the air moving! Bonus note: white noise to drown out the nocturnal critter sounds.
We set our alarms to wake up at the crack of dawn so that we could watch the sun rise over the water, a new thing for us at GISP and one which we highly recommend anywhere you are camping. There is seriously not a better way to start your day.
The crack of dawn came too early for one of us. (Love this pic taken from inside my tent of The Manling inside his.)
Two gates between our camp site and the beach, which The Manling lethargically unlocked and opened for us using the code supplied for late arrivals.
I won’t lie to you. Facing that narrow path in the wee, still-mostly-dark hours was a bit daunting…because snakes.
But then I looked to the east and knew this would be one sunrise worth facing my fears.
Glad to be oh-so-right!
As we continued to wake, The Manling took to the solitude of the surf, hoping to land “the big one,” and I took to the solitude of the shower because I’m a girl that likes to feel clean even if all I will do is sweat the rest of the day. It’s a quirk I don’t mind having.
Freshly showered in GISP’s excellent cedar restrooms (seriously, these things are luxurious!), I spent the rest of the day watching The Manling enjoy his favorite past time while surrendering to the peaceful serenity of beach life. (We attempted to geocache at one point, but the spot the app led us to was too overgrown for my personal comfort. And we talked about hiking to the Observation Tower, but eventually decided to save that adventure for another trip. It was a hundred degrees, after all, so why exert yourself when the beach beckons?)
I love watching him cast the net and he loves not paying for bait fish. Win-win!
I don’t think I ever noticed how chock full of wildlife the beach is!
A flock of…pelicans!
This little guy stalked The Manling the entire time he fished in this spot on the Bayside, hoping for a free meal.
Why We Love Galveston Island State Park
Facilities. Galveston Island State Park had the first truly nice restrooms we’d ever experienced within a State Park. And years later, they are still amazing. This means a lot to skittish visitors like myself, especially when staying overnight and having to use the showers to wash off the stink from fishing and hundred degree days. Well done, GISP!
Fishing. The fishing is really good from the Bayside shores, from kayaks, or standing in the Gulf of Mexico…you will feel like an expert angler at GISP, especially if you use fresh shrimp.
Camping. We have camped beachside and bayside (both loops). There’s just not a bad place to hang your hat at GISP. (Word to the wise, if you’re camping during the summer, bring a fan and use the RV loop or beachside so that you’ll have electricity. Trust me.)
Sunrise/Sunset. Worth every minute of lost sleep, GISP appears to have cornered the market on the most brilliantly colored sunrises and sunsets available to man. Enjoy them!
Must Do’s
Stay. They have new-ish cabins on the Bayside; RV loop with hookups and a tent loop with no hook ups on the Bayside; and electric/water sites on the Beachside for RV or tents. There is something for everyone and every budget, so what are you waiting for?
Fish. The Manling prefers the peaceful tranquility of the Bayside, but beach fishing at GISP has also been good to him. Use shrimp or bait fish.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Galveston Island State Park! Please share your experiences at this beachy retreat of aState Park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
The Man is a native Texan. He was born and raised in Houston. He relocated to Dallas in 1994. We have traveled I-45 between these two massive cities more times than I can count over the past twenty-five years, visiting and revisiting the people and places that shaped The Man’s past and forged his future. Embarrassingly, I don’t recall even once noticing that there was a State Park along the way, much less one as extraordinary as Huntsville State Park.
Being a native of Alabama the Beautiful, I adored the beautiful drive to and through the park’s colossal pine trees. That’s my happy place right there.
The Manling and I visited HSP in August 2018, unsure what to expect from a park that hadn’t managed to catch our attention over the course of two decades. What we discovered was an awesome park deep in the thick, towering pine trees of the Sam Houston National Forest. With a plethora of activities to choose and only six hours to spend, we quickly prioritized our line-up and began enjoying a leisurely summer afternoon around Lake Raven.
Knowing that The Manling’s primary love language is fishing, we headed for fishing spot numero uno – a pretty pier located between picturesque camping spots 154 and 157. While The Manling began reeling in fish after fish after fish, I spent some quality time with my iPhone attempting to capture the beauty of the place digitally.
Next, we explored the rest of the park from the inside of the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside), surprised to see so many tent campers enjoying the park deep in the throes of the hottest month of the year. August in Texas, dear reader, is akin to swimming in the lava pools of Mordor in Mount Doom. It’s hot as Hades. Did I mention the humidity? South Texas is famous for its heat AND its unbearable humidity. My mother-in-law, a native Houstonian, once told me that you have to have gills to breathe in Houston. It’s a thing. Look it up. And yet, there were families who had chosen to forsake the blessed comfort of air conditioning in order to make memories tent camping at HSP. I could drop the mic right there because that, amigo, says A LOT about the awesomeness of Huntsville State Park.
While exploring HSP from our sweet {air conditioned} seats in the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside), we discovered another fishing pier in the Coloneh Camping Area (between spots 78 and 82) and decided to pull over and drop a line in the water. Well, The Manling dropped a line. I grabbed my iPhone and continued my search for the perfect picture that would speak more than a thousand words to us both.
Here it is:
In the effort of full disclosure, I did not take that photo myself. Marsha did. Marsha was one of the many campers in the park that day, completely living la vida loca by camping in August with her hubs and three grandkiddos. Huntsville State Park, you see, is home to some of these bad boys and Marsha aimed to hook us with “front row seats” to see them up close, but not so up close that our own personal safety was at stake (a philosophy her dear husband did not share – story to follow, keep reading).
The Manling and I hunkered down on the pier, him with his rod and me with my iPhone, while we waited for one or more of the local ‘gators to make an appearance. Marsha gladly shared her experience (and the above photo) from the night before along with all the information she knew about alligators, including this little tidbit – the lines through the growth in the water hugging the shoreline and the pier were tracks made by the alligators as they entered and exited the water.
The Manling, Marsha’s husband, and two out of their three grandsons fished from the pier, catching hand-sized little fellas left and right. Marsha and I chatted. Time passed.
Marsha’s Man announced to the pier that he saw a ‘gator across the lake. Skeptical, The Manling and I shaded our eyes with our hands, squinted against the late afternoon glare off of the water, and slowly scanned the area that he indicated. We saw nothing. After surveying the area several times, I ventured to mention that I saw nothing, to which he responded, “That thing that looks like a log right there,” pointing exactly where I should look. Sure enough, we saw what looked like driftwood floating adjacent to the shoreline. Still somewhat skeptical that it was a bona fide alligator, The Manling and I took up “log watching” like it was an income-generating venture. And guess what. It WAS a bona fide alligator! (We were clued into this when a fish jumped out of the water and the “log” course-corrected to follow it. For about ten minutes.)
Assured by Marsha’s hubs that the thing would feed on the fish they were catching under the pier around 6pm, we not-so-patiently watched the clock, waiting for him to make his way across the lake to us so we could get a good look at him. By 6:30pm, he had disappeared altogether. Feeling slightly disappointed, we bid our new friends good-bye and headed to one last spot, a place that Marsha’s husband assured us he’d seen a 10-12 footer earlier in the day. After driving around for about fifteen minutes, unable to find the spot he had referenced, I unexpectedly got a text from Marsha that said the alligator had shown up! The Manling and I pointed the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside) back toward the pier and were rewarded with these up-close encounters with a 5-6 footer –
After the excitement wore off (for the alligator, not us), Marsha’s Man hopped on a scooter and escorted us to the place he’d seen the 10-12 footer earlier in the day. Stopped on the side of the road, Marsha’s Man crossed the road and ventured into the dense brush under the towering pine trees. Alone. Wearing flip flops.
After searching a few minutes, he found what he had been looking for… sitting utterly motionless in the water looking at him, only his head visible. And it was a ginormous head. Can you see it?
After several failed attempts to lure The Manling into the brush to get a closer look (This came out of my mouth: “That’s going to be a hard ‘no’ because I love him. And your family loves you, too, so I think it would probably be best for you to come back out here with us.”), he finally joined us back on the road. In his excitement, he commenced trying to convince us that approaching the alligator’s home – for we assume it was indeed it’s home since there was a camera box in the brush pointing at it – wouldn’t be too unsafe. He eventually understood the meaning of our “no’s” in all of its varying forms, bid us farewell, and we parted ways – him back to the pier, us back to I-45…and the safety of our own home.
Why We Love Huntsville State Park
Fishing. In our experience, it should be called “catching” at HSP. Go old school with worms.
Camping. Like I said, there were tent campers. In August. In 100+ degree weather. That speaks volumes.
Alligators. This could easily become classified as an obsession. Until this year, I had only seen alligators in the zoo or on the screen. It is insane to know they are around and that they aren’t out to get me. You know, like the snakes. Or the alligator on Lake Placid.
Towering Pines. Being a native of Alabama the Beautiful, ya girl loves her towering pines. This places is tall tree heaven. Bonus: Lots of shade, which lowers the oppressive summer temps.
Must-Do’s
Alligator Watch. Seriously! Go to the fishing pier. Take binoculars. Be patient. Better yet, ask Park Staff on your way in where the best place to spot an alligator is and follow their advice. (NOTE: The alligators are not tame. They are 100% wild. Keep your distance. Don’t be stupid.)
Fish. The fishing piers were perfect for catching hand-sized fish. We didn’t drop a line anywhere else, but I’m sure the Park Staff could give you good tips. Just ask them when you check into the park.
Camp. Beautiful, roomy camping spots. RV spots. Not your jam? How about a shelter with a/c? HSP has you covered, whatever your preference for camping.
Hike. Because of the allure of the alligators, we ran out of time to be able to hike. I imagine the trails would be gorgeous winding through such beautiful trees. Let me know if you have first-hand experience. I’d love to hear from you.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Huntsville State Park! Please share your thoughts on this no-longer-overlooked state park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
My birds eye view atop the observation tower was stunning at sunrise, but I would imagine it would be spectacular as the sun set across the water on the other end of the day.
As a kid, I loved watching The Parent Trap. The whole idea of going to camp for the entire summer seemed like Heaven on Earth. The myriad of activities available to all the campers at Miss Inch’s Summer Camp for Girls always looked so fun! And the camp itself looked like the most picture-perfect place on Earth to my young eyes.
Separately, The Manling and I conquered our fears of height to gain a higher perspective of the beautiful lake and the spectacular surrounding areas.
As a teenager, I was all about Dirty Dancing – but not because of Patrick Swayze. Kellerman’s Resort held the irresistible draw to my teenaged self that Miss Inch’s Summer Camp for Girls did to the younger me. It was a magical place that offered good, clean fun for it’s guests like the talent show where the accordion players among us finally got their fifteen minutes of fame. There were log cabins (like the one Baby’s family rented) and beautiful lakes in the background and a variety of activities designed to bring people together in wholesome ways. (I would argue that the resort played a pivotal role in the movie, for the idyllic setting captured my attention more than any of the main characters.)
My amazing view as the sun greeted the day.
As an adult, I discovered Lake Livingston State Park during the Summer of 2018, a place that was like stepping back into the absolutely best parts of yesteryear. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that LLSP has somehow captured all of the greatest moments of childhood and nestled them under towering East Texas trees, and then tossed in an absolutely perfect campy vibe that leaves you wistful for bygone days.
My fondest childhood memories apparently live on at LLSP, most especially at the screened shelters area. Little House on the Prairie, anyone? Those adorable wooden shelters on the shores of Lake Livingston State Park made me want to exchange the luxury & convenience of city life for the quaint simplicity beckoning from within those tiny houses right then and there. (Honestly, I texted The Man while I was walking around that area to inform him that I believed I could live my best life RIGHT. THERE. And I meant it.)
See what I mean?!?! My heart aches to call that place home.
Or this one. I’m not picky. I could live my best life in either of these one room shelters. I promise.
While I was off fantasizing about living my best life in one of those Tiny Houses, The Manling was – drum roll please – fishing. And for all you anglers out there, the fishing is good at Lake Livingston State Park, even from the shoreline.
A sampling of the little guys that called the area around the boat launch home.
I even landed a wee little fella when I took a break from my nostalgia to live in the moment with The Manling.
What else is there to do at Lake Livingston State Park if you’re not into reliving yesteryear or fishing? Rent a canoe and spend some time on the lake. Geocache. Go hiking – there’s about 5 miles of trail. Mountain bike. Go on a nature hunt for birds, or rabbits, or armadillos, or flying squirrels…even alligators! The point is, there is something for everyone at LLSP. What are you waiting for?
Why We Love Lake Livingston State Park
Nostalgia. If your best childhood memories could be packaged into a State Park, that State Park would be Lake Livingston.
Water. This is an irresistible draw during the summer heat in Texas. LLSP offers affordable canoe and kayak rentals. They loan good ole fashioned cane fishing poles. And you can swim in the lake, to boot!
Shelters. Scroll back up to those pictures. They speak for themselves, but I gushed over them anyway. #bestlifeever
Forest. We love trees. Tall ones. The kind that offer real shade. The kind under which the temperature is noticeably lower. We want to look at them. We want to walk in their shade. We want to see the impossibly blue sky peeping through their towering, green limbs. If you do, too, LLSP is your utopia.
Must Do’s
Sunset. Go to the tip-top of the Observation Tower about an hour before sunset and just enjoy the show over Lake Livingston.
Stay. Reader, you can request specific campsites and shelters, which is unusual within the State Park system because the norm is “first come, first served.” Take advantage of that awesomeness and rent shelter #7 or #3. Trust me.
Hike. While we didn’t hike on our visit (the shoreline fishing was too good!), reading about the nite hike to Frog Pond is calling my name! And rumor has it that the most popular trail (the Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail) happens to be the means to get to Frog Pond, so you totally score a twofer with this hike. Don’t forget a flashlight.
Make Memories. In my opinion, this isn’t the place to be alone. Grab those you love and go make some memories at LLSP. The place is rich with opportunities!
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Lake Livingston State Park! Please leave your comments on this State Park that is nothing short of a delicious slice of yesteryear below.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Martin Dies Jr. State Park has not one, not two, but THREE different units! It is ginormous!!
By the time we visited our 37th Texas State Park, we kind of figured we knew what we’d signed up for, and what to expect. We knew the drill. After visiting 36 State Parks, we had developed a kind of rhythm to it.
Let me start by gushing over how utterly gasp-worthy the drive to the HQ was when we visited in 2018. We’re talking towering trees lining the road, creating the most inviting and sporadically shaded drive that was akin to that scene in Keira Knightley’s version of Pride & Prejudice when she was visiting the Lake District with her Aunt & Uncle, riding along the English landscape, face upturned to the canopied trees, eyes closed, enjoying the bright bursts of sunshine through her closed lids that was punctuated now and again by the overhanging limbs. It was exactly that kind of beautiful drive that greeted us upon entry into the park that late summer day in mid-August.
The epic nature of that first introduction to MDJSP doesn’t really translate onto the screen. You’ll have to just trust me.
Maps in hand, we decided to do a scenic drive through of the park, get our bearings, and figure out where The Manling wanted to drop his first line in the water. We drove through what looked like a community of Little Houses on the Prairie. We passed countless camp sites, every one looking like it would be the best. We crossed over the quaintest bridge where we noticed a pontoon-type pier near the rental canoes. We saw open lake. We saw little inlets that looked freshly plucked out of Jurassic World. We saw and heard birds. We looked for ‘gators. We hiked part of the Island Trail. We saw the Observation Pier. Pretty much, we explored all the nooks and crannies MDJSP has to offer and came away with this: East Texas takes state parking to a whole different level!
The Manling doing a little fishing on the pontoon-style pier.
I couldn’t help being reminded of Parent Trap when I saw these. Love!
An example of the stellar camp sites available at MDJSP.
Campsite view of the lake under the shade of the towering trees. Bliss.
Part of the beautiful Island Trail, a great example of the lazy paths through the tall trees, never out of view of the water.
Cue the theme to Little House on the Prairie, please.
The Manling feeling right at home. I think Lake Life is in his future.
Love, love, love when the waters are covered like that. I don’t know what it is, but I do know that you can spot “alligator tracks” in them. Thumbs up!
Seriously the best reflection pictures are available late afternoon just about anywhere in the park that the sun can shine through the trees.
The Manling’s Mom totally appreciates the “sea wall” from which he got to fish. She’s not over fond of him being in the water when alligators call it home.
I can feel the tension in my muscles relaxing just looking at photos like this. This is one of my happy places, I think.
I’m not going to apologize or make excuses because, truth be told, I needed this park, in this way, at this time. I needed to relax. I needed to allow the beauty and calm of the sights and sounds of nature to press the RESET button on my life. I needed a hiatus from the habitual business of life, and just Be. And that is exactly what MDJSP offered me. Respite. Peace. Breathing space. An intermission. A good ol’ fashioned time out.
Thank you, Martin Dies Jr. State Park. You were exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
Why We Love Martin Dies Jr. State Park
Log Cabin Village. Big fans of the Little House series, we adored the little log cabins available to overnight guests. They even have them with a/c. Simply irresistible.
Fishing. So many miles of shoreline. So many piers. So many places to fish.
Exploring. The trails absolutely rock. They have soft ground trails with towering trees overhead and a wealth of wildlife living in them. Try your hand a geocaching! In our opinion, it’s the BEST way to explore! Or grab your mountain bike for an afternoon on the trails.
Water. Two rivers converge where MDJSP is situated. Take to the water, especially if your visit happens during the six months of summer we seem to have here in Texas.
Alligators. Never saw one on our visit, but I gotta tell you, it’s exciting to look. Just the possibility of seeing one is an attraction in our book.
Camp Sites. Truly, The Manling and I kept spotting “the best campsite” around every corner. They are all magnificent and spacious, especially the ones that back up to the water.
Loaners. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and bikes. They even have a volleyball if the mood strikes that you can borrow for free at the HQ. I love that you don’t have to haul all of your own equipment. They’ve got you covered.
Must Do’s
Fish. There are a number of fishing piers and various places along the vast shorelines to drop a line.
Hike. So many easy trails on soft surfaces. Your dogs shouldn’t be barkin’ after exploring these.
Relax. Seriously, I felt so much lighter while we were at MDJSP. So peaceful. So beautiful. Such respite.
Stay. Whether in a cabin, a shelter, or a camp site, I honestly don’t think you could go wrong planning an overnighter at MDJSP. Picture perfect paradise.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Martin Dies Jr. State Park! Please leave your comments on this picture perfect, peaceful, life reset below.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
The Manling and I pointed the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside) toward the Gulf of Mexico in the wee hours of an August 2018 morning, excited for a one-day getaway to a new-to-us, beachy destination in the southeast corner of the Great State of Texas. We arrived about an hour after Sea Rim State Park opened, profusely excited over two things – the probability of seeing alligators and the possibility of catching sharks. The Park Staff that we met in the HQ was an encouragement to us regarding the attainability of our goals and even shared a personal video that she had taken the day before of one of the local ‘gators crossing the road from the beach to the marsh side of the park. This one gesture served to fan the embers of our hopes and dreams, bursting them into a full-fledged fire on the spot. Next, she gave us tips on what other ocean anglers had used to catch sharks at SRSP and directed us to the nearest bait shop, unfortunately located ten miles east. Back into the Tiny Toyota Tardis we went, headed east toward a grocery store we “couldn’t miss” in Sabine Pass to buy both shrimp and mullet, the tasty treats that would {hopefully} land The Manling his first shark.
Bait acquired, we headed back to Sea Rim. We stopped by the Marsh Unit on the off chance that an alligator might be visible before we continued to the beach side of the park. We parked the car near the rental cabin and began looking, looking, looking.
Was that…?
Yes, lying completely still and silently observing us observing her near the kayak launch was a roughly 6 foot beauty! Apparently shy, she noiselessly disappeared under the surface of the water as we slowly approached, making the far away photo below the only evidence of our encounter.
Can you spy with your little eye our new friend?
With goal #1 accomplished before lunch, we headed to the gulf side of the park with a proverbial spring in our step to work on goal #2. We passed the HQ and steered the Tiny Toyota Tardis onto the beach – yeah, onto the beach – because at SRSP, the sand is so “packed” that you can actually drive onto it, even in a tiny, lightweight 2-door stick shift! From that moment forward, the world (or at least this beautiful, beachy portion of it) was our oyster!
SRSP boasts five miles of gulf front property and we, my friends, were the sole occupants. See?
Not a sole in sight to the east…
…nor to the west.
Once we set up shop for the day, The Manling got down to the very serious business of trying to land himself a shark. He fished for five straight hours while I read, relaxed, and simply enjoying the bliss of this shared moment in time at this special place.
Shortly after lunch, we headed to the Gambusia Nature Trail, an easy twenty minute trail through the marshes atop a genuine boardwalk. As in, the entire trail is a boardwalk through the marshes and since rumor had it that some of the alligators enjoyed sunning themselves around midday, we thought we’d take a peek. I was admittedly a wee bit cautious as we entered the boardwalk trail because of the au naturale condition that greeted us.
I persevered, however, around that curve to the right, through the super tall growth that I was afraid concealed some hungry ‘gators, and all the way to the first glimpses of water under our path. In other words, about 150 feet. Then I looked down into the water to the left just in time to see a snake swim out from under the boardwalk about four feet in front of me, at which point I decided to make a hasty exit.
Feeling exasperated by my phobia, I began to think of a way to conquer my fear and this trail. It was then that I spotted my new best friend, Marie, enjoying a picnic lunch with her husband and sweet granddaughter. Before giving it any thought, I walked straight over to them and asked if they were, by any chance, planning to walk the boardwalk trail after their picnic. Reader, I visibly exhaled when she answered that they were and agreed to let us tag along – a little Colorado Bend State Park déjà vu for the win!
Totally stoked, I left Marie and family to finish their picnic in peace. I walked back to the Toyota to inform The Manling of the good news, at which he may have rolled his eyes in exasperation. But, he let it lie and just rolled with it. This wasn’t his first time at the rodeo.
Long story short, Marie and her daughter had a fabulous time walking, skipping, and basically just enjoying the sights and sounds of the birds, the fish, and a couple of times, me. I was on Mr. Marie like white on rice. The poor man practically wore me like a knapsack as we strolled casually around the 3/4 mile boardwalk, which in places seemed a little too on the rickety side for my preference. Nary an alligator did we see, sunning itself or otherwise. I did look up from my frozen view of Mr. Marie’s shoes a couple of times and was treated to some breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
Photo Credit: Marie, who shared this photo she took of her blessed husband and The Manling dutifully flanking me like we were the British on patrol during the Revolution.
Since the rest of the trails were all paddling trails (and we didn’t ask the Tiny Toyota Tardis to shoulder the burden of carrying the kayak, which would definitely be a picture-worthy sight), all that was left on the agenda was to live in the moment on the beautiful bit of beach we had claimed while The Manling continued his quest for goal #2.
Catch-and-release
While The Manling landed one fish after another, in the end a shark was not counted among them. I did a very little bit of exploring on my own (mainly the Dune Boardwalk), and spent the rest of our time at Sea Rim State Park savoring the memories I was making with The Manling from the comfort of my camping chair.
As all good things must, our magnificent day at SRSP came to a close- just as a summer storm crested the northern horizon behind us.
That’s a big storm brewing behind the Tiny Toyota Tardis!
On our way out of the park, we stopped by the Marsh Unit one more time on the off chance that we might see another alligator, which proved the perfect way to end our time at Sea Rim State Park on a very high note.
Can you see that big, beautiful head in the water?
Why We Love Sea Rim State Park
Water. Texas summers should always, 100% of the time, equal water. It’s hot as Hades here. Water makes it bearable. The steady breeze off the waters of the Gulf aren’t too bad, either.
Fishing. The fishing was excellent and even though The Manling didn’t land his first shark, he had a stellar day doing what he loved. It’s always more fun catching when you go fishing.
Alligators. I have a morbidly curious fascination with the alligators in Texas, especially in the State Parks. And we saw TWO this day! Score!
Uncrowded. The location (which is remote) is the only sense that I can make of the place being so unpopulated. But hey, that’s our jam! We loved feeling like this was our private piece of paradise for the day!
Must Do’s
Fish. Grab some mullet and shrimp before heading to the park. That grocery store in Sabine Pass 10 miles to the east can hook you up. Then park your keister on the beach for the day, reeling ’em in til your heart is content.
Relax. The park is situated in a pretty remote place, which seemed to be the only reason it was uncrowded on our visit. You can do some serious de-stressing on that underpopulated stretch of Gulf coast. You’re welcome.
Nature. Enjoy the sea birds. I literally watched their shenanigans for hours. Go on an alligator hunt – just keep your distance and don’t be a fool. Those things are completely wild. Exercise caution.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Sea Rim State Park! Please share your experiences at this uncrowded piece of paradise in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Estero Llano Grande State Park was the second birding center we visited on our South Texas trip in mid-June 2018. We thought we knew what to expect. We had, after all, already done this birding center thing once. But…
Estero Llano Grande State Park was vastly different from Resaca de la Palma State Park both in it’s Jurassic Park vibe, and in the overall look of the place. Where Resaca was unspoiled (wild, if you will), Estero Llano was manicured. While Resaca had the feel of the country, Estero Llano had the feel of a masterfully planned city park. You felt the history of Resaca de la Palma while Estero Llano Grande felt more like a modernized zoo – the kind where habitats are designed to be more natural and the patrons observe said animals in habitats that mimic the animals’ natural environment even though they are not the animals’ natural environment. So, two birding centers that couldn’t have more contrasting vibes if they had tried.
Once we parked, we followed the cute bird tracks on the ground to the HQ, which is nowhere near the parking lot. Brilliant move, those tracks. After explaining our gap year goal (99 Texas State Parks. 12 Month State Park Pass. 1 Awesome Adventure.), our enthusiastic Park Staffer called a co-worker to help us all plan just the right adventure for us. And while they talked of this bird, or that nest, even pointing to photographs taken presumably at the park decorating the wall behind their desk, they completely had us at alligators. Yes, friend. They have alligators at Estero Llano Grande State Park!!! We basically left the stack of Park Maps scattered in the wind of our hasty departure as we set out for some alligator sightings at birding center number two.
Where’s Waldo time. Find Jesse. Go!
As we walked the clearly marked eight foot wide trails, enjoying the nicely manicured park that presumably houses wonderful flighty creatures, we were singularly focused on seeing us some alligators at aptly named Alligator Lake. Seldom a thought of snakes hidden in the tall grass (or reeds) entered my mind. Just alligators. There may have been some birds. They might have even provided a cheery soundtrack to our time at ELGSP. Honestly, I don’t remember. I was excited (and a teeny bit scared!) that we might soon see some ginormous reptiles that could end us in a habitat that didn’t appear to have the safety precautions you’d appreciate at the aforementioned modernized zoo.
At this point, I’m just going to go ahead and spoil the end for you. We didn’t see any alligators. Nada. Zilch. Not even a trace of an alligator, unless you count this sign –
This was a quickie photo op because I was a little hesitant to have them with their backs to the water at this early point in the game.
– which I did not. Kinder Frau? She is in the throws of big fears in the pics, which – like my snake-infested imaginings – were for naught. We walked all the way to the other end of Alligator Lake, as seen here –
This raised platform felt marginally safer than the previous photo for turning your backs to the water. Just marginally, though.
Still nothing. These alligators have that “Leave No Trace” thing down. We took some side trails as we headed back to the HQ, Kinder Frau thankful for a true Jurassic Park experience (meaning the animals were a “no show”).
Why We Love Estero Llano Grande State Park
Jurassic Park. Admittedly, we hummed Welcome to Jurassic Park while we were exploring, but that is only because it really did have that vibe. It was cool.
Alligators. Um, yes, please! Ironically, Alligator Lake is the only natural part of the park, we were told in the HQ. It is shaped like an alligator, but we were assured it was naturally so and that it was the rest of the park that was planned.
Park Staff. We loved their enthusiasm and appreciated all that they {tried to} teach us about the birds there, even though they lost us at alligators.
New Feel. Hey, we’re city people. After spending time at the wilder Resaca de la Palma State Park, it was nice to relax my muscles and enjoy the familiar city feel of Estero Llano Grande State Park.
Must Do’s
Alligators. Try to see them. And then post about it in the comments! We’d love to read about your experience with them!
Birding. There is a scope-type binocular available on the porch of the HQ overlooking Ibis Pond. Spend some time getting “up close” with our feathered friends from the comfort (and safety) of the shaded porch either before or after you wander the grounds.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Estero Llano Grande State Park! Please share your thoughts on this masterfully planned state park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
