State Parks Getaways - Summer 2015

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wildflowers up close

In This Issue:

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School's Out, Parks Are In – Time for Outside Fun!

family swimming, kids jumping into water

To a kid, summer can seem like freedom forever, and parents may sometimes think it lasts forever, too. It’s a great time for the whole family to head outside to a state park where there’s plenty of room to roam! Did you know experts have found that children who play in nature are healthier, happier and smarter.

Visiting a state park can be one of your most fun-filled and affordable vacation options out there:

Find a Texas State Park near you.

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Wildflower Invasion Continues at State Parks!

yellow flowers cover meadow

Although the bluebonnets and paintbrushes have gone to seed, the wildflower season is not over by a long shot! Things that bloom into the summer include acacias, yarrows, agaves, flame acanthus, red and yellow columbine, antelope horns, standing winecup, prairie verbena, horsemint, and  many more. And it’s a great year for Texas wildflowers, thanks to timely seasonal rains.

See what's blooming far away from the distraction of high-speed traffic; head to a nearby state park for your wildflower fling. Take a leisurely stroll or a bike ride on a trail teaming with wildflowers. Linger. Take a closer look. Have a picnic surrounded by them. The options are as varied as the state of Texas. Use your iPhone to share pictures of flowers in state parks on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.

Really love wildflowers? Show your love for the state flower by sporting a bluebonnet conservation license plate on your car, truck, trailer or RV.

 

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Play Safely On the Water With These Tips

Boater SafteyGoing into the water? Practice these swimming safety tips:
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for sudden drop-offs, changing bottoms, unseen limbs, rocks, and other objects.
  • Stay hydrated. Take frequent breaks, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
  • Never swim alone. Even the most experienced swimmers can tire or get muscle cramps.
  • Supervise children at all times. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children, so keep your eyes on your kids.
  • Know your swimming skills and don't rely on flotation devices.
  • Swim in designated swimming areas which are the safest and best places to swim.

Going out on a watercraft? Teach your family and friends to boat safely. First and foremost, wear a life jacket. 70% of persons who died in a boating accident would be alive today, if they had worn a life jacket. Read more important boating safety tips. Survivors of boating accidents share their stories in this video.

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Bastrop: BYO Lawn Chair, Watch New Trees Grow

pine seedling growing

You are invited to witness the ongoing recovery of Bastrop State Park following the September 2011 wildfire that burned 95% of the parkland (who can forget this video of the inferno racing through the beloved Lost Pines forest?).

Volunteers, including students from the Texas School for the Blind, helped plant 485,750 trees on 1,025 acres of parklands this past December and January, contributing to the most productive tree planting season since the fire. The goal is to plant 1.8 million trees over five years. Partnerships with the Arbor Day Foundation, The Nobelity Project, TreeFolks, Texas A&M Forest Service, Superior Forestry and others made these efforts possible.

Want to help? Volunteers can find varied opportunities to help create a promising future for the Lost Pines Forest. Find out how you can help so that future visitors will be able to enjoy and relax in the shade provided by today’s growing saplings.

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A message from a Texas Parks and Wildlife sponsor: 

ADV LaQuinta 10% to Texas Parks
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Coastal State Parks Are a Breeze to Visit

girl flying kite on beach, family nearby

No need to check the rain gauge when you head to the beach!  The Texas coast has it all: 14 paddling trails to paddle, dozens of saltwater fish species to catch, more than 450 species of birds to spot and miles of beach awaiting sand castles. 

Try these beach-y state parks:

For a near-beach historical stop, visit Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site, the only one of 16 original Texas coastal lighthouses open to the public. Visitors will enjoy great views of South Padre Island and its beaches.

The breezes are blowing along the Texas Gulf coast. Come on down.

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Park Pick: Lake Brownwood State Park

fishing pier, Lake Brownwood

Heading out for a last-minute trip to a lake? Check out Lake Brownwood State Park, southwest of Fort Worth. This picturesque park, surrounded on three sides by the lake, features some of the finest examples of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) construction in the park system. The young men in CCC Companies 872 and 849 built more than 100 projects, ending their work in 1942.

Stay in a cabin, book a space for a group, or camp. Get set to hike, bike, fish and enjoy the water! To help plan your trip, check the park trails map and video.

 

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Featured Event: Lake Whitney Celebrates 50th

family playing on shoreline, Lake Whitney evening Saturday, May 16 at Lake Whitney State Park (south of Fort Worth) enjoy a full day of festivities to celebrate the park's 50th anniversary.
  • Learn to fish
  • Meet Buffalo Soldiers
  • Create art in the park
  • Visit the Operation Game Thief trailer hosted by game wardens
  • Take a guided bicycle tour
  • Learn water safety
  • Take a hike with park staff and volunteers.
  • Enjoy a Night Sky program hosted by a retired national park astronomer.

Here's a video tour of the park.

What’s your activity? Hiking, biking, watching wildlife? Find a park event for you and your family on the State Park Events Calendar.

Picnicking and napping under a shade tree are daily events at any park.

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Staff Hike Pick: Island Trail at Martin Dies, Jr. SP

heron fishing, shallow water

Bring all of your senses when you hike the Island Trail at Martin Dies Jr. State Park (northeast of Houston). If you experience it with only your eyes, you will miss the sounds of water lapping against the cypress knees, cricket frogs chirping and blue herons squawking. Pay attention to the texture of the pine and beech trees around you and the sandy soil beneath your boots. If you time it right, you’ll catch the citrus scent of the Southern magnolia blossoms.

Hikers and bikers alike will enjoy the curves and hills of this 0.8-mile loop trail. It’s a multisensory tour through the Pineywoods of East Texas!

The 730-acre park also offers three paddling trails and about eight scenic miles of hiking and biking trails that meander through the forest. Bring your binoculars (it's a great birding location) and mosquito repellent.

Length: 0.8 mi.
Difficulty: Easy + (to note tripping hazards created by roots, tree stumps, and uneven footing)

Image: Photo credit Dick Mott's WildeSide PhotoGraphix
 

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Postcard from Texas – San Solomon Springs

fish swimming, San Solomon Springs Stick your head under water to see some of the endangered desert spring fish at Balmorhea State ParkKeep this spot (the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool) in mind for the hot summer ahead. The water temperature stays at 72 to 76 degrees year-round. 

This moment in nature is brought to you by the EMMY-winning Texas Parks & Wildlife TV Show which airs on every Texas PBS station. Find your local stations and city government channels.

You can also find the program on:

  • YouTube – see individual stories that interest you
  • PBS – watch full 30 minute episodes on demand

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Thanks to the following sponsors and partners:

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