Texas has beautiful weather for most of the year. So if you live in Texas or are just visiting, it is a great time to be outdoors.
Here are 10 affordable things you and your family can do outdoors in Texas.
1. Visit a state park- There are a variety of options available to you when it comes to state parks in Texas. You can enjoy everything from horseback riding to aerial tram rides to fishing to mountain biking. A few of the great state parks that Texas has to offer are Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Fredericksburg. Enchanted Rock is 1643.5 acres on Big Sandy Creek. While there you can enjoy activities such as bird watching, camping, hiking, picnicking, rock climbing, geological study and star gazing.
2. Join an outdoor workshop- You can learn so much by joining an outdoor workshop that interests you and your family. Do you enjoy hunting? You can join a hunter education course where you will learn the skills, regulations and responsibilities of hunting. The Texas Outdoor Family Workshops teach you basic outdoor skills such as fire starting, how to use a GPS and how to set up a camp site.
3. Do some Texas paddling- Texas Paddling trails currently have eight coastal paddling trails and ten inland paddling trails. The three newest trails are the Lady Bird Lake trail in Austin, the Buffalo Bayou trail in Houston and the Limestone Bluffs trail in Groesbeck.
4. Go fishing- You can go fishing without a license without a license in the Texas state parks. The Neighborhood Fishing Program stocks select lakes throughout Texas such as South Lakes Park North Pond in Denton and Miller’s Pond in San Antonio.
5. Go Swimming- Texas has many rivers, lakes and seashores to take a dip in. There are more than 50 state parks in which you can go swimming.
6. Search for wildlife- Texas has many wildlife trails for you to explore. The Hill Country State national Area in Bandera is the perfect place to see deer, wild rabbits, rodents, reptiles and beautiful birds. And the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio is the perfect place to view rarely seen butterflies, dragonflies and birds.
7. Follow a biking trail- Texas offers bike trails for beginners and experts bicyclists alike. Expert riders can try their hand at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso which boosts 100 miles of trails and some of the highest peaks in the state.
8. Hiking- Whether you like leisure walks in the woods or rugged mountain climbing, you will find a hiking trail suitable for you.
9. Ride horseback- One of the best ways to experience parts of Texas is on horseback. At Lake Somerville State Park, you can take your horse camping with you. They have equestrian campgrounds complete with water troughs and horse pens.
10. Take your kids hunting- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers the Texas Youth Hunting Program. It occurs statewide and offers Youth Only open seasons for deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl.
So get in the car, grab your gear and have some fun outdoors in Texas.
