With the economy in the shape that it is more and more people are making the decision to stay home for vacation. A “staycation” is the popular thing to do now days.
Living in East Texas I have found that I do not have to go far to “get away”. Just one tank of gas can get me to plenty of places that have fun and exciting things to do. Places that are practically in my backyard. This article will detail several areas in East Texas that are full of fun activities for the whole family. Even if you do not live in East Texas let this article inspire you to research your own area to find fun things to do with your family on your “staycation”.
One of the best things I really enjoy here in East Texas is fun and free. In fact, I just recently wrote an article about this great place. It is the Mineola Nature Preserve. This is a fun outing for the whole family to enjoy. Nothing beats a stroll along a path in the forest listening to the humming of the bees, the songs of the birds, and oh yes, the sting of the mosquito! No really, this place is awesome! It has 2 small ponds on the preserve plus it is right along side the Sabine River. Every time you visit you will no doubt see some type of wild life. So far I have seen an alligator, beaver, turtle, birds, and bees. It is always exciting to find out what animal you will see next. It is not uncommon to see deer and a wild hog here and there too. To read more about the Mineola Nature Preserve check out my article here.
Another great place I enjoy visiting that is fun for the whole family is the Gator Farm located in Grand Saline. This is a brand new attraction in the area having only opened up last year. They are constantly adding new things. They have just recently added a barnyard. You can check out my recent article about the Gator Farm here.
In the summertime in East Texas you can find a rodeo going on just about any weekend. The Gladewater Roundup Rodeo is always a lot of fun. In fact, it is a world famous PRCA rodeo. It is always held in June. You can also find rodeos in Mineola, Lindale, and Grand Saline.
One great thing about East Texas is that you won’t go hungry. East Texas is full of some great eateries. I just recently wrote an article about one of the famous places to eat here. It is East Texas Burger Co. It is famous for it’s juicy hamburgers and awesome chicken fried steak. Click here to read my article on ETBC.
If you love antiques then head to East Texas. Antique shops are everywhere! Downtown Mineola is home to popular antique shops. You can also find antique shops in Winnsboro, Carthage, Henderson, and Jefferson, to just name a few.
If you like the water, whether it be fishing or swimming, East Texas is definitely the place for you! East Texas has several lakes just right for swimming and fishing. Some of the most popular lakes are Lake Fork, Caddo Lake, and Lake O The Pines.
If entertainment is your thing then you will be plenty happy in East Texas. You can check out the Select Theater in downtown Mineola. It is one of the oldest running theaters in Texas. They play the latest movies every weekend and also have live productions there from time to time. At any given time you can just about find a festival of some sort going on East Texas. In May Mineola has their May Days Festival. In October you can go to the world famous Sweet Potato Festival in Golden. Grand Saline has their Salt Festival and Gladewater has their arts and crafts festival.
If museums are what floats your boat then you can find some great museums in East Texas. You can see some interesting artifacts at the Depot Museum in Pittsburg. While there you can see a replica of the Ezekiel Airship. An airplane that was constructed a year before the Wright Brothers took their famous flight. Kilgore is home to the East Texas Oil Museum. I have been there several times and I enjoy it every time I go. Inside the oil museum is a replica of an old town. It is very interesting and very unique.
This article has just barely touched the surface of what you can do in East Texas. Just the attractions and places to go in this article will keep you very busy for several days.
Just take a weekend soon and head our way to East Texas. If you already live here then I encourage you to head out and see what is out there. I double dog dare you!
