Passport to Texas

Family at Kreische House during Trail of Lights.

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This is Passport to Texas

Thousands of twinkling lights illuminate a quarter mile walking trail this holiday season at the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites in LaGrange.

The trail of lights is open to the public five nights during the first part of December. That’s December third, ninth, tenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, from 6 pm to 8 pm. And our park is decorated with lots of lights and different ornaments throughout the grounds. Kreische house is open, it’s decorated for Christmas. We have entertainment, refreshments, and Santa Claus is there for children to tell their wishes to.

Dennis Smith is park superintendent.

[It’s] just a really pretty site here. We sit on a 200 foot bluff that overlooks the city of La Grange–and see the night lights of the city. It’s just a really spectacular opportunity for people to come out and enjoy a great Christmas celebration.

Smith says the trail of lights is the perfect family activity for the holiday season.

Every year we have comments from families that say we’ve been coming out here for the last 20 years. Families that come from Houston, Austin, San Antonio–just to come back to the trail of lights each year. We see more and more of that as we go by, and are just really glad to see these families keep coming back with more generations of their families to help celebrate the season.

Find complete details about the tail of lights at Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Site in La Grange, including entrance fees at texasstateparks.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Angler Holding Up Trout on Stringer, Blanco State Park Photo Credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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If you’re an angler who likes to eat what you catch, then now’s the time to reel in a rainbow trout.

We stock them at a catchable and eatable size. They are good fighting fish; they’re relatively easy to catch. We usually stock them in smaller bodies of water, so they’re a good fishing, catching opportunity and good eating opportunity as well.

Carl Kittle is a program director for Inland Fisheries, and oversees winter trout stocking in Texas, which began this month.

We’ve been stocking [rainbow] trout around Texas for almost 40 years. One interesting note about trout is that we often say there are no established populations of trout in Texas, but actually, way out west in the Davis Mountains there’s a small, tiny stream at high enough elevation that there is a reproducing population of rainbow trout.

That’s why we stock them in winter; most of Texas is too hot for the. Inland fisheries will distribute more than 290-thousand rainbows in 150 locations.

And we have a special program; we actually stock somewhat larger trout in urban areas in our Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. And that’s something that you can specifically look for on our web page.

With the winter holidays here, it’s is a great time go fishing with the kids. Find the stocking schedule on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish restoration program supports our series and funds rainbow trout stocking in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Texas State Parks Christmas Ornaments for 2015

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Tradition is what the holidays are about. And it’s a tradition for Texas Parks and Wildlife to commemorate state parks this time of year with ornaments.

12—That’s right. We’re on our 14th annual edition of our state park Christmas ornaments. This year we feature three different parks: Brazos Bend State Park, Mustang Island State Park, and Blanco State Park.

Thomas Wilhelm, spokesman for Texas state parks, says these rustic wooden, laser engraved ornaments tell each park’s story. The Blanco State Park ornament has special meaning this year as it recovers from spring flooding.

15—Blanco is having their own recovery story. The park is back open, but we did want to nod to the fact that they’ve had a tough year, but we wanted to commemorate that park and show off a little bit of their history and how they continue to thrive after the events of this spring.

The 2015 ornaments are available individually or as a set.

12—You can purchase the individual ornaments for $8.95, or you can purchase the set for $19.95. Call our customer service center 512.389.8900, and they can take your order over the phone.

The money raised helps support your state parks.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Goliad State Park and Historic Site: Mission Espiritu Santo

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Texas State Parks provide soul-satisfying getaways during the holiday season. Park spokesman, Thomas Wilhelm says on Saturday, December fifth, Goliad State Park and Historic Site, presents Christmas at Mission Espiritu Santo.

22— Goliad’s a beautiful park, and their Christmas event is really special. They are having their Christmas concert on December fifth. That’s when the mission is decked out for Christmas. They have a local choir come in and they do a mixture of sacred and secular music. It’s a really beautiful opportunity. Plus, the park is also decorated throughout the month of December. They call it History in Lights, where it’s decorated for the Christmas season.

And that’s just one many holiday events and activities for your family and friends to enjoy at your state parks. Find more details at texasstateparks.org/holidays.

22—The holidays are such a busy time. And so, it’s a great opportunity if you can get outside and take a break and really enjoy a unique experience. Get out of the shopping malls. Get away from just the general craziness of the season, take a breath, and get to see a unique aspect of both he holidays and state parks. It’s redefining both at one time.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Happy Holidays from Passport to Texas and Texas State Parks!

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This is Passport to Texas

It’s not like we have to stay indoors huddled around a fireplace to stay warm during the holidays. It’s Texas, after all. But you can warm your spirit outdoors with a trip to a state park this holiday season.

04— We have over 47 parks participating this year, with over 65 events. So, lots of opportunities happening across the state.

Thomas Wilhelm, with state parks, shares a few places where we can find seasonal fun across the state.

48—At Franklin Mountains State Park they’re having an event called Howliday Hounds Hike, dressing up animals is Santa hats and going for hikes. LBJ State Park and Historic site here in Central Texas is having its 46th Annual Christmas Tree lighting. That’s been going on for a long time and it’s a lot of fun. Stephen F. Austin State Park, out towards Houston, is having its family Breakfast with Santa. And Lake Mineral Wells State Park up towards the Dallas area is having a [Cross-Timbers] Cowboy Christmas. With Cowboy poets and storytellers coming in to sit around the campfire and tell stories. There are events happening at several of our Valley area parks. Estero Llano Grande is having—one of the birding centers—is having a Santa Bird Hike. And, Resaca de la Palma, also in the valley, is having a Jolly Night Hike. And they’ll also have crafts and live performances by local talent.

Find a complete list of holiday events in state parks at www.texasstateparks.org/holidays.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.