Passport to Texas

Night Sky

Nature: Meteor Showers Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When small fragments of cosmic debris – created when a comet swings past the sun – enter the earth’s atmosphere at incredibly high rates of speed, they manifest as streaks of light in the night sky.

We generally name meteor showers for the constelations from which they seem to radiate. For example, the popular Perseid meteor shower, which peaks in mid-August, seems to come from the constellation Perseus – and thus its name. While arguably the most popular meteor event, the Perseid is only one of many that occurs year-round.

In fact, this week [October 21-22] the Orionids will peak; in a normal year you may see 20-25 meteors an hour; in a great year, as many as 50 an hour.

The Leonids, which peak November 15 & 16 come from the comet Temple-Tuttle; while the Leonids have provided stunning meteor storms as recently as 2001 expect only about 15 meteors an hour this year.

The Geminids, which peak the weekend of December 13 & 14, will offer the most impressive show of 2014. These meteors are often bright and intensely colored. What makes this event top notch is that meteors start showing up before 10 p.m. That means you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to see them.

Find a list of other meteor events at passporttotexas.org. And follow us on twitter, we’re @passporttotexas.

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.

Communal spider web at Lake Tawakoni State Park 2007.

State Parks: Halloween Roundup Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Scare up some outdoor fun this Halloween at state parks. Three spooky events take place Saturday October 25:

Gonna be in East Texas? Then, enjoy a goose-bump inducing guided stroll through the deep, dark forest of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park; but take heart – games and activities await you at journey’s end.

Tremble as you hear stories of curses, spirits and things that go bump in the night at Lake Whitney State Park, just 40 minutes north of Waco. But it all kicks off with Halloween jokes for the kiddos, such as: What do birds in state parks sing on Halloween? They sing Trick or Tweet. I didn’t say they were good jokes.

Enjoy an evening of creepy fun at Lake Tawakoni State Park, about an hour east of Dallas. In 2007, it gained international fame for a gigantic communal spider web on park grounds. There will be trick or treating, a pumpkin carving contest, campsite decorating and more.

On October 30, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens celebrates Halloween at the Hatchery. Local businesses and organizations will hand out free candy, and the center’s Halloween themed decorations will dress up the place.

Cave tours are a scream, and on Halloween night, Kickapoo Cavern State Park – a half hour from Del Rio – plans a two hour haunted cave tour. Keep an eye out for bats.

Find all details about Halloween at texasstateparks.org.

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.

Paddling an East Texas Trail

Recreation: New Paddling Trail Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Outdoor enthusiasts have access to more than 500 miles of paddling trails throughout Texas.

04— We want to grow our inventory of trails as large as the state will allow.

Toward that end, Ron Smith, of Inland Fisheries, says a new trail opens this week in East Texas.

06— It’s located right next to and through the Big Thicket down in Beaumont, Texas.

Smith says access to the trail is easy. And, while it’s suitable for novices, seasoned paddlers will enjoy it, too, as it offers variety.

10—The trail goes up through Cook’s Lake, and then it goes across the bayou back into Big Thicket; then it comes back out on Scatterman Lake, and then you come down the Neches River.

At which point you can head back to dry land at the take out point. And if you’re interested in paddling this new trail…

14—Well, they’re going to try and launch it with their Big Thicket rally on September the sixth, on a Saturday. And, from what I hear, they have already 100 boats signed up to do it. So, there’ll be a lot of paddlers out there that day.

Find information on all the paddling trails in Texas on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Funding for our show is provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Caprock Canyon trail

Recreation: National Trails Day Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

National Trails Day, which is Saturday June 7 this year, encourages us to celebrate the outdoors on foot.

04— Most of our parks have programs and trail-type events every weekend of the year.

But, Thomas Wilhelm, with Texas State Parks, says there are special trail events around the state this Saturday.

12— Bastrop is having a special hike so you can see the rejuvenation efforts that are taking place in Bastrop following the wildfires. Estero Llano Grande and Resaca de la Palma down in the valley are having special bird-centric hikes.

There are other hiking events and even trail building, maintenance and repair opportunities at parks across the state, too. Thomas Wilhelm says, in the end, the point is to get outside and experience nature.

23— Being on the trails is the first step to really embracing nature. It’s low impact. You’re just doing something we do every day – you’re just doing it in a different atmosphere. So, you really get to experience things that you may overlook day-to-day, even though it’s right there beside you (even though it’s right there beside you). So, it starts people on the path to really appreciating nature and wildlife and everything that’s around them.

Find information about National Trails Day and Texas State Parks trail information at texasstateparks.org.

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

Battleship TEXAS

Event/History: Celebrating Battleship TEXAS at 100 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Wrap up spring break March 15 with a family to trip the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic site to celebrate the centennial of Battleship TEXAS.

08—The family festival that we’re going to have on March 15, is going to be a party the likes of which we probably haven’t seen out here before.

Andy Smith oversees the upkeep of the antique dreadnought (now a museum), which saw action in both World Wars. In addition to many family-friendly activities, there’s live music throughout the day, featuring headliner Robert Earl Keen.

08—He’s bringing his Texas Uprising, which is a music festival to the site. And he’s very excited to help raise the awareness of the ship.

Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, Reckless Kelly and Charlie Robison join the lineup at the site.

21—We have a 12-hundred acre facility here; we’re going to have these festivities on and around the battleship – on the smaller side of the park. And it’s going to be a really great event. Tickets are available right now and can be purchased at battleshiptexas.org, and that’ll be march 15 starting at noon and running until 10 p.m. at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.

Andy Smith says money raised from the event will fund much needed repairs to the 100 year old vessel. For more information and tickets go to battleshiptexas.org.

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