Archive for the 'State Parks' Category

State Park Getaway–Meridian State Park

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

Texas parks that have amazing geology, abundant wildlife, outstanding fishing, and plentiful campsites, stay packed, right? Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, says Meridian State Park has all that and more… but without the crowds.

It’s kind of an overlooked park for its scenic beauty. It’s northwest of Waco—between Waco and Granbury.

You’ve got big limestone hills and trees and in the spring with the trees budding and coming out it’s an absolute beautiful time to go there. But it’s also go t a 72-acre lake that’s got great fishing.

The Bosque River is nearby and makes this series of valleys and rolling hills. And it’s a beautiful part of Texas; something where you can go camping or hiking…there’s trails.

It’s CCC built park in the 1930s from the Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s got a large group dining hall that was built back in the 1930s, and that beautiful stone work that the CCC is known for. But Meridian State Parks is a jewel, a little off the beaten path, that people might want to check out.

Thanks, Bryan!

Find more state park information at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show … For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Park Getaway–Canoeing & Kayaking

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

With summer on the way, lots of us are thinking about ways to get out on the water. Bryan Frazier, our State Park guide, says parks offer plenty of opportunities for water-borne fun and learning.

One of the great things about being in Texas is the warm weather that we have, and then the water recreations that goes along with it. It’s just something that people look forward to every year—as being able to get out onto the water.

And in state parks we have some guided tours for canoers and kayakers that gives people an educational and entertaining experience to not just get out and paddle around, but to have a guided tour and show them some of the native wildlife and the fish that are there and the features and the landmarks and things—so you get this up close and personal experience.

These are introductory programs…these are at a lot of parks statewide… from what we have at the Devil’s Waterhole at Inks Lake State Park…to the lake Somerville canoe tours…to what we have at Caddo Lake…and several others across the state.

So, it’s something that families can do, or groups can do…and it’s something that we’re proud to do… and a great experience for folks to get out on the water this summer.

Thanks, Bryan!

Find more state park information at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show … with support form the SFWR program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Time to Visit Mother [Neff State Park]

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

If you can’t visit your mother this Mother’s Day—spend time with ours: Mother Neff State Park, near Waco—Texas’ first official state park—named for Isabella Neff.

:08—She came to this area as a pioneer, and her youngest son, Pat Neff, went on to become the governor of Texas.

Leah Huth, park superintendent, says Mrs. Neff inspired her son to join with the national State Park movement.

:11—And she donated six acres down on the river for public use. That was the beginning of the land donation that later created the state park system.

Today the park, which sits on the banks of the Leon River, is 259 acres, and features structures built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Huth says spending time in the park gives her a sense of continuity and hope.

:26—The fact that a state park can still be just as beautiful today as it was when our settlers first came here…that gives me hope that in the future it’s going to continue. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to preserve the 259 acres so it can be here another 50, 100, 150 years for the people that are living at that point in time to enjoy just as well as the people that are enjoying it today, as well as they enjoyed it when Mother Neff was here.

Learn more about the woman behind Mother Neff SP when you attend the presentation: Noble Woman, Worthy Cause at the park May 8th and 9th.

That’s our show for today. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV–State Parks

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

Most kids are out of school for the summer, which means it’s time to visit a Texas State Park—or two. When you tune into the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series this month you can see parks you may want to visit. Series Producer, Don Cash.

One of the really interesting places is Kickapoo Caverns State Park, sort of near Del Rio. In addition to birding, they’ve got the Stewart Bat Cave; of course the main draw is Kickapoo Cavern, and it is just an amazing sight.

You’ve got twin columns. The column on your right is the largest column in the state of Texas—it’s eighty feet high—which is a little over eight stories.

We’re also going to go down to the valley in May, to Estero Llano Grande State Park, which is also known for birds. But one of the really cool things that a lot of people don’t know about is that they’ve got some alligators.

Yes, we do have a few alligators. They’re a major attraction, and we’re hoping that really pulls in some of the locals, because they’re really interested, and the often come just to see the alligators and walk out of the park.

Later in May on the PBS show, we head Northeast of Dallas to Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, and out on the big lake you can do some really good bass fishing.

There’s not a bad looking spot on the lake. A place that doesn’t look like it’ll hold a bass or two.

So, in May, on the PBS television show, we’re going to hit a lot of the state parks, and hopefully our viewers will see them and be ready to go when summer roles around.

Thanks, Don.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Park Getaway–Davis Mountains State Park

Friday, April 30th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

Davis Mountains SP is 27-hundred acres, and represents the largest mountain range that’s fully contained within the state of Texas…and it’s a great place for cool summer SP Getaway. Bryan Frazier is here to tell us more.

It seems like in the middle of summertime, in other parts of Texas, when it’s too hot to even go outside, Davis Mountains SP is figuratively and literally, the coolest place in Texas. It’s some 20 degrees cooler than place like Austin and San Antonio. It’s a respite from the heat.

And so, not only does it have Indian Lodge inside the park, where it has all the amenities of a hotel, with a restaurant, but you’ve got camping. You’ve got primitive camping; you’ve got equestrian camping with overnight accommodations. You’ve got RV sites that have not only water and electric hook-hp sites, but its one of our parks in the system that has water, electric, sewer, and cable TV hookups inside the state park with pull through sites. So, if you’re an RV-er, Davis Mountains SP is definitely one of those places that you definitely want to go to.

Davis Mountains SP is great for wildlife viewing. You can go right outside of Indian Lodge on the hiking trail and see all kinds of wildlife, as well as the native flora there to that region of Texas. And so, Davis Mountains SP is one of those places that people who go there rave about it and they go back again, and again, and again.

Thanks, Bryan. Find reservation information at passporttotexas.org.

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