Nature + Outdoors

The Sweet Side of Texas Summers? Swimming-Hole Satisfaction

The Sweet Side of Texas Summers? Swimming-Hole Satisfaction

In Texas, we love our swimming holes as much as we love barbecue and country music. We’ve got plenty of them worth bragging about, too. From east to west and north to south, shimmering natural ponds and river respites abound, beckoning us to kick off our sandals and take a flying leap. Our advice? Give in to the temptation. To help you plot your adventure, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. Read More »

Hail to the Boys of the CCC

Hail to the Boys of the CCC

When I was a child, Texas’ state parks were beloved vacation ... Read More »

Park the Car and See Galveston Island by Bicycle

Park the Car and See Galveston Island by Bicycle

Lucky us: A brilliantly sunny morning greets us on the day we plan to see Galveston by bicycle. It’s been years since I’ve looked at my favorite island from a bike seat, and I’m eager to revisit the sensory experience of taking in the sights and sounds and smells of a place that’s at once so historic and vibrant. Read More »

Daytripper: Balmorhea

Daytripper: Balmorhea

Amid the prickly-pear cacti and rocky hills of West Texas lies a literal ... Read More »

The Story of Our National Parks

The Lone Star State was a little late to the national parks game, but as ... Read More »

Silver Wings

Silver Wings

Sara Beesley, director of the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center in San ... Read More »

A Desert Diverse

Resting in the shade next to a pool of clear water, I could almost forget that miles and miles of West Texas desert surround me. But in fact I was in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the most biologically diverse arid regions in the world. Read More »

Horse Sense

Horse Sense

Old Gonzo doesn’t want to trot. At first we thought it was because he ... Read More »

A New Dawn in the Davis Mountains

A New Dawn in the Davis Mountains

Dawn has just broken above the new Davis Mountains State Park ... Read More »

A State of Great Migration

A State of Great Migration

In spring and fall, great armies of birds migrate across Texas skies. Millions pass through on long-distance journeys between their northern breeding grounds and their winter homes in Central and South America. Others winter right here in Texas’ relatively warm climate. Of Texas’ 639 species of birds, more than two-thirds are migrants. Read More »

Wildflowers of Texas

Wildflowers of Texas

Texas Highways has chosen 30 of Texas’ most common wildflowers to identify and celebrate. It is a brief introduction to the splendor of a Lone Star spring – just a sampling of the more than 5,000 blooming plants in our lush state, so forgive us if we’ve omitted your particular favorite. Read More »

Trail Mix in San Marcos

Trail Mix in San Marcos

For its size, what small town boasts the most walking paths anywhere in ... Read More »

Galaxy Quest

Galaxy Quest

The summit of Mount Locke, home to McDonald Observatory, pokes into a ... Read More »

Davis Mountains Scenic Loop

Davis Mountains Scenic Loop

From a distance, West Texas’ Davis Mountains float above the ... Read More »

Tracking Time on the Caprock Canyon Trailway

Tracking Time on the Caprock Canyon Trailway

Travelers on the Caprock Canyons Trailway sometimes feel they’ve ... Read More »

Four for Fall: 2010

Four for Fall: 2010

I drove into Caprock Canyons State Park for the first time on a crisp ... Read More »

Get more Texas in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletters and never miss a moment of what's happening around the state.