Melissa Gaskill

Glamping Hits a High Point Along the Colorado River

December 15, 2023

The Story of Christmas Comes to Life at Fort Leaton’s Posada

December 13, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Prepare a Dutch Oven Feast at Lake Tawakoni State Park

November 10, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Flock to Brazos State Park for Birdwatching this Fall

October 11, 2023

Spend the Last Days of Summer at Sea Rim State Park

September 20, 2023

Shell Game: Debunking the Myths Surrounding Gulf Oysters

September 5, 2023

What looks like a slimy rock but is considered a culinary delicacy, lives as long as 20 years, and can change from male to female and back again?

After Spring’s Mating Season, It’s Babies Gone Wild at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway

August 16, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Plan Your Rocksprings Road Trip Now to See the Bats at Devil’s Sinkhole

July 24, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

The Volunteers Keeping Texas’ Waterways Clean

June 27, 2023

Pucker Up for a ‘Longhorn Kiss’ at Copper Breaks State Park in Quanah

June 5, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

For a New Outdoor Activity, Archery Hits the Bull’s-eye at Lockhart State Park

May 15, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Austin’s Waterloo Park Is Abuzz with Dan Winters’ ‘Seeing Bees’ Photo Installation

May 9, 2023

A path winds down the hillside in the Luci and Ian’s Family Hill Country Garden at the south end of Waterloo Park, just a couple blocks from the Texas State Capitol.

Bird Blinds Offer State Park Visitors and Migratory Birds a Tranquil Escape

May 2, 2023

Treat Yourself to a Glamping Weekend at Palo Duro Canyon State Park

April 13, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Go (Almost) Under the Sea at the Patton Center of Marine Science Education in Port Aransas

March 24, 2023

Inside a sofa-size aquarium, a black-and-white striped sheepshead and a small school of shiny Gulf menhaden swim above a southern flounder lying like a plate in the sand.

Head to South Texas for Hawk Watching at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

March 10, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of outdoor activities.

Venture to Marble Falls for Highland Lakes Fun and Relaxation

February 28, 2023

The Sky’s the Limit at South Llano River State Park

February 3, 2023

The Texas State Parks system marks its 100th anniversary this year. With 89 parks, natural areas, and historic sites to choose from, visitors can experience all kinds of different outdoor activities.

Sled Down the Dunes at Monahans Sandhills State Park in West Texas

December 29, 2022

Sip Local Brews Near the Beach at These Port Aransas Pubs

October 26, 2022

The Trost Trail Offers a Look at West Texas’ Gorgeously Crafted Hotels

June 29, 2022

The Habitats of Wild Creatures Transcend Lines Drawn on Paper

May 26, 2022

9 Caves in Texas You Can Tour for a Day of Pure Exploration

March 24, 2022

Where to Scuba Dive in Texas

March 24, 2022

Where to See Texas Wildflowers This Spring

February 28, 2022

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling With Your Pet in Texas

January 27, 2022

Farewell to a Fish: Once Found Only in the San Marcos River, the San Marcos Gambusia Has Gone Extinct

October 26, 2021

Houston’s TAXA Outdoors Makes Campers With Adventure, Comfort In Mind

September 23, 2021

Garrett Finney grew up camping in the northeast United States. After moving to Texas in the early 2000s to work at NASA’s Habitability Design Center, he took his family on a campout in the middle of a typically hot Texas summer.

Sharks Are at the Top of the Gulf Coast Food Chain

September 23, 2021

Where to See Bald Eagles in Texas this Fall and Winter

September 21, 2021

In early August, a staff member at Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park and Resort on Lake Buchanan near Burnet reported the area’s first bald eagle of the season.

New Safari-Style Tents Offer Hassle-Free Camping at Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

August 23, 2021

Catch a Rare Chance to Watch the Release of Sea Turtle Hatchlings at Padre Island Next Week

July 30, 2021

The Eagle Will Roll Again at Austin’s Zilker Park

April 24, 2021

For a miniature amusement, the Zilker Park train sure has created a lot of big memories.

The Texas-Size Grandeur of Ben Masters’ Wildlife Documentaries

March 25, 2021

Ben Masters makes films celebrating the wilderness of Texas, propelled by riveting scenes of adventure and cinematic grandeur.

Why Bees Are Vital to Texas’ Wildflower Season

February 25, 2021

From Rockport to San Angelo, Texas Clay Art Takes Shape

February 21, 2021

If there’s an art form that’s been misunderstood, it’s clay art.
“There is a bit of history of clay being the low form in the art world due to its functionality,” says Stan Irvin, who taught ceramics and clay figure sculpture at St.

Stunned by the Cold: Sea Turtles Are in Peril During the Frigid Winter Storm

February 18, 2021

The Arctic air mass battering Texas this week has even reached the Gulf of Mexico, where typically temperate beaches have experienced snow, freezing rain, and persistent sub-freezing temperatures.

Big Bend is Ground Zero for a Thriving Black Market for Native Plants

November 26, 2020

Due to a Massive Fire, Greenberg Smoked Turkeys Cancels Remaining 2020 Orders

November 9, 2020

On Friday, Nov. 6, employees at Greenberg Smoked Turkeys in Tyler were spending the busy day fulfilling orders for the company’s famed Thanksgiving turkeys. That night, an explosion in one of the freezer facilities caused a fire and brought the busiest time of year to a halt.

Making Music with Birds in Marfa

October 22, 2020

Some of the world’s best musicians are small and feathered, and many regularly perform in Texas.

Hill Country Alliance’s Inaugural Night Sky Month Kicks Off October With a Harvest Moon

October 1, 2020

This October features a full moon on its first day, known as the Harvest Moon, and another on its last, a Blue Moon—as in “once in a,” because two full moons in one month doesn’t happen every year.

Brighten Up Your Camping Trip After Dark with Stargazing

August 19, 2020

Camping brings to mind full days of activities like hiking, climbing, and swimming. But one of the best parts of a camping trip actually happens when the sun sets for the day—stargazing. From any reasonably dark campsite in Texas, you can see prominent constellations, planets, and the moon. Some parks across the state have achieved designation as “dark-sky parks” because of their efforts to control light pollution, while some host star parties to introduce visitors to the night sky.

Camping with your Canine? 14 Tips to Ensure a Safe and Fun Adventure with Fido

August 6, 2020

Camping is made better with friends, including our four-legged ones. I spent many months camping and hiking with my good boy Max while researching a guide book, Best Hikes with Dogs: Texas Hill Country and Gulf Coast. Max, a 70-pound mutt, developed a fascination with armadillos, so I could always count on him to alert me to the presence of the nifty little critters. Without him, I never would have noticed them.

12 Scenic Wildflower Drives for the Perfect Spring Road Trip

March 15, 2020

White-Nose Syndrome Targets Texas’ Beloved Bats

March 6, 2020

A highlight of summer in Texas is the arrival of millions of Mexican free-tailed bats. The natural spectacle of their nightly emergence from roosting spots in caverns and under bridges draws crowds throughout the state.

Warm Winter Brings Early Wildflower Bloom to Texas This Spring

March 5, 2020

Gas up the car, pack a picnic, and charge your camera: Texas is set for a beautiful wildflower season this spring.