Caddo Lake State Park

It's scarily close to Louisiana and Arkansas, but Caddo Lake is a beautiful park near Uncertain, Texas. Huge pine trees, and a swamp that is a rarity in Texas--not even the Deliverance-like parts around Beaumont and Orange are as much like a real swamp as this. Like most all state parks there are primitive campsites, screened shelters, and cabins, but this one offers boat tours of the swamps. The tour boat in the park is a little expensive for what you get, so ask around for a more detailed tour.



And no matter what you do, the one time of the year to go to this park is on July 4th. I heard a few years back that they did fireworks over the swamp on the 4th, so I decided to go despite envisioning a couple of hillbillies shooting Roman candles from the shore. Instead, it's about as big as anything I've seen in Waco or Austin, but not timed perfectly or set to music. I'm serious when I say this is a must-see for everyone. The local restaurants aren't that great, so cook at your campsite and spend your money on fishing guides and a tour.





These are just a very few of the pictures I took. For the fireworks, go to Johnson's Ranch in Uncertain, and hang out on the docks. Or, take some chairs and sit by the stage where the local band plays. Parking can fill up, so be prepared to walk, or park in the yard right across the street and give ChiChi $10.00 like I did. It was worth it.

Brazos Bend State Park

This place is kind of unique for me, but is still one dimensional. You can see gators in many places in SE Texas, but there are a ton of them here. And if you're a bird watcher (I'm not) this is also a hot spot for you.

But, like I mention, that's all it is. A series of trails around several ponds and a channel connecting them, fairly full of alligators.

You should probably go, especially if you have kids, but take bikes so you can get around and see the whole place easily. Walking would be fairly boring, and even the kids will get tired of alligator after alligator. And don't take the dogs. Several alligators wait at the edge of the water, facing land, and would most likely pounce on them. Yes, I'm serious.

There is an observatory here as well, but I'd say your time was better spent driving all the way out to the Davis Mountains to see the McDonald Observatory. Go here for a fairly close day of something different. Its main benefit is that it's close to home for me, so I don't watse too much time on the road. But again, take the kids and bikes and it's at least something different to do for half a day.