By Judy Truesdell
The Taylor
s' vie
All photos courtesy of the Taylor, Sosa and Elwart families.
Can’t Decide What to do This Summer? Put it in Park!
S
ummer is almost here, and If your family is like mine, you’re ready to get the heck outta the house and preferably outta town. That winter storm demoralized us, but it’s warming up now, and, though COVID is still raging, many of us are vaccinated, and it’s always been safer to be outdoors. But what to do? Get on a plane? Head for a theme park?
How about visiting one of the 89 Texas State Parks? We asked around and found that many local families have already discovered the fun these parks can provide. What better way to be outside and safe while making some new happy memories? It would take the whole issue to hit the high points of all 89, but here’s the low down on four that seemed to pop up on everybody’s list of favorites. (All parks have their own website; be sure to do your research before you go to learn about COVID restrictions as well as all the amenities each park has to offer.)
Eisenhower State Park 50 Park Road 20, Denison, TX 75020-4878
Located just an hour north of Dallas on the shores of Lake Texoma, this park features a sandy swimming cove, 4 miles of trails to explore along high bluffs, and excellent fishing for striped bass, crappie and catfish – 6 | THECONNECTION | May/June 2021
you can borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes with hooks, sinkers and bobbers for park use. (No fishing license is required when you fish from shore in a Texas State Park!) Look for native wildflowers or fossils left from an ancient ocean, play horseshoes, or take part in rangerled activities like stargazing and Dutch oven cooking. You can make it there and back in a day, but if you’d like to stay overnight, campsites are available, including basic tent sites and pull-through sites for large RVs. There are also screen shelters and “Ike’s Cabin,” which features window unit AC and heat and bunk beds.
Tyler State Park 789 Park Road 16, Tyler, TX 75706-9141
Another favorite, this park features a 64-acre springfed lake and 100-foot-tall trees. Visitors can boat or swim in the lake, take a hike or mountain bike trek on 13 miles of trails in the piney woods, including the Whispering Pines Nature Trail, laid out 70 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Fish for crappie, perch, catfish or bass on three fishing piers and a boat ramp. Fishermen and -women can borrow gear from this park also, as part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Tackle Loaner Program. There are boats for rent or you can bring your own. Camping accommodations are available here as well, including campsites, cabins, and screened shelters. Kids can borrow a Junior Ranger Explorer Pack, and btw, teachers – this is a Texas Aquatic Science Certified Field Site.
