I'm Looking For...
- Birds: Bentsen RGV SP, South Padre Island BC, Smith Oaks Sanctuary, Bolivar Flats Sanctuary, South Llano River SP
- Texas Wildlife: Fort Griffin SP, Caprock Canyons SP, Aransas NWR, Caddo Lake
- Plants: International Waterlily Collection, East Texas Arboretum, Mercer Botanic Gardens, Chihuahuan DRI
- Zoos/Aquariums: Houston Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas State Aquarium, Abilene Zoo, Caldwell Zoo (Tyler), Waco Zoo
- Big Rocks: Enchanted Rock, Palo Duro Canyon SP, Guadalupe Mountains SP, Franklin Mountains SP
- Scenic Drives: El Paso Scenic Drive, Davis Mountains loop, High Island to Surfside Beach, Willow City Loop
- Coffee: Siphon Coffee, Red Light Coffee, Texas Coffee Traders, Merit Coffee, Semilla Coffee Lab, 7th and Park
- Alcohol: Celestial Brewing Company, Manhattan Project Beer Company, Dripping Springs Distillery
Northern Gulf Coast: Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont
- Smith Oaks Sanctuary: This is probably one of the best birding spots in the state, if not the country, and all because it is the nesting ground of the roseate spoonbill. Manmade islands in the middle of a swamp provide a home for hundreds of these birds in the spring. There are a ton of vantage points to watch them strut around, build nests, and raise their chicks. Probably the coolest birding spot I've seen.
- Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge: I've been a couple times, and there's always something different to find, whether it's alligators or muskrats or birds or...well you get the picture. There's a nice wildflower garden near the entrance and a birdwatching area, but the best park is just driving around looking at birds.
- Brazos Bend State Park: This state park is a great spot to find wetlands birds and alligators.
- Surfside Beach: There's something I just love about driving around looking at houses on stilts. It's a great place to watch the sunrise, see shorebirds, or go fishing. Very cute beach town.
- Bolivar Flats Sanctuary: A protected nesting area perfect for finding masses of shorebirds in the spring. Fun to drive onto the beach and take a walk along the surf. The last time I went, I was rewarded with a view of an oystercatcher, which looks like a real-life muppet.
- Quintana Neotropical Birding Center: This spot is out of the way but part of the fun is the drive over a bridge and past factories and stilt houses to this small but interesting birding spot, complete with an observation tower. Part of the fun is also at peak times, when you can watch other birders get excited about their finds.
- Catwalk Marsh Wetlands: This is an absolutely massive walkable wetlands area outside of Beaumont. I've only explored a small area, but it's the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors and see loads of wetland birds.
- Siphon Coffee: The only coffee shop I've seen using halogen lamps to make the coffee with a siphon (hence the shop name). It's $10 for a cup of siphon coffee...is it worth it? It was a good cup and watching it get made was half the fun. They also have non-siphonated coffee for purchase as well.
- Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge: A big loop drive that contains new finds each time you visit (mainly birds and chonky gators). Lots of wading birds and even a good variety of shorebirds visiting. There's a cute boardwalk by the entrance and I found some baby gators and gars hiding underneath!
- Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve: Hidden off the already hidden backroads, this tiny swamp hides botanical treasures galore. Tread carefully and you'll be rewarded with a glimpse of tiny wild sundews and pitcher plants. I also found a crawfish traipsing around the wetlands. Worth a stop if you're in the area!
- Mercer Botanic Gardens: A not insignificantly-sized botanical garden, I was impressed with the variety of plants in bloom when I visited, and it seemed like I was early compared to peak bloom time. Great for a visit if you're traveling between Dallas and Houston.
Southern Gulf Coast: Rio Grande Valley, South Padre Island
- South Padre Island Birding Center: My favorite spot in the area, it makes birding ridiculously easy. Start at the visitor center, then take the boardwalk around to see the different birds hanging out almost at arm's reach. Enjoy the observation deck to get a view of the surrounding area. There's a nearby boardwalk (connected to the convention center) that is open after hours and a great place to watch the sunset!
- National Butterfly Center: Such a cool place with plenty of opportunities to see migrating butterflies. This was my first location to see many of the local bird species up close at the birdfeeders. Also tons of cool plants to enjoy!
- Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park: It's a Texas state park, yet somehow located on the opposite side of the border wall? Stupid. But the birds don't care, and neither should you. We found plenty of local birds without a care in the world, as well as a family of javelinas.
- Gladys Porter Zoo: A zoo in south Texas doesn't seem like a priority, but I'd recommend a visit. There are tons of amazing species here, especially ones that I hadn't seen in other areas - they probably like the warmer weather. The zoo helps with a good number of breeding programs and showcases their hard work. One of my favorite parts is how the displays offer an old-school vibe (think hand-drawn illustrations, etc).
- Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge: There are some great walking trails in this park, but my favorite part is the canopy walk which is a ton of fun and gives a great vantage point to the surrounding park. Another great place to see wetlands species.
- Estero Llano State Park: There are plenty of birding areas near the Rio Grande, but this was the only one I found with a large wetlands viewing area. Pull up a seat and check out the wildlife hanging out just feet away.
- South Texas Coffee: South Texas is by no means lacking in terms of excellent coffee spots. My personal favorites include Grind Coffee Co (Edinburgh), 7th and Park (Brownsville), Soverign Coffee (Brownsville), Bandera Coffee Harlingen), and Semilla Coffee Lab (McAllen)
- Seafood: There's a couple spots we enjoyed while in the area. Joe's Oyster Bar offers some excellent seafood at a reasonable price, both fried and otherwise. Ceviche Ceviche is like Chipotle for ceviche (duh), and always offers a great meal.
West Texas
- Big Bend National Park: Umm...obviously on the list? This park is unbelievable. We spent three days exploring the three completely different regions. From mountains to rivers to desert, each area holds a trove of plants and animals you can't find anywhere outside of this area. We had so much fun hiking and learning about the history and nature of the area. Highly recommend a multi-day visit here.
- Big Bend Ranch State Park: I'll admit we didn't spend a ton of time here, but the drive along the Rio Grande alone is worth the trip through. Even after spending some time in Big Bend, the scenery here was completely different, including rolling hills and lookout vantage points of the river.
- Franklin Mountains State Park: It's cool to do some hikes so close to a downtown area, especially ones with such good nature. Found a variety of cool bugs and plants that I hadn't seen elsewhere. Highly recommend if you're in the El Paso area.
- Davis Mountains State Park: Some short hiking trails and good camping areas, but the highlight are the well-put-together bird blinds (some say the best bird blinds in Texas!). We did see a couple scrub jays and a ton of pigeons, but the scrub jays made it worth it.
- Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute: A cool botanical garden with tons of local plants (and the bugs that enjoy them). Highly recommend walking towards the far end of the garden, which holds a greenhouse full of a cactus repository, with loads of cool cacti/cactuses! No matter what time of year you visit, you'll find something to enjoy!
- Marfa/Alpine: Marfa is one of those places that if you like it, you love it. If you don't like it, you still need to go so that you can say you went and never go back. In Alpine we enjoyed the combo bookstore/coffee shop Front Street Books + Cedar Coffee Supply (best combo since PB+J).
- Monahans Sandhills State Park: Although not as impressive as its national park cousins in Colorado or New Mexico, it's worth a stop when driving along I-20 (it's literally right off the highway!). We had a great time putting our toes in the sand, and you can see if the state park office has sledding discs for rent.
Central Gulf Coast: Corpus Christi and Port Aransas
- Aransas National Wildlife Refuge: A great place to spot whooping cranes in the wintertime, along with alligators and other animals. This park has one of my favorite observation decks in any park, with plenty of informational plaques along the walk.
- South Texas Botanical Garden: A smallish garden, it has a very impressive orchid greenhouse with more varieties than I have seen previously. There's also a small butterfly garden, a few trails, and a ton of other plants to enjoy. I went when the roses were in bloom and it was very pretty!
- Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve: An area with a bunch of trails, there are plenty of areas to enjoy the local plants and wildlife. Keep your eyes sharp, I spotted some blooming cactus, migrating birds, and a caracara!
- Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center: A great spot if you're in Port Aransas. There are areas for songbirds and wetlands birds, and also a large gator or two underneath the boardwalk.
- Texas State Aquarium: Largest aquarium in Texas does not disappoint. It has all the things you could ask for - turtles, sharks, penguins, and more. Part of the aquarium is located outside and allows you to walk along the harbor's edge. This was one of the top spots on my Texas bucket list!
Panhandle: West of Fort Worth and North of I-20
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park: The second-largest canyon in the US has some absolutely beautiful rock layers that cannot be missed. The lighthouse trail is perfect for all levels of hikers, offering some amazing scenery and a view of the entire area towards the end of the trail. Had an amazing time watching the colors change as the sun rose higher.
- Caprock Canyon State Park: This park has two important things: extremely pretty red rock cliffs, and a bison herd! When I was visited, there were some baby bison hanging out with their mothers. So cute! Worth a detour.
- Whiteside Museum: A tiny museum located towards the panhandle, low chance you're in the area but worth pulling over if you are. It features a number of fossils discovered in local deposits and their lifelike dioramas. There are also some living reptilian relatives (aka iguanas) hanging out to visit with.
- Fort Griffin State Historical Park: Everyone's favorite photo spot for longhorns. Has some interesting ruins from the 1800s and lots of interesting plants and bugs hanging out around your feet.
- Abilene Zoo: If you're driving through Abilene I'd recommend a stop, plenty of cool animals to check out. The flamingoes were especially photogenic.
East Texas: East of Dallas, North of Houston
- Caddo Lake State Park: Unbelivably cool lake with swampy trees and scenery everywhere. Try taking a morning boat ride to watch the sunrise on the lake. If you're there at the right time of year (I was not), you'll see the foggy lake appear as if something out of a horror movie (it's been the site of a number of films). Plenty of water birds, and if you're lucky some gators!
- Ennis Bluebonnet Festival: Texas is known for its bluebonnets, and every April offers fields of them around Ennis. Follow the trails to find some amazing fields (just stay off private property), or just find a secluded spot on the road with a photogenic patch. There will always be plenty of blooms for you to enjoy, at least until they go away (then you wait until next year!)
- East Texas Arboretum: A good-sized park, it has some walking trails through the woods to enjoy nature, and some small but well-kept gardens full of interesting plants.
- Caldwell Zoo: A fun zoo located in Tyler, there are plenty of interesting animals to keep you entertained. I enjoyed watching the zoo ducks interact with migrating visitors.
- Cameron Park Zoo: Fun zoo with a cool park near the river right outside the gates. Plenty of interesting animals, personally enjoyed watching the monkeys and lemurs hanging out on their island homes.
Hill Country Plus: Austin, San Angelo, Fredericksburg
- International Waterlily Collection: You've seen waterlilies before, right? Wrong! This park has giant tanks containing more waterlilies than you could ever imagine. So many colors in one area, it's hard to pick your favorite. The whole area is fun to walk around and check out the other plants nearby.
- Enchanted Rock State Park: It's just a rock, but what a rock it is! Although its height seems daunting, it only takes 20-30min to walk to the top. I'd recommend a visit at sunset (or sunrise if able) to fully enjoy the surrouding landscape. There are also some nearby hiking trails for a flatter option.
- Austin: We've only spent a short amount of time in Austin, but it's a great place for live music and trying some foodstuff. Some of our faves include Franklin BBQ, Veracruz Taco Truck, and Texas Coffee Traders. Mayfield Park is a great place to wander and hang out with peacocks!
- Palmetto State Park: Loads of dwarf palmettos, it looks like an ancient swamp (according to Caitlin). Great area to go for some walks in the woods and enjoy nature.
- Pedernales Falls State Park: Cool area with trails down to the river and rocks to bound across, along with some juniper and other pine-type trees. There's a great bird blind area to hang out at.
- South Llano River State Park: This park was similar to Pedernales, but still had some great bird blinds and a nice view of the river. If you're there at the right time, you might see some turkeys!
- McKinney Roughs: This park was unexpectedly fun! There were a bunch of walking trails, I saw lots of interesting flowers and bugs along the trails, and plenty of vultures sunning themselves down by the river.
- Dripping Springs Distillery: Enjoyed taking a tour of this distillery and trying their different options. I'm not much of a liquor expert but their gins and bourbons were excellent. If you're in the area I'd definitely stop.
- Der Kutchen Laden: I've never been so excited to go shopping for kitchen supplies. It's a tiny store but each room is full of every spoon, bowl, pot, and other kitchen utensil you could ever imagine. Plus it's in an old tiny hospital.
Across the Border: Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico
- Barataria Preserve: A great swampy boardwalk with gators hanging out right next to the walkways. Loads of swampy plants and dragonflies. A short drive away from Nawlins.
- New Orleans Botanical Gardens: Not a huge botanical garden, but they pack a ton of plants into a relatively small space. Went on a rainy day and still had an amazing time. Highly recommend the succulent greenhouse and the vegetable garden.
- Cameron National Wildlife Refuge: Any refuge with a driving loop is bound to be a good time. Saw tons of gators just hanging out by road, and also saw a bunch of purple gallinules (the only time I've seen them).
- Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge: Just over the border in Oklahoma lies a great place for hiking, camping, and seeing longhorns and bison.
- Living Desert Zoo State Park: Part zoo, part botanical garden, and part state park, it's a great place to spend a couple hours. This part had probably the most comprehensive and informative signs on botany I found at any of the nearby parks and gardens.