A Survival Guide to Exploring Texas

Traveling with children during the gas hike this summer season can be an expensive, stressful endeavor, especially if you plan on going to an amusement park, water park, or other high tourism attraction. For the price of just one admission ticket, you can set out on an exploration that will surely satisfy the whole family as well as relieve the stress on your pocketbook and your nerves.

Begin your journey at a Victorian style train station where you will board either an antique steam engine or diesel locomotive on the Texas Historic State Railroad dating back to 1881. While in the area be sure to visit the caddoan mounds and Mission Tejas, a 363 acre park that has a representation of the first Spanish mission in Texas. The park also has the Rice family home built in 1828 and restored in 1974. Activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and fishing.
Cooling off can be just as fun as the time spent heating up at one of the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Just a short distance from the beaches of Galveston Island is the Battleship Texas, the first battleship museum in the U.S. and San Jacinto Battleground. Traveling along the coast can be a relaxing experience, just be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen.

Traveling inland we come upon the Barrington Living History Farm, the home of Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas. Travel back in time 150 years and experience the 19th century in a whole new light. Traveling further inland we can travel even further back in time at Dinosaur Valley State Park, which contains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The park also boasts two dinosaur models; one of a 70 foot Apatosaurus and one of a 45 foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. From large to small, Acton State Historic Site is the smallest park in Texas as well as the final resting place of Elizabeth Crockett, the second wife of Davy Crockett.

In the Hill Country of Texas, among other caverns, lies the Devil's Sinkhole a vertical cavern with a 140 foot drop to the main cavern. The main cavern spirals downward another 350 to 400 feet. For the really adventurous is the Devils River State Area where archaeological evidence suggests that east met west. The 19,988.6 acre parks' activities include hiking, primitive camping, nature study, mountain biking and canyon tours.

In the panhandle of Texas we have Ft. Richardson State Park, the fort was established in 1867 and sent expeditions to arrest indians responsible for the Warren Wagon Train Massacre in 1871 then was abandoned in 1878. Activities of the park include picnicking, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, nature study and historical study. Seven of the original buildings have been restored among which were the post hospital, the morgue and the bakery.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife offers an annual pass that allows unlimited visits into all of the States' parks without paying the daily entrance fee. The pass allows admission for as many guests as can fit into any non-commercial vehicle or if you are entering the park by foot, it allows the pass holder and up to five other additional guests without a per person daily entrance fee. The added benefits of being a pass holder include discounts on camping and lodging. For more information on the passes and a site map, you can visit their website.

Deciding what areas of interest are the most appealing will be the most difficult part of your vacation but with a little planning you can have a memorable experience that will last a lifetime.