Exploring the Beauty of Texas

I had the opportunity to brag about North Carolina recently.  I presented a program at our monthly Outdoor Club meeting about hikes we've taken, especially along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I pulled together pictures from DuPont State Forest, Linville Falls, Moses Cone, Mt. Mitchell, Julian Price and Stone Mountain for my presentation.  They enjoyed stunning scenic shots along the parkway to breathtaking waterfalls to colorful wildflowers and babbling brooks.  They all agreed that North Carolina is indeed a beautiful place.

What most of my friends back in North Carolina may not know, Texas is a beautiful place as well.  Many people believe that Texas is flat, dry, dusty and brown.  There are sections of Texas that resemble that description, but others sections rival the beauty found in North Carolina.  Texas is broken down into seven distinctive sections as shown in the map below.

I am thankful we live in the section of Texas known as the Pineywoods.  The Pineywoods is named for the thick forest of pines found through out the region.  I've commented to people from home that if I didn't know I was in Texas, I would think I was back in North Carolina.  Driving around Tyler is not much different scenery than driving around Charlotte.  Neighborhood streets are lined with yards of green, tall trees and flowering shrubs.  Interestingly, you can drive 5 miles down the road and be out in the middle of the country surrounded by green pastures and blue skies.

Pictured below are shots from various locations in the Pineywoods area.  The first is Caddo Lake State Park located in the North East section of Texas near Louisiana.  This is the park where I managed to stroll thru Poison Ivy.  The second picture is from the historic Azalea Trail in Tyler.  The third picture is a fall shot at the Rose Garden, also in Tyler.  The last picture is a scenic shot taken at the Mineola Nature Preserve.

Top L: Caddo Lake State Park; Top Right: Historic Azalea Trail
Bottom L: Rose Garden; Bottom R: Mineola Nature Preserve

We've visited Brazos Bend State Park in the Gulf Coast region.  This area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and is known for sea marshes, barrier islands, estuaries and bays.  It is nearly level.  Houston and Galveston are major cities in the Gulf Coast region.

Brazos Bend State Park

The other area we had a chance to visit is the Hill Country in Central Texas.  This area is known for it's rolling hills and grassland. The terrain is hilly with granite domes and caves.  It is also known for it's wildflowers in the spring.  We spent a weekend camping and hiking at Inks Lake State Park.

Inks Lake State Park

As you can see, Texas is more than flat, dry, dusty and brown.  There is beauty to be seen everywhere you go.  We look forward to exploring other regions of the state.