If you want beauty and to unspoiled nature than this is the paddle ride for you! Whether you are a…read morekayaker or a canoer it will be equally enjoyable! We had a group of 3 canoes and this does take some planning so be prepared if you plan to do it without a river tour guide. We launched in at Plum Park On the Colorado which is a Park/Camping area. Please be cautious because this is all privately owned land so you can only pull out about 15 miles down the river at the public boat ramp in a park in LaGrange! There are islands to pull off on every now and then to eat lunch or use the bathroom which is going in the wild! I can't express how beautiful this trip was but, I did post some pictures for everyone to see. The canoeing is definitely slow on some parts of the river. The water ranges from moving shallow parts to very deep completely still water so, be prepared to paddle at least half of the way. There is also some rapids that are quick but, when the water is lower (like it was on our trip) there are boulders sticking out so be ready to maneuver quickly! There were also some shallow spots on both sides of islands in the middle which required pushing on the rocks with your paddles or getting out to pull the canoe through. There is plenty of wildlife on this river so, be cautious. We encountered herds of deer that were spooked by us and ran across the river, cows in the water in the shallow parts, longhorns and bugs. There was also a huge spider in our canoe and smaller ones as well from us running through a tree on accident when the rapids took us. I would recommend steering clear of all the trees as I am not a fan of spiders and took to smashing them with my oar! Be sure to stop paddling when the water is clear and look down to see a wide variety of fish swimming and clams! I would recommend you also make sure your canoe isn't too heavy and that you have the weight distributed property. Also, remember to bring an otter box or place all your items in plastic baggies that you do not want to get wet! I would also recommend bringing a garbage bag for your cans (don't bring bottles) just in case of a tip over so you don't littler the river unintentionally. I advise river shoes because the ground on the islands is like muddy clay and you will sink and sandals will sink worse than river shoes! The thing I wish I brought was a stadium cushion with a back on it. I had a folded towel on my seat but, by the end my back was killing me from not having support and paddling for 10 hours! At the end the ramp was not under water anymore but, paddle just past it and you can use the back in boat ramp to get off the river. At the end you will be hot, dirty, buzzed and sore and say you would never do it again but, you definitely will want to after you have a few days to rest!

This state historical site is such a cool place. It features ruins of Kreische Brewery (and the…read morestill standing home) as well as Monument Hill a tomb for those who died in the Dawson Massacre of September 1842. There is a beautiful overlook, and the grounds themselves are very well maintained. Only $5 per person for admission and leashed dogs are welcome. The Visitor Center has a few displays of relics that you won't want to miss! I do recommend wearing good shoes and carrying water if you are planning to walk down to the brewery. It's a bit steep in some places!

On a visit to La Grange, I looked up the top attractions in La Grange on TripAdvisor. Monument Hill…read moreState Park came up as number one. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. After paying a small fee to enter, we parked. The visitor's center has a small museum where you can learn all about the history of the park. It's a good way to kick things off. From there, you can hike around the park. Beyond getting a workout, you come across historical markers and other goodies along the way. Brewery ruins, a home, a statue, and more. You'll learn even more through this experience. I love these types of hikes: where you simultaneously learn and get a workout in.

I loved this park more than Brazos Bend SP. This SP was the first one I decided to solo camp at,…read morebut later hiked with the HWHG (Houston Women's Hiking group). I came here in October 2024 and chose campsite 045 a very short walking distance to the restrooms. I opted for a late check in and park HQ had my check in sticker hanging on a bulletin board with the other late stragglers. It was still dusk out and plenty of deer greeted me at the entrance. The park is fairly big and the campsites are close (enough to see and hear your neighbor). I stayed for the weekend Fri - Sun. The first night I pulled out my Eukera grill to cook some veggies with lentils, then out of nowhere what I thought was my dog, Sneakers, but really it was a raccoon spooked me! (Of course, it couldn't be my dog since I came alone! Ha!) The animal was relentless and tried to jump in the back of my SUV to eat what I was eating. I shooed the animal away and he stayed looking at me with it's large eyes. The animal eventually left when it knew it wasn't getting anything from me. Before bed, I made sure to lock my food supplies down and away from the site. The first night, other park goers were loud; cursing, screaming, and just acting plain belligerent up until 2AM. I think someone called park host on them since I started to tone it down by 3AM. The night was muggy hot, but okay with fans. The restroom is lit up so going to use the potty in the middle of the night was very doable. The following morning, I did some yoga at the campsite. I would suggest bringing a tablecloth for the camp table as it was filthy. Site 045 was great having two trees spaced between the two to help pitch a hammock. The following morning, I went on an early morning hike then went to check out the San Felipe Museum solo. The museum was a ton of fun learning about history. I came back to lay in my hammock to take a nap. By evening, I got up to go on a night hike with the ladies. During Halloween, the park decorates for the holiday which is so much fun!! I loved my time! The park rangers were nice and the park HQ has everything including hiking and camping gear. The purchased a bumper sticker for my car and a sticker for my laptop. By Sunday, I was ready to head back to Houston and the drive was short. Sealy is nice small town with nice people. I saw far more wildlife here than at Brazos Bend. The trails were wooded, mostly flat, and shaded. The trails are maintained. Trekking poles aren't needed, but suggested if you have bad knees. I can't wait to camp here again. I think next time I'll choose another site that isn't so close to the restrooms as the foot traffic can be very busy throughout the night, but perfect for solo female campers. If you have a chance, check out Stephen F Austin. It's a good hidden gem.

I visited Stephen F. Austin State Park and overall had a good experience. Just make sure to bring…read morebug spray because the mosquitoes were intense, I felt like I got swarmed the entire time. There are definitely a lot of bugs throughout the park. Unfortunately, I visited after heavy rain, so most of the trails were closed during my trip. I'll definitely have to come back another time when the trails are fully open so I can experience more of the park.

This is a pretty okay park, if you're traveling on 71 back and forth to Houston or Austin; I like…read morecoming to this park. The reason why I like coming to this park in particular is because it's spacious enough for me to walk after sitting in the car for a long time and it's not crowded. I like walking down to the Colorado River to look at the beautiful water. Near the river, it's brown sand and if you come in the spring you can see the Texas state flower: bluebonnets! Since they're working on the bridge, you can't access the trails underneath it. But any other time, you can and it takes you to into the town. There aren't any walking trails into the forest, however, if you would like you could walk around the spacious parking lot. It's pretty safe since there isn't a lot of people frequenting this place. The trees are big and old which means that they'll protect you from the sun UV rays. Some of the picnic tables are under these shaded trees which creates a relaxing space. You'll sometimes see some feral cats, but they will not come to you. There's a sign in the park that says do not feed them so don't feel tempted to. Last time I came to the park, I saw a feral cat but it was injured. I deeply felt bad for it and wanted to help, however, it ran from my presence. If you're into sports, they're the large field for soccer and there's even a basketball court. There's plenty of trees for your dog to piss on if they're into pissing onto trees. I'm sure the trees can use the nitrogen. If you ever find yourself needing to use the restroom, there are men and women toilets separately. Although, you might want to bring some Clorox with you since they seem to never clean them. There isn't any sinks in the restrooms. And if you are the skittish type, there is a lot of dead bugs in living bugs in the restrooms. If you are not a litter bug, throughout the park are trash cans. So I know someone is coming to the park to maintain it. Perhaps next time they come they could clean the restrooms since they look like they haven't been cleaned in years! Also, there's plenty of parking.

This park was pretty empty. We only saw a few others walking on the trail. There is one that goes…read moredown to the water near the bridge, which they are currently working on. There are a few historical markers, but not much else. Parking was pretty easy, but being so hot, we didn't stay too long. We might come back for a walk in cooler weather.

What an amazing unexpected visit for us, we had a blast!…read more The animals are happy and it is plain to see because of how cozy and comfy their homes are. It's so important to support LOCAL businesses and the owners answered every question and took great care of us. We come from wayy west Texas but can't wait to bring our little ones! Definitely recommend this place for anybody needing to spend a little time in East Texas, it was a 30 min drive for us but so worth it.

Visited this location two months ago. A complete disappointment and XPENSIVE. Definitely NOT…read moreworth the visit. We tried supporting a small business...this was a waste of time & $. We never saw any serpents as described on the billboard. Make the drive to Houston, might even be less expensive going to the Houston Zoo

I have told all my friends about how much fun we had here! This is such a unique experience and a…read moregreat way to separate from the hustle and bustle of Houston without having to daytrip too far away. Staff was friendly, the animals were even friendlier, and we left feeling so energized and happy! Good therapy indeed!

My kids really wanted to attend the summer camp.They only sell tickets on-line and then add a 13%…read morefee .$300x 2 plus 79.50fee . I feel this is excessive . Sorry, No Thank you .

Loved getting to learn about Jesus at this christ centered camp, very fun experience!…read moreWould recommend!!!!

If I could leave them 10 starts I would. They have been so accommodating and kind while our group…read morewas here for a leadership retreat. There were a few mishaps, (nothing on their part) but they made sure to always be on call and we're so very helpful through the whole experience. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and I can not stress enough how good the food was. As a relatively picky eater, i was never worried about whether or not I would be able to eat. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. I would 10/10 recommend coming here and will even make it a point to return.

I have fished with guides all over the world, and Rick Denton ranks up there at the top of the…read morelist. Very professional, knows his business, excellent bass fisherman and excellent with kids. We are not experienced big lake bass fishermen and Rick put my 14 year old son and me on 60+ fish in less than 5 hours!!! Great teacher / instructor! You won't be disappointed if you book a trip with Rick!

I've been fishing with Rick for 3 years now and he never disappoints. He's extremely knowledgeable…read moreand will put you on the fish. First time out we caught 60+ fish. Last time out we caught 40+ fish with a dozen fish over 4lbs.