Texas only on next soiree?

4runnerguy wrote:
As noted, we don't know what your interests are or when you are visiting. In west Texas there's Big Bend and the Davis Mountains. Quite pretty, but you're driving across the widest part of TX to get there. A place to visit in spring or fall. The hill country is nice in spring when the wild flowers are blooming. The coastal areas are nice is spring and early summer.

I would wholeheartedly agree with a couple of the previous posters and also advise you to consider Arkansas, esp. the NW part of the state. A wide variety of outdoor activities.

thanks to all who responded. will study the recommendations. Hadn't thought about Arizona, but appears my bud was right about the western part of Texas. Now thinking S, SE Texas and the hill country then head north from there to see another state, may be Oklahoma. thanks again to all

Arizona, beautiful state. Has deserts, mountains and history.
If I had to pick one state to explore Arizona would be it.

As noted, we don't know what your interests are or when you are visiting. In west Texas there's Big Bend and the Davis Mountains. Quite pretty, but you're driving across the widest part of TX to get there. A place to visit in spring or fall. The hill country is nice in spring when the wild flowers are blooming. The coastal areas are nice is spring and early summer.

I would wholeheartedly agree with a couple of the previous posters and also advise you to consider Arkansas, esp. the NW part of the state. A wide variety of outdoor activities.

Ditto Arkansas. Lots to see and do.

Unlike the other places you mentioned, it will not cool off at night in most of Texas. Not enough elevation & more humidity. Except for the Western areas.

In West Texas, Near Amarillo: Never been to the state park, but have read about it & would like to make it over there someday. Palo Duro Canyon State Park as well as Caprock Canyons State Park, from what I have read, seem like very neat areas to see.

Southeast of Amarillo & Southwest of Quanah: Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway would make a neat place to check out. One I would like to see. Has a Bison herd I have read.

Ditto, Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah sounds pretty cool (as in neat to see).

Likewise, there is Monahans Sandhills State Park, just off the I-20 near Monahans. About 36 miles westbound from Odessa. Might be interesting.

Warmer still in the San Antonio Area & the :C Texas Hill Country but a neat area.

Should be a nice time to visit the :)Big Bend Area. We really enjoyed Balmorhea State Park & checking out Fort Davis Nat'l Historic Site.

We did Big Bend on one our Spring Breaks some years ago. End of March, Start of April.

And the new Boquillas Port of Entry might be some you would want to do. Not something we have done or would do.

The Texas Coastal Bend, especially Rockport/Corpus Christi areas & Lower Rio Grande Valley could cool off at night via the coastal breezes. What I have on the RGV.

Ditto on RGV

Here's a hodge podge of older posts (Some Repetition/Some New) On Texas.

More on:
San Antonio & Corpus Christi.

Rio Grande Valley in South Texas

Another hodge podge of posts with some repeated info but with some new (I hope):
:h Clicky

Somethings I'd like to see, but haven't:
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum - Waco

Amon Carter Museum of American Art - Fort Worth and Kimbell Art Museum - Ft. Worth and Other Fort Worth Art Museums

:C Want to Escape the heat, New Mexico has some really scenic & Alpine cool areas.

Here's an old post of one of our more recent visits to a National Park in New Mexico as well as a State Park (even a BLM Campground). Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't area of New Mexico -A Trip Report 2012.

Los Alamos is a very neat small city in itself. Free bus system with very neat buses. Very pretty setting up in the high country. Somewhat of a gated community as well. We only drove through & stopped at a SuperMarket. A nice town. http://www.visit.losalamos.com/
http://www.losalamosnm.us/transit/Pages/default.aspx

Oh, yes, in most of the western states, even in the hot southwest states, normally one does not to run the A/C at night to cool off. It usually cools down greatly at night out this way. Higher elevations & low humidity are factors. Therefore, one does need to have electrical hookups as one does back east.

More on the Area

Southern Arizona & New Mexico Sites & Sights

New Mexico: Taos :::::::: NM ByWays

A detour off I-25, after entering New Mexico, just off I-25, Sugarite Canyon State Park by Raton is a neat area. And a short drive from Raton is the Capulin Volcano Nat'l Mon't.
A Neat Place. ------ But no Camping

Between Raton & Las Vegas, Not far S of Springer, just off I-25 is Fort Union Nat'l Mon't.

At Las Vegas (older place than the one in NV) Storrie Lake State Park, but we have used the Walmart there to do a few overnights. Lot of mountains behind Las Vegas (west) with National Forests campgrounds.

Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path. However, one can use NM 3 to cut down to the I-40 from Villanueva. We did that one visit.

Southern NM mountains & national forests can be very cool as well. Such as Cloudcroft & Ruidoso areas.

:C A really neat place is the Valley of Fires BLM Campground (near Carrizozo) is a first rate campground with electric & water hookups, good dump station and a fine shower house. Not Alpine area. Pics & description can be found:
Campground . . and . . Cloudcroft, Lincoln/Capitan, Carrizozo/White Oaks.

More to the West, the Silver City & Gila Nat'l Forest Area can be neat places to see & explore. The Gila Area (Pronounced Hee-La & means 'Spider') Plus a Scattering of Other NM Sites & Sights.

Unlike Texas & Colorado, NM state parks do not have an entrance fee on top of the camping fee as well.

NM State Park Fees are some of the lowest in the country. $10 camping without hookups, $4 more for electric. Fees NM State Parks

Most have free showers as well, a few do not have showers; such as the one above Santa Fe (Hyde Park).

If you'll go just a few miles North you'll find plenty to do for 2-4 weeks. You don't mention your interests, which would help, but if you like scenic drives, etc. you will like Northern Arkansas. The State Parks will rival any others!


Diamond Mine

Buffalo National River
Buffalo River

Civil War Trails

Blanchard Springs Caverns


Ozark Folk Center State Park

Neat Campground with great swimming hole.

Wildlife Viewing

Petit Jean State Park

Mt Magazine

Eureka Springs
Hot SpringsNational Geographic's Road Trip

Fishing and crabbing in the texas gulf coast is good during the summer. It is hot, but the bay and ocean breezes make it nice enough to enjoy!

As the ad said "Texas is like a whole other country". It has Mountains, desert, plains, sea shores. You name it you can probably find it somewhere in Texas. :D

I agree with BillyandKris. Don't do Big Bend in the summer. But there's a special beauty in the desert. You can catch some of our photos on our blog. We just came back from there, and the cactus were blooming like crazy which is beautiful. We did Davis Mts., and Big Bend and both were gorgeous. I'd get a reservation at the Rio Grand Village (FH or primitive) and stay there as you're close to the river and a birder's paradise. Then if you want to travel further east up the coast toward Aransas Pass, this is another fabulous birding area. The Hill country and Palo Duro are other great spots.

You might visit the Texas State Park site for more info, and also Top Ten Texas State Parks to get some more ideas. Buy a Texas State Park pass - it lasts a year and it will save you some $$$ along the way.

CajunBill...you don't have to go far...Orange Tx...will look like home! Sounds like your'e funnin with us unless you give us Texans what you need that floats your boat.