Our time exploring Texas has gone by in a flash! The state is as diverse as it is big.

National Parks
We explored Big Bend National Park, which we covered in our previous post. We also spent a quick overnighter in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park’s big draw is that you can hike to Texas’ highest peak, and the park’s namesake, Guadalupe Mountain, there. Of course that means you’ll likely have company on the trail so I opted for the Devil’s hall trail instead. I saw only 2 people while hiking, and that was when I was nearly back at the trailhead.

You’ll enjoy a hike through desert scrub and trees that ends at a dry wash. Follow the wash, scrambling over rocks and boulders for a mile and you’ll arrive at aptly named Devil’s Hall. Walking among the stone structures, I imagine this is where the little woodland creatures hold their meeting each month. 🙂

Austin
Spent a few fun days experiencing all the city had to offer.

• Barton Springs – a nearly 3 acre spring fed outdoor pool. Non-residents pay $8 to visit for the day. Water felt slightly chilly yet refreshing on a warm spring day. Donned my mask and snorkel and saw a couple of crawfish and small fish, but not the salamanders that are supposedly only found here.

  

• Roy and Ann Butler walk/bike trail –  spent a good amount of time cycling along the trail, which offers scenic views of the nearby river.

  

• Texas bbq – I was planning on checking out Franklin BBQ, which is uber popular on Yelp. However, a number of locals thought their popularity was much too hyped for the corresponding 2 to 3 hour wait. Yikes! I tried Terry Black’s BBQ instead. I thought the beef ribs were delicious but didn’t realize that BBQ would be so pricey! My meal, pictured below, came out to nearly $30.

  

RV/Oversized vehicle parking: Parking within the downtown Austin area would not be advised in a large trailer or motor home but that doesn’t mean you have to be far from the action. While visiting the city, we stayed in Pecan Grove RV park, a no frills park with a location that can’t be beat. It was easy to grab a bike and jump on the Ann & Roy Butler trail, cycle to grocery stores, restaurants and cafes. A block down from the RV park is a food truck lot, and within a mile is Barton Springs! Very convenient. If you need to get further into town, like to the South Congress area, you’ll be able to get an uber easily.

Beaches
You may not think of beaches when you think of Texas, but then you’ll be missing out. There are some great places to beach camp in Texas, and I don’t mean campsites with just a view of the beach, but camping on the beach itself! And they were free! 🙂 (Free makes me smile). They’re definitively worth exploring:

• South Beach on Padre Island National Seashore
• Malaquite Beach
• Magnolia Beach at Port Lavaca

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