I came to Bastrop for a quick Sunday Funday and luckily found this park. I parked near a small…read moreplayground. There was a boat ramp nearby. There were several pretty ducks strolling on the green grass. It rained yesterday so everything was green and bright. It seemed like a safe place to walk and run. There were several others walking their dogs and some kiddos riding bikes. We walked along the river and saw the backside of a great looking bar/joint called Neighbors. There was nobody there seeing it was only about 10 am but it looks like a neat place.

The Splash pad at Fisherman's Park is the place to go in the blistering heat of Texas, especially…read moreif you have littles. They have shaded picnic tables for snacks, lunch, or a party. It's also gated so you don't have to worry about your child running out into the parking lot. They just redid the pad flooring making it safe to play. This has become such a favorite spot of ours that I keep an extra towel and my kiddos swimsuit in the car at all times because we'll literally stop in between errands. Totally recommend if you are looking for something "cool" to do this summer. PS adults are allowed to get wet too.

We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs!…read more First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best!

Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can…read morehelp you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great!

Nice, smallish park, with a play scape, some covered tables, some benches, walks along a creek, and…read moreaccess to hiking trails.

We camped here overnight. Demand for campsites here is pretty high. The area for tents was…read moresomewhat small but our group was able to pack eight tents onto the grass with plenty of room to spare. Our hiking group of 11 people all fit cozily around the firepit. The park is very quiet at night--it seems like most of the other campers went to bed early. The asphalt parking per campsite is very long as if designed for trailers. We were able to fit three passenger vehicles in its entire length. There were trails in this park but most of the people in our group didn't have the time or energy to explore them. Visitors can also swim in the lake, play volleyball, have picnics, canoe, and go fishing. The scenery of the park is lovely. The restrooms/showers building was clean and very good compared to my past experiences with campground restrooms. The only things I would've wanted were handsoap and fewer bugs in the restroom. Rachel in the North Shores office was very helpful and kind. I arrived dangerously close to the office closing time to claim our campsites and she patiently wrote out several vehicle permits for the cars in our group, explained rules about overflow parking, and even personally went out to our campsites 63 and 65 to show me where they were. Rachel also wrote the gate code on our vehicle permits in case we were entering and leaving the park late at night. The day use fee is $4 per person. Occupying a campsite is another fee.

Love this place. It is super clean. We will definitely be back again. Amazing and friendly staff.read more

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.

We camped here spontaneously one weekend in February. The good: the trails are lovely! There are…read moremany miles and different terrains to explore. I love the pine trees and views from some of the trails. The campground is lovely as well. Very clean. Spaces are large. People are respectful. But... A big con is the traffic noise at night! We stayed in the Copperas Creek Camping Area, which is quite close to the road, so we expected some noise. But it was intense both noise. A loud, long crash woke me up in the middle of the night, with a second crash crashing into the debris from the first one. That whole incident kept me up for 2 hours. I don't know if the other campgrounds in the park are any better. The park is nestled in a populated area so I doubt it. But the trails and area are beautiful!! So I would definitely recommend for hiking!! Not so much tent camping... (maybe it's better in an RV?).

This is a lovely park! But beware- it's pretty exposed so bring plenty of sunscreen and water!…read more The park is really beautiful with a lot of different trails and the longest one being over 8mi. I came out here with a group- most of ours first time. We enjoyed the smell of the tall pines, some bridges and steps and switchbacks. The overviews left some to be desired as they overlooked the highway. Overall the park is clean and beautiful and we didn't see many people which made it better! I can't wait to go back and tackle the 8mi trail!

Came out to this little park to get some disc golf practice. 9 holes. Park had plenty of parking,…read morewalking trail, picnic tables, very spacious. If you want to get in some good old disc golf come out here and get you some fresh air and enjoy the scenery

This is very good size park for people to walk, play, and fish! There are two large ponds and lots…read moreof parking! Great place for a picnic and take the kids to have some fun outdoors.

This park is a great place to walk your dog! Lots of walking trails, with areas along the way to…read moretake a break. The frisbee park is cool, and nicely tucked away. There are a couple of areas for kids to play, sand volley ball and basketball , The park is also well maintained. I have not taken advantage of all the amenities, but was impressed.

TLDR: Watch out for poison ivy in this beautiful tropical oasis (stick to long pants). The Palmetto…read moreInterpretive Trail is short enough for young kids and within walking distance from the picnic area. Stop to pay at park headquarters ($3 p/p; kids 12 and under are free). I loved the whole tropical vibe of this park. Dwarf palmettos everywhere. We stopped here as a waypoint en route to Rockport Beach. It made a great stopping point. The Palmetto Interpretive Trail is only 0.3 miles and very easy. A short walk, really. Both my toddlers (almost 4 and almost 2) were able to walk it. It's unpaved but mostly smooth so you should be able to bring a stroller too (I'd confirm with park staff, just in case). POISON IVY: At the end of the Palmetto Interpretive Trail, there is a water tower. It's locked but my kids love approaching doors. This is where I noticed potential poison ivy growing right by the door. It did have the triple leaf look and AI confirmed that it looks like poison ivy. Leaf shape can vary quite a bit on this plant so it can get a little tricky to identify. Just be wary of any triple leafers. Keep a close eye on where you and/or your kids are stepping and skip the shorts/sandals. Park staff was friendly. You stop to pay at the park headquarters once you enter the park (and display the tag on your windshield). $3 per person; children 12 and under are free. The picnic area was nice with ample seating (both covered and uncovered). I couldn't find a restroom (doors were locked) but there were restrooms by the playground (a short drive away). The restrooms were clean. Make sure you close the door like the sign asks to keep bugs away. Ultimately, I'd love to return to this park and experience more of its lovely trails.

Great, secluded state park next to a neighborhood. I'd consider Palmetto a hidden gem in Texas. I…read moredrove here from Austin and it took me about 1.5 hours. The way I took lead me down a neighborhood street, which led me straight to the park's headquarters. They had a small and very limited selection of gifts for purchase, but the park ranger there was friendly and recommended a couple of trails and points of interest. I hiked a series of trails along the outside perimeter of the park, which combined was about 3.5 miles. Each new segment had a different ecosystem and it was interesting to see different sights and hear new sounds. The trails are mostly shaded, though I went on an overcast day. There's also a low river crossing where I saw some people fishing on. At all Texas state parks, no fishing license is needed to fish. The sound of the river was soothing and refreshing. I genuinely enjoyed my time here and would love to return here to visit again someday.