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.

Small park in La Grange between the high school and the Colorado River. Perfect for a quick, quiet…read morewalk or just to stretch your legs.

Daughter loved the ninja course. My husband even tried it out. It was a great little stop before…read morelunch!

Lots of open area ! Did not have time or need to check the bathrooms. This would be perfect for a…read morechili or Q contest!

All kinds of good stuff at this park. Something for everyone! There's fishing, rodeo, camping, BBQ…read morepits, frisby golf, playground...and so on. Clean and well maintained from what I saw. Great stop for anyone nearby.

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.

This is a large multi use park located just three blocks from US 290 (make a left at the cemetery…read moreon Dallas Street). It is quite large with both soccer and baseball fields. There is a paved walking trail that runs throughout the park. One of the fields has lighting for night games as well as bleachers. On one side of the park is a youth center and on the opposite side is a large play scape and pond. Plenty of benches and picnic tables along the trail including some grills. You'll find other amenities such as public bathrooms, a covered basketball court, volleyball court and a large covered picnic table area. Definitely a great asset for the Giddings community as the 10 photos attest.

I can't say enough about this place! The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with…read moreplenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails. But did you know they also have an event hall for rent? We booked it for a family gathering, and it was perfect. The space has a charming vintage look, with plenty of tables and chairs, clean restrooms, a spacious kitchen equipped with burners, a sink, a fridge, and enough trash bins. The concrete floors are a bit cracked, but that's hardly a dealbreaker when you're getting such a gem in the middle of a state park. Guests pay a discounted $3 entrance fee, but since we had an RSVP list, we purchased tickets ahead of time to make the process smoother for everyone. You receive the event hall key at 9 AM on the day of your event and can drop it in the designated box whenever your party ends. The space comfortably accommodates 70-80 guests, making it a great choice for gatherings. You're expected to leave the hall in the same condition as you received it, but the trash bins can be left as they are staff will come by later to collect the trash. It's that simple!

Loved this place!!! We were lucky to book a cabin. Comes…read morewith 2 twin bunk beds, mini fridge and microwave. Also has its own broom, table and chairs, grill, and outdoor table. Location has lots of trails for hiking, biking.

Great place to get out and play! The property is well kept and clean, they have 3 restrooms with…read moreshowers for public use after a hard days ride or when camping. The campsites are also well maintained and they have firewood for sale. They also sell Longhorn Beef, which is delicious and affordable. We will definitely be back again!

I made a last minute decision to go out of town and stumbled across this beautiful place. The…read moreowners are absolutely gems! It's quiet and oh so peaceful! I will most definitely be back once I decide to leave Thank y'all for your kind hospitality!

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.

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!