This is a pretty well laid out skateboard park completely composed of concrete, no wooden…read morestructures. It is covered in lots of graffiti, but that does not affect its performance. It sits directly next to the Smithville water tower and a war memorial. Also close by is a fenced in dog park, railway museum, and Chamber of Commerce. If you find yourself in the small town of Smithville and you're an avid skateboarder, this place should be on your radar.

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.

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 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?).

We stopped by Bastrop State Park on a whim while driving to Austin, and it ended up being a great…read moredecision. It's less than a 2-hour drive from Houston and under an hour from Austin, which makes it an easy add to a road trip. I especially appreciated that the entrance is right off Highway 71, so you're not wasting a bunch of time driving deep into back roads just to get to the park. We visited on a beautiful Saturday in January -- sunny and in the 50s, basically perfect hiking weather. While there are plenty of trees throughout the park, many of the trails are fairly exposed, so you get a lot of sun. Definitely bring sunscreen, even in cooler weather. The trails are wide and well-maintained, with sand and rocks laid down in many areas, making them easy to walk. The terrain is nicely hilly but nothing too difficult (we did about 4 miles total). One thing to note: trail signage is a bit limited, and it would be easy to get turned around and know where to turn. Thankfully, I had decent cell reception (T-Mobile) and was able to use Google Maps to track where we were. Parking was easy, the staff were friendly, and the landscape was beautiful. We used our Texas State Parks annual pass, which saved us the $15 entrance fee, and the entry process was quick and simple. The line of cars trying to get in was only 2. I'd love to come back in the spring when everything is blooming. Overall, a great stop if you want scenic views, manageable trails, and a convenient location. Highly recommend if you're on your way to Houston or Austin. There's also a Buccees just a few miles away!

Check it out, the Second Annual Smithville Music Festival at Beautiful Vernon Richards Riverbend…read morePark This year featuring: Jimmie Vaughan T-Bird and the Breaks The Jones Family Singers George Ducas Woody Russell Deadman The Black Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces Blue Valley The Austin Family Jewels LeeAnn Atherton Whew! - music all day on two stages plus a Chili Cookoff, Horseshoe Tournament, 42 Dominoes Tournament, Kiddie Korner, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Food Vendors and strolling entertainers. A day jam packed with fun for the whole family. And get this, tickets are only $20.00 in advance at Front Gate Tickets. Last year's festival was great. Great music, great venue and great vibe. Listening under a canopy of old oak trees next to the Colorado river. There were also some major jammin' going on at the campgrounds after the show - all night from what I heard (I left around 3 am). Did I mention there is camping. Also some nice B&Bs in town. Don't miss this one - it only comes around once a year..

Wonderful diversity of styles and great talent at the 2013 event. Would go again in a drum beat!…read more#music #sounds #intense

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.

This small park sits on a hill overlooking the Colorado river right next to Highway 71. Apart from…read morea playscape and the picnic tables, the real Jewel of this park is the entrance to the Riverwalk on the Colorado river. There are three parking spaces at the park, one of them being handicapped. The paved path along the Colorado river is complete with benches and picnic tables. This would be a very peaceful walk in the woods if it were not for the noise of the traffic on Highway 71. Eventually, this trail leads to fisherman's park. Definitely a park and trail worthy of exploring. Check out the photos included below.

Some gave all. All gave some…read more A quite little neighborhood park with a pavilion for large groups, a connection to Brushy Creek, plenty of military-related playscapes for kids, and most importantly, a SHADED BASKETBALL COURT. The playscapes have a little bit of that military industrial complex feeling to it because why are kids able to do photo stand-ins of services members? Does that not feel like a touch of mockery to our brave men and women in the armed forces? Maybe I should grow a pair. Singlehandedly, the shaded basketball court is the coolest thing about this park. That should be something every city strives for, but I know they won't. RIYL: hoop dreams

Small but charming neighborhood park…read more The playground equipment is limited but the location next to the creek is lovely. Large trees, waterfall, birds (ducks and we were lucky enough to see a beautiful egret). Cool 4-person see saw. Ample parking on the street and inside the parking lot. Also, good opportunity to talk to kids about respect for veterans.