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A roping event at the San Angelo rodeo. Photo by Jonathan Cutrer (jcutrer.com) |
Recreation Feature Articles (from the Texas Almanac 2018–2019)
Playing All the Angles: From the Gulf to Lone Star Rivers and Lakes, Texas Is Teeming with Fishing Hot Spots
A jon boat motors slowly into the darkness. One brother mans the tiller while the other pierces the night with the beam of his spotlight. The target appears in the light. A brightly painted old milk jug marks the spot. As one brother steadies the boat, the other grabs the nylon line connected to the homemade buoy...
Divas of the Outdoors: Women Chart Their Own Hunting and Fishing Paths
Like a lot of small-town Texas kids in the 1960s, I grew up in a family that was more likely to go hunting or fishing than to the movies or the mall. Family weekends, holidays, and vacations usually revolved around destinations that included outdoors sports as an option...
On the Hunt: Keeping Up with a Texas Tradition
Hunters have roamed from Texas' heavily forested land in the eastern part of the state to the rugged expanses of the Trans-Pecos for thousands of years. Granted, today's hunters might not spend their afield for exactly the same reasons as those of a band of Comanche on horseback pursuing the great herds of buffalo 300 years ago, but hunting is still alive and well in the Lone Star State...
Hog Wild: Texas Deals with a Wild Hog Population Boom
There's an adage that has become popular in the past decade that states: "There are two types of ranches in Texas — those that have wild hogs and those that are about to get them.” Although Texas has the largest number of wild hogs in the country, there are definitely “hot spots” where hog numbers are concentrated and where the porkers cause considerable damage...
Travelers' Top Destinations and Origins, 2011–2012
Most visited places in 2011 by all travelers as percent of total.
Rank | Destination | Percent |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. |
Alamo Hill Country Galveston Island Fiesta Texas Cowboys Stadium San Marcos Outlet Malls SeaWorld of Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Six Flags Over Texas San Antonio Zoo |
32.59 15.05 13.54 12.51 10.38 9.80 9.19 7.83 7.57 7.39 |
Source: Survey for Office of Governor. |
The leading places of origin for visitors to Texas in 2012 were:
Rank | Origin | Percent |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
California Louisiana Oklahoma Florida Arkansas |
12.3 7.9 7.5 5.1 5.1 |
Source: Survey for Office of Governor. |
Texas State Parks
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has up-to-date information about state parks — location, history, facilities, plantlife, wildlife, special features, tours and more.
The Texas Historical Commission administers the state historic sites.
National Parks and Historic Sites in Texas
The National Park Service has detailed information about each park property in Texas.
Recreation on National Forests and Grasslands
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas describes recreational opportunities on these federal lands.
Hunting and Fishing in Texas
The Texas Parks and Wildlife also has information about hunting and fishing licenses and regulations.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife website has information on Texas rivers, of special interest to anglers.
Information on hunting and fishing licenses.
Visitor Information for Texas Cities
Some cities have convention and visitors bureaus that offer tourism information.
Accommodations
Texas Hotel and Lodging Association lists many lodgings in the state.
Texas Bed & Breakfast Association lists its members, which are mostly historic properties.
Texas Road Condition Information
The Texas Department of Transportation gives you up-to-the-minute information about road and lane closures and other road conditions.
Recreation and travel information for Texas is provided on the Texas Economic Development and Tourism website.