Since it was first published in 1996, Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites has become Texans' one-stop source for information on great places to view scenic landscapes, tour historical sites, camp, fish, hike, backpack, swim, ride horseback, go rock climbing, and enjoy almost any other outdoor recreation. This revised edition includes five new state parks and historical sites, completely updated information for every park, and many beautiful new photographs. The book is organized by geographical regions to help you plan your trips around the state. For every park, Laurence Parent provides all of the essential information: The natural or historical attractions of the park Types of recreation offered Camping and lodging facilities Addresses and phone numbers A locator map Magnificent color photographs So if you want to watch the sun set over Enchanted Rock, fish in the surf on the beach at Galveston, or listen for a ghostly bugle among the ruins of Fort Lancaster, let this book be your complete guide. Don't take a trip in Texas without it.
From Palo Duro Canyon in the Panhandle to Lake Corpus Christi on the coast, from Balmorhea in far West Texas to Caddo Lake near the Louisiana border, the state parks of Texas are home not only to breathtaking natural beauty, but also to historic buildings and other structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. In Texas State Parks and the CCC: The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Cynthia Brandimarte has mined the organization’s archives, as well as those of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation, to compile a rich visual record of how this New Deal program left an indelible stamp on many of the parks we still enjoy today. Some fifty thousand men were enrolled in the CCC in Texas. Between 1933 and 1942, they constructed trails, cabins, concession buildings, bathhouses, dance pavilions, a hotel, and a motor court. Before they arrived, the state’s parklands consisted of fourteen parks on about 800 acres, but by the end of World War II, CCC workers had helped create a system of forty-eight parks on almost 60,000 acres throughout Texas. Accompanied by many never-published images that reveal all aspects of the CCC in Texas, from architectural plans to camp life, Texas State Parks and the CCC covers the formation and development of the CCC and its design philosophy; the building of the parks and the daily experiences of the workers; the completion and management of the parks in the first decades after the war; and the ongoing process of maintaining and preserving the iconic structures that define the rustic, handcrafted look of the CCC. With a call for greater appreciation of these historical resources, especially in light of the recent Bastrop fire, which threatened one of the state’s most popular CCC-era destinations, Brandimarte profiles twenty-nine parks, providing a descriptive history of each and information on its CCC company, the dates of CCC activity, and the CCC-built structures still existing within the park.
In Wild Focus, Earl Nottingham, chief photographer for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and its magazine, provides a unique perspective on Texas featuring images of the woods, waters, and wildlife of the Lone Star landscape. Nottingham’s engaging photography—landscape, nature, and wildlife; environmental portraiture of people; photojournalistic coverage of events, including natural disasters—provides a cohesive overview of biodiversity and the state of conservation in Texas. The nearly 200 stunning photographs collected here encompass the expansive mission of TPWD, presenting traditional landscape images from state and national parks as well as from vast private lands. Cultural and historic sites are included along with environmental portraits of the people associated with those sites. From the state’s wildlife, both great and small, to nature shown in not only its beauty but also its fury—wildfires, hurricanes, and floods—Earl Nottingham offers a visual compendium of events, people, places, and things that have shaped the face of natural Texas. The author logged untold miles and wore through many sets of tires to offer timely stories that would “inform, educate, entertain, and empower” readers about the outdoors. These images that capture the richness and diversity of wild Texas inspire a greater appreciation for the state’s beauty and promote a sense of stewardship for its natural treasures.
Big Bend Ranch State Park stretches along the Rio Grande in far west Texas, on the US-Mexico border. Featuring 300,000 acres of remote desert landscape, spectacular views, rugged mountains, steep canyons, and 238 miles of multi-use trails.This guide is an informative "trail buddy", designed to helpplan your hiking adventure and to carry with you on the trail.Highlights include:* 12 easy-to-moderate hikes *5 trails easily accessible from FM 170 * 7 trails within the remote park interior* Hikes range from approximately 1-8 miles* Photos, trail descriptions, maps, reference points,directions and safety tips
When George Bristol first saw the mountains surrounding East Glacier, Montana, in the early summer of 1961, he was, in his own words, awed to his depths. Thus began a love affair with nature and public parks that has endured for more than fifty years. This same love affair would lead Bristol to become a crusader for America’s national parks and, later, to be largely credited for the rescue of the ailing public park system in his home state. In On Politics and Parks, Bristol tells his own story in lively prose that includes many intriguing peeks at behind-the-scenes events in Washington, Austin, and elsewhere. Beginning with his upbringing by a widowed young mother with a passion for music and literature, he narrates the converging of influences that led him to an influential political career, including active involvement in national campaigns for Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Lloyd Bentsen, and Jimmy Carter. After working for the Democratic National Committee and Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, Bristol was asked to join President Clinton’s administration. However, what he really wanted was a place on the board of the National Park Foundation (NPF). With decades-old images of Glacier still burning brightly in his memory, he helped spearhead efforts to elevate the image of the National Park Service and helped establish a highly successful fundraising strategy for the NPF, giving both organizations greater national awareness and stature. Having acquired a well-earned reputation for fundraising and effective advocacy, Bristol soon began to do for his home state what he had done for the NPF: solidify support and funding for the Texas park system. Over ten years and five legislative sessions, Bristol, through the Texas Coalition for Conservation, the nonprofit organization he founded, fought for the full claim of Texas state parks to the sporting goods tax. Utilizing his many contacts, his well-honed political sense, and his dogged patience, he forged an alliance that would win the day for everyone who loves the state’s public lands. In 2007, in the last bill passed on the last day of the session, the Texas legislature nearly doubled the operating budget for parks. On Politics and Parks is at once a lesson in conservation history and a captivating personal memoir that will inform, entertain, and inspire all those who share Bristol’s love for the unspoiled beauty of the outdoors and his commitment to preserve that beauty for future generations. To learn more about The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, sponsors of this book's series, please click here.
Of the canyons that break the eastern edge of the Staked Plains, Palo Duro is by far the most spectacular. As one approaches the edge, the earth opens up into a vast gash, a geological and ecological wonder. And whether you come to Palo Duro as a novice or veteran canyoneer, the thrill and the mystery are always intense. How did the canyon get here? What caused the vari-color of the walls and formations? Why do some formations stand completely separated from the canyon walls? Did the little stream running along the canyon floor form this canyon all by itself? Who were the first people to find this canyon and how did they react? On this last question imagination goes to work and contemplates what ancient people must have felt when they, even less aware than we, stumbled upon the chasm rim and quickly realized that they had found a bonanza, an immense concentration of water, wood, game, and protection--all they needed to sustain life.--Frederick W. Rathjen Originally published as an edition of the Panhandle Plains Historical Review, The Story of Palo Duro Canyon, with its seven essays devoted to geology, archeology, paleontology, vegetation, park development, and the amphitheater, and its road log from Canyon, Texas, through the Palo Duro State Park, has become a classic. This Double Mountain Books edition, with a new introduction by Frederick W. Rathjen, makes 04 Activeable once again a comprehensive discovery and invaluable memento for the many thousands who visit the park each year.
Work smarter, not harder. The first guide to truly holistic health and fitness for those in their 40s From Tom Brady to Serena Williams, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer athletes are increasingly peaking later in their careers. Let Dr Marc Bubbs be your personal trainer in this accessible guide— aimed exclusively at those in their 40s. Create a customized program that works for YOU—from diet, to sleep, type of training and mindset, this book has all the tools you need. Peak 40 is for anyone wanting to rediscover the best version of themselves coming into their 40s. Author Dr Marc Bubbs is a performance nutritionist with a portfolio of professional and Olympic athletes - but he is also the dad of three girls, all under 7! Dr. Bubbs is here with you, in the eye of the mid-life storm, and he has created the ultimate book to help you through it. For fans of Joe Wicks and Michael Mosley, Dr. Bubbs offers simple, evidence-based and time-efficient strategies to help you reignite your energy and passion. His realistic, grown-up and non-judgemental approach is to explain the effect some food groups and lack of exercise and sleep have on our body. The information presented is easy to digest and he offers advice that can be tailored to your body and personality type. In his expert opinion, small changes such as ‘not eating after 8pm for five out of seven days’ can have a big impact on weight loss and positive mood. Rather than eliminating certain food groups like fats and carbohydrates, he looks at ‘turning the dial’ on them depending on individual needs. If life has become too sedentary, he provides ways to increase suppleness so that you can start to reintroduce movement into your life without causing pain. Guiding us through the myriad of confusion lifestyle messages, Dr. Bubbs teaches us: How to increase flexibility How to train with achy joints, knees, back, shoulders... Whether a plant-based diet is right How to maintain bone health Whether to lift weights Who should do HIIT (and who shouldn’t) The importance of glucose control in your diet Advice on dealing with anxiety and low mood How to set realistic expectations "[Bubbs] dives into the nutrition and science—where it’s been and where it’s heading."—Zack Bitter, world record-holding ultra marathoner, as heard on "The Joe Rogan Experience" "Dr. Bubbs's advice on nutrition, health, and recovery for peak performance has been a game changer!"—Kevin Pangos, point guard, Barcelona FC Basketball
From the rugged Guadalupe Mountains in the west and the deep canyons of the Red River in the Panhandle to the lakes on the eastern landscape, the Texas backcountry is as spacious and diverse as the Lone Star State itself. This guide contains unforgettable hikes that suit all abilities and interests.
Profiles fifty-one wildlife management areas in Texas, providing practical information for visitors and descriptions of their history, natural features, and such recreational activities as camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, bicycling, hunting, and fishing.
